Help, how to cook bacon the right way!? Why does my bacon turn out greasy and not crispy? Does any of these sound like you? If yes, then you’re in the right place!
Table of Contents
How to Cook Bacon
Now, there’s no denying that everything tastes better with bacon! Bacon is undoubtedly one of the most popular cured meats on earth. It’s one of the most loved foods of all time. We can use it in so many different types of meals, from the good old English breakfast to a brunch-style BLT sandwich to a classic French stew.
But, believe it or not, there’s a lot to learn from something as seemingly simple as cooking a strip of bacon. From how to choose the right bacon to how to cook bacon perfectly every single time, I’ve got you covered in this bacon 101.
What Kind of Bacon to Buy
With so many different options to choose from, buying bacon can seem like a confusing task. Knowing what kind of bacon to buy is just as important as knowing how to cook bacon.
Consider the cut and thickness, curing method, and smoking method to know which bacon suits your needs.
By Cuts and Thickness
Regular-cut bacon, usually sliced into medium-thickness strips, is the most common bacon out there. It’s a good all-arounder, fine for almost any dish you can think of.
Thin-cut bacon, sometimes called restaurant bacon since it’s the bacon you usually get at a restaurant. Typically sliced into extra thin strips, it crisps up really quick.
Thick-cut bacon, typically sliced into chunkier strips. Thick-cut bacon is perfect if you like a chewier texture. Thick-cut bacon pieces also hold their shape better, making them ideal for pasta and soup dishes.
Centre-cut bacon comes from pork belly cut close to the bone. With 25-30% less fat than regular bacon, it should be your go-to if you want to cut out that extra fat.
Slab bacon is the most versatile bacon in my opinion. As the name suggests, this bacon has not been sliced, so you can go as thin or as thick as you wish. You can also ask your butcher to chop it into your desired size.
By Curing Method
Wet-cured bacon is brined and cured in salt and sodium nitrate solution to enhance its bacon-y flavor. Wet curing is the most common curing method for commercial bacon, you’re most likely to find this type of bacon at your grocery store.
Dry-cured bacon is usually more expensive than the wet-cured one due to its lengthy and labor-intensive process. The brining and curing ingredients are dry-rubbed onto the meat surface, taking months from start to finish. It is usually saltier and less sweet than wet-cured bacon.
Uncured bacon is not necessarily uncured, surprise! All bacon needs to be cured. The only difference is that uncured bacon uses the nitrates from naturally occurring sources. Due to this, many people think that uncured bacon is way healthier than regular bacon.
Smoking method
- Liquid smoke bacon. To give bacon the smoky taste we all love, some manufacturers will inject liquid smoke into the bacon.
- Hardwood-smoked bacon uses the real and natural wood-smoking method, making it far superior in taste for many people.
Best Way to Cook Bacon
Honestly, there’s no single best way to cook bacon. It all depends on what you’re after. I mean, bacon is delicious!
Even though I personally love cooking my bacon on a stovetop, I do understand that the cleaning process afterwards can be a bit painful. Thus, I do change my method of cooking bacon according to my needs - from stovetop, to oven, to a griddle for cooking big batches of bacon.
The thing is, each cooking method has its own rule, so continue reading to know how to cook bacon perfectly every time using the tools you have.
How to Cook Bacon on the Stovetop
Although cooking bacon on the stovetop can be messier than other methods, it’s the classic way to cook bacon. It also happens to be my favorite since I like to touch, turn, and watch as my food cooks. And, since you have to always keep an eye on your bacon, this way of cooking will minimize the risk of burning your bacon.
- To cook bacon this way, I like to start with a cold frying pan. Lay the bacon strips flat. Add as many bacon strips as you want, but don’t overlap them. Don’t worry, they’ll shrink a bit once they start cooking.
- Go low with the heat and flip the bacon frequently for even browning. If you happen to have fatty bacon, and the rendered fat from your bacon floods the pan, just spoon it off. (Psst! Don’t waste any of the fat. Use it later to fry your eggs for extra flavor.)
- Continue cooking until you’re happy with the color and crunch. Remove the bacon from the pan and let it drain on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
How to Cook Bacon Oven
The oven is my go-to for when I need to cook a lot of bacon for a lot of people. I mean, you can do whatever you want after placing the bacon into the oven. Baked bacon is also perfectly crunchy with even browning.
This is how to cook bacon in the oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F | 180°C. Line your baking tray with parchment paper, no need to grease.
- Place the bacon strips on the tray without overlapping them. Don’t overcrowd the tray, but don’t be too shy. Leave about ¼-inch space between the strips.
- Bake them for 15 to 20 minutes or until your preferred crispiness. Transfer to a wire rack or kitchen paper to drain the excess fat.
How to Cook Bacon with Water
Cooking bacon with water is a thing! Yes, it’s more time consuming since you need to evaporate all of the water before the bacon starts to crisp up. But, cooking bacon this way does prevent crazy splatter all over your kitchen. The fat renders in the water, making it one of the safest ways to cook bacon. Now, how to cook bacon that way, you might ask?
This is how to cook bacon with water
- Lay the bacon strips on a cold frying pan. Add just enough water to cover the bacon, then cook on high heat.
- Once the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to medium and continue to simmer. After all of the water has simmered away, turn the heat down for the last time to low.
- Continue cooking the bacon until brown and crispy.
- Remove from the pan and drain on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
How to Cook Bacon on a Griddle
An electric griddle is also a great tool for cooking a big batch of bacon. You only need to turn the bacon once, saving you time and energy. Modern electric griddles usually have a slight slope too, so the rendered fat from the bacon will pool on one side, making it less messy.
How to cook bacon on a griddle?
- Place the bacon strips on the cold griddle, lay them all nice and flat. Feel free to overcrowd the griddle, but make sure not to overlap the bacon strips.
- Turn the griddle to 350°F | 180°C and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until the bacon crisps up to your liking.
- Drain the cooked bacon on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave
Cooking bacon in the microwave might not sound appealing at first. I was one of those people who initially refused to cook bacon this way. Boy, was I wrong! You see, knowing how to cook bacon in the microwave properly will save you time and energy. And the good news is, bacon cooked in the microwave will still come out perfectly delicious.
- To cook bacon in the microwave, place bacon strips on a microwave-safe dish that has been lined with 3 pieces of kitchen paper. Don’t overlap the strips and don’t overcrowd the dish.
- Cover the dish with another 2 pieces of kitchen paper to catch the splatter. The rule of thumb is 1 minute of cooking for every strip of bacon. So, if you’re cooking 5 strips of bacon, you might want to microwave them for 5 minutes. Don’t worry, you can always adjust the cooking time by adding 30 seconds or 1 minute until your bacon strips have reached your desired doneness.
How to Cook Bacon Tips
Do You Need Oil to Cook Bacon?
Bacon is already full of fat and the fat melts off very quickly. So, my advice is that you don’t need extra fat in the pan to cook bacon.
How to Know When Bacon is Done
Bacon is safe to eat once it turns opaque, around 1 to 2 minutes of cooking. But, who wants that? Crisp, superior bacon needs time to develop that maillard reaction every chef is talking about.
What is the Maillard reaction? This is a French term that describes the chemical reaction that gives browned cooked food its distinctive flavor.
Secret to Crispy Bacon
Low and slow is the secret to crispy bacon. By cooking bacon on a low heat for a long time, you allow the excess fat to melt off the bacon, making the bacon crispy inside-out. Also, don’t overlap the slices or they’ll turn out tough with uneven browning. When finished cooking, drain the bacon on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
Healthiest Way to Cook Bacon
One of the healthiest ways to cook bacon results in crispier and tastier bacon! So, how to cook bacon so it’s healthier (and tastier)? Well, simply by cooking it until crispy. By doing that, you allow all of the excess fat to be rendered of the bacon.
Cooking Bacon Hacks
- Rest your just-out-of-fridge bacon for 5 minutes and pat with kitchen paper before cooking for quick and even browning.
- Cooking bacon in a waffle iron is a great alternative for cooking bacon. The cover ensures the oil won’t splash everywhere, the fat will pool down in the nooks and crannies, and you don’t need to flip the bacon. What not to love?
- Use a splatter stopper to minimize oil splatter. It also makes cleaning much easier.
- Don’t waste the delicious bacon fat. Drain it and save it in the fridge for later. Use it for stir-fries or to grease your casserole dish. Fry some eggs perhaps, or toast some bread?
What to do With Your Bacon
Anything you can think of, really. Use it as a sandwich filling or eat it with pancakes topped with a knob of butter drizzled with maple syrup. Toss some on your salad or sprinkle some on your pasta. From breakfast to dinner, from the main course to dessert. The list goes on and on. I mean, what can’t a strip of perfectly cooked bacon improve?
How to Cook Bacon on the Stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 packet bacon
Instructions
- Lay the bacon strips, without overlapping, flat in a cold frying pan. Place the pan on the stoveop on a low heat.
- Flip the bacon frequently for even browning.
- Continue cooking until the bacon has the desired color and crunch. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
- Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a wire rack or kitchen paper.
How to Cook Bacon - In Conclusion
Help, how to cook bacon the right way? Wait, does this still sound like you? No more! Because you’ve just mastered all you need to know about how to cook bacon! (Bacon hug!)
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gralion
Nice post.
Millychino
Thank you! Milly Chino
Anonymous
I wondered why my bacon wasn’t crispy and now I know it was because I didn’t separate them. Thanks for the article.
Millychino
Crispy bacon!👌 Glad I could help!