Bacon
Bacon is cured pork belly sold in strips, slabs, or pieces. It brings salt, smoke, fat, and browned pork flavor to breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, beans, sauces, and cooked vegetables.
Identity
Salt, smoke, and rendered fat
Cook it slowly when you want crisp pieces and usable fat.
Bacon gives both meat and cooking fat. Starting it in a cooler pan and cooking over moderate heat helps the fat render before the lean meat gets too dark. Cut pieces smaller when bacon is meant to season a dish instead of sit on top.
Wikimedia Commons
Reference image
Bacon reference image.
Source: Wikimedia Commons