# Can you laminate bacon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031 "2010-10-13T19:09:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![descendingsnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@descendingsnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descendingsnow)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/1 "2010-10-13T19:09:32Z")
My friend and i are debating about what would happen if you were to try and laminate a slice of bacon. would it rot as normal or become immortal? It’s a stupid question, but we gotta know. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/2 "2010-10-13T19:14:35Z")
Laminating is basically how it’s sold. It extends the life but nothing lasts forever. It’s not totally bacteria-free even if sealed in a vacuum package. I have a Food Sealer so maybe I’ll give this a try. How long is “immortal?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/3 "2010-10-13T19:19:12Z")
It might rot faster than normal because of anaerobic bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/4 "2010-10-13T19:20:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It might rot faster than normal because of anaerobic bacteria. Perhaps not faster, but definitely nastier. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/5 "2010-10-13T19:23:13Z")
Need answer fast? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/6 "2010-10-13T19:29:00Z")
> [@descendingsnow](#): > > My friend and i are debating about what would happen if you were to try and laminate a slice of bacon. would it rot as normal or become immortal? You could laminate it first, and then sterilize by irradiation. If you then store it in a dark and cool place, it should last a good long while. There’s not going to be any microbial decay, and the lack of oxygen should keep rancidification in check. Btw: Dibs on the “Immortal Bacon” band name. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/7 "2010-10-13T19:34:07Z")
Why not just try it and see what happens? Like an extra-curricular science project? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/8 "2010-10-13T19:34:55Z")
Laminating is not the way to go since the edges would be exposed. What you want to do is incase it in plastic like this [guy](http://www.insectgeeks.com/forums/display_topic/id_253/Encase-insects-in-plastic/) does or like this [candy](http://maona.net/archives/2008/01/lr_slimy_worm_v.php) maker does. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/9 "2010-10-13T19:45:04Z")
Try [plastination](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastination) for a more realistic effect. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/10 "2010-10-13T19:57:06Z")
Hmm… how about sealing in a bag, then pressure-steaming the bag to sterilize it? Could you get the bacon sterilized but still raw enough to crisp up later? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/11 "2010-10-13T20:03:16Z")
What if you were to seal it with Mod Podge or something similar? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/12 "2010-10-13T20:31:05Z")
You could irradiate it after encasing in plastic, to kill the microbes etc. Irradiation is actually a pretty common method of food preservation in areas of the world with skimpy access to electricity and refrigeration. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/13 "2010-10-13T20:55:27Z")
Clearly the OP wants a bacon bookmark. Sadly, retailers have missed this important niche, so I shall steal the idea, patent it, and make dozens of dollars. 'til then, may I suggest a better [bacon encasement plan?](http://foodisforeating.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/baconpancakes.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/14 "2010-10-13T20:55:53Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > What if you were to seal it with Mod Podge or something similar? That might work. I have successfully encased sardines in resin. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/15 "2010-10-13T21:33:32Z")
I have no idea but… subscribed! Along with “can you fart from your penis?” this is one of those rare threads that I never knew I wanted… no… _needed_, to have the answer to. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/16 "2010-10-13T22:41:34Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > 'til then, may I suggest a better [bacon encasement plan?](http://foodisforeating.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/baconpancakes.jpg) Go to Calgary during the Stampede and get that every morning for free or a charitable donation. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/17 "2010-10-13T23:02:31Z")
I laminated a flower once (actually I did a few) and it still rotted away despite the plastic appearing to be sealed around each one. I thought it was a cool way to press the flowers but they obviously needed to dry out to preserve. (I’m not into pressing flowers but I am into playing with things like lamination devices.) ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/18 "2010-10-13T23:19:47Z")
If the goal is to preserve it without refrigeration than you could pressure can the bacon. I’m not sure of the consistency of the final product but if you did it right you could at least eat it without dying of botchulism. If your goal was a bookmark, then I would pack it in salt, then dry it like jerky, then press it in a flower press. Or maybe embalm it in formaldehyde ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/19 "2010-10-14T00:49:11Z")
Can bacon be made into jerky? ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031/20 "2010-10-14T01:00:31Z")
Between salting and drying you are essentially making Jamon Serrano or prociutto crudo, not really jerky but a dried meat product. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-laminate-bacon/557031.md?page=2)