Canadian Bacon is there between the egg and the muffin of our beloved Eggs Benedict but what exactly is it? Let’s find out more about it.
You know it. You’ve had it before.
But what is Canadian bacon actually?
Canadian bacon comes from the eye of the pork loin (the center of the pig’s back). That’s something people agree on. Other than that, it means different things in different parts of the world. In America, the meat is salted and cured, sometimes smoked. You can eat it straight from the package or cook with it.
In Canada, Canadian bacon can refer to the above round circles of ham-like meat we know from Eggs Benedict. Although they would normally call it back bacon, not Canadian bacon. Back bacon/Canadian bacon can also refer to peameal bacon.
What’s Peameal Bacon?
During the early part of the last century, yellow peas were ground up and used to coat and cure pork loin. This became known as peameal bacon.
Once cornmeal became more readily available, it was swapped for the peameal. You can still find peameal bacon that actually uses peameal in some places. Check the product label. Note though that even when cornmeal is used they still call it peameal bacon.
How Is Canadian Bacon Different From American Bacon?
American bacon comes from the belly of the pig, and tends to be much fattier. American bacon is sometimes called streaky bacon in the UK and other parts of the world because of the delicious ribbons of fat and meat.
American bacon is meant to be fried crisp using its own fat whereas Canadian bacon is best served soft and juicy. It loses its sweet taste if cooked too long.
Two important bacon questions before we wrap up.
1) When Canadians say Canadian bacon what do they mean? I asked our editor, Christine. She said, “We don’t say Canadian bacon. Unless we’re in the States.”
2) What do Canadians call American bacon? “We call it bacon. We’re not that weird, you know.”
Sources: the REAL Canadian Bacon Co., WiseGeek, Food.com, the kitchn
This post originally appeared in April 2016 and was revised and republished in April 2020.
Another Canadian here. What I call Canadian Bacon is what Steve posted. We generally refer to it as back bacon or peameal bacon (I did notice that the package currently in my fridge calls it cornmeal bacon, which is more accurate).
I have only ever referred to it as Canadian Bacon when I am in the USA (to distinguish it from their streaky bacon, which I just call “bacon” or “strip bacon”).
I was very disappointed when I was in Boston. My friend, a Canadian ex-pat, warned me not to order the Canadian Bacon because it was not what I thought it was. She is correct. It was more like what you show, instead of the back bacon I am used to.
I am 73 years old and it has always been back bacon or Peaeal bacon
Definitely not ham
Unless you were raised by extremly ignorant parents that didn’t teach you anything
I’m from Canada and honestly, I’ve always just referred to what’s pictured as Canadian bacon here as a slice of ham. The only place I see it is America and on McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches.
THIS is peameal bacon:Â https://www.google.ca/search?q=peameal.bacon&client=safari&hl=en-ca&prmd=isvn&sxsrf=ALeKk02ezEmxP4Sr6SaXHfANLDGXYcZFQg:1592930567895&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbmJrlsJjqAhVPhOAKHVWPB5AQ_AUoAXoECBMQAQ&biw=375&bih=553#imgrc=IrzTx4dUVCYjCM
Thanks for your feedback, Stevie!
Not sure what you guys are talking about, Canadian bacon is the same as American bacon. The meat in your picture is called ”ham”. Its definitely not bacon.
Not sure why Americans think our bacon is different. Stop mistaking sliced ham meat for bacon!?
Canadian bacon and ham are slightly different. The biggest difference is that they come from different parts of the pig. See here – https://difference.guru/difference-between-canadian-bacon-and-ham/
Same Christine Pittman…Manitoba and back baconÂ
Thanks Rhonda! And I hope you’re enjoying the unseasonably warm weather up there!
I’m Canadian- we call it Canadian bacon, but I don’t know any Canadians that actually eat it. Its just a name. I’ve never heard it called back bacon before. I usually see it on the breakfast menu at places like McDonald’s.
Dawn, Which part of Canada are you from? I’m from Manitoba and we call it back bacon.