The Science Behind Why People Love Bacon

From bacon-flavored ice cream to bacon-infused soap, it seems there is nothing that can’t be made better with a little bit of bacon. For the last ten years, Americans have become obsessed with bacon and the hype doesn’t seem to be dying anytime soon.

So what is it that makes this particular piece of the pig stand out from the rest? And why do people love it so much? Believe it or not, there is a science to why people love bacon. Read on to find out more about the chemistry behind this culinary craze.

A Mouthwatering Chemical Reaction: The Science Behind the Smell

Bacon has a distinct smell–one that is usually followed by a bit of involuntary mouth-watering and stomach-grumbling. There’s a science to this aspect of the bacon obsession as well and its origins are rooted in chemistry.

When cooked, bacon undergoes the Maillard Reaction. This is a chemical reaction that gives cooked food its flavor and causes it to brown. When it comes to bacon, its unique, savory aroma is a result of bacon fat combined with this reaction, which causes sugars to react with amino acids.

Six Savory-flavored Ingredients: The Science Behind the Taste

After being exposed to bacon’s unmistakable, drool-inducing scent, if you’re strong enough to resist, we applaud you. For most of us, if there’s bacon cooking in the kitchen, we’re reserving a seat at the table, along with our name on at least a few strips. That sweet aroma is nothing compared to what’s to come and our taste buds are screaming at us to indulge. But what makes bacon taste so good?

Bacon has six inherent ingredients with umami flavor. A Japanese word that loosely translates to “deliciousness” umami flavors are responsible for that meaty, savory flavor we all love so much.

But when it comes to the science of bacon’s taste, it’s about more than just ingredients. Chemistry plays a role here too. During the cooking process, bacon fat breaks down and creates taste compounds that are sweet, buttery, and salty. This results in the exclusively scrumptious flavor that notoriously accompanies bacon.

Enhancing Your Favorite Dishes With Bacon

The unique flavor of bacon adds a completely new element to your favorite dishes. The foods we know and love become an experience to be reckoned with when bacon enters the mix. If you’ve ever cooked eggs with bacon grease, you’ve experienced this firsthand.

At Dogtown Pizza, we never underestimate the power of flavorful ingredients, especially when it comes to bacon. Our Bacon Bacon pizza uses the savory taste of bacon to perfect another All-American classic.

From our cracker-like crust and flavorful pizza sauce to the perfect blend of creamy and tangy cheeses, the unique flavor of bacon takes these signature DTP ingredients to the next level. Huge, juicy chunks of home-cooked, hand-torn bacon are piled high on top of notoriously fresh Dogtown Pizza ingredients.

Click here to learn more about where you can purchase one of our savory Bacon Bacon Pizzas. Because you deserve it.

What dishes do you like to add bacon to? Let us know in the comments below!