Macon (food)

Macon is a cured and smoked form of mutton.^[1] Macon is prepared in a similar manner to bacon, with the meat being either dry cured with large quantities of salt or wet cured with brine and then smoked. The name macon is a portmanteau word of mutton and bacon. In South Africa the term is also used for other bacon substitutes, including ones made from beef.^[2]

Generally macon has a light black and yellow color, with the outer edges being a darker pink. Macon looks and feels similar to bacon. It would more commonly be found in a thin sliced form used in sandwiches, or as a smaller cut slice topping on a pizza.^{[citation needed]}

It is also used as a bacon substitute for religious groups such as Jews and Muslims, whose faith does not allow the consumption of pork.