For pork connoisseurs, you will agree that there is nothing more delightful than the delicious smell of bacon wafting out in the morning! If you have a stockpile of bacon in your refrigerator, try preparing it using the various methods listed in this article, such as frying it on the stove if you're not in a hurry, or grilling it in the oven or microwave if time is limited. Most importantly, be careful not to get the very hot oil on your skin, and don't forget to drain any excess oil on the cooked bacon on a paper towel before eating it!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Frying Bacon on the Stove
Step 1. Remove the bacon from the refrigerator and let the bacon sit for 5-6 minutes at room temperature before frying
Leaving the bacon at room temperature before frying is effective in making the level of doneness more even and speeding up the frying process. Therefore, make sure you don't miss this stage, OK!
If the cold bacon is placed on a hot pan, the oil won't come out and the bacon is prone to scorching when frying
Step 2. Arrange the slices of bacon on the still-cold pan
Make sure that the surface of the bacon is completely flat and that each sheet is not overlapping so that it cooks more evenly. If necessary, fry the bacon in stages, especially since ideally, one pan only has one piece of bacon to keep the oil temperature from changing. As a result, the resulting meat will be really crisp and not burnt.
A cast-iron, nonstick Teflon skillet and a nonstick flat pan are the best options. However, you can also use other cooking utensils if you don't have all three
Step 3. Heat the bacon over medium heat until the skillet starts to sizzle
The pan will heat up over time and allow the bacon to release its natural oils. That's the oil that you will later use to produce fried bacon with the perfect texture and taste. Therefore, be patient to wait for the oil to come out! If you start to hear a hissing and cracking sound from the bacon, it means the pan is ready to use.
Keep an eye on the bacon while it's frying, especially as the utensil you use will cook the bacon more quickly
Step 4. Fry the bacon for 10-12 minutes
Turn on the timer right after the pan makes a hissing sound. Once the bacon is in the pan, don't touch it for the allotted time! Flip the bacon only if it looks crispier and is starting to curl.
Tips:
Cover the pan to prevent the scalding oil from splashing in all directions. Don't worry, you can easily find various tools to cover the pan in big supermarkets
Step 5. Turn the bacon over and fry the other side for 7-8 minutes or until it is completely crispy
Use tongs to flip the bacon and fry the other side. Once turned over, the bacon doesn't need to be touched or moved. Instead, let the bacon sit for 7-8 minutes or until it's as crispy as you want it to be.
- If you prefer a slightly tough bacon texture, try frying it for 6-7 minutes.
- For a really crispy bacon, try frying it for 9-10 minutes.
Step 6. Drain the bacon with the help of tongs, then place it on a paper towel so that the excess oil inside can be absorbed properly
Fold some kitchen paper towels and place them on a wide serving plate. After that, transfer the cooked bacon to a plate and drain the excess oil for a few minutes before eating it. If necessary, lightly pat the surface of the bacon with another paper towel to make it less greasy.
Draining the bacon also works to lower the temperature for a more comfortable meal
Method 2 of 4: Baking Bacon in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to about 200 degrees Celsius
Make sure the toaster rack is in the center of the oven at a sufficient distance from the top and bottom of the oven. If necessary, move the rack provided to the center of the oven.
Remove the bacon from the refrigerator to warm up before cooking
Step 2. Line a ridged baking sheet with aluminum foil
Prepare a sheet of aluminum foil, then place it on the bottom of the baking sheet. Don't forget to tuck the sides of the aluminum foil to the edges of the pan, OK!
This step is useful for preventing oil from escaping from the pan and causing a fire
Step 3. Arrange the bacon sheets on the baking sheet close together, but not touching each other
Also trim the surface of the bacon so that it is flatter and adheres perfectly to the bottom of the pan.
Since the bacon will shrivel up as it bakes, feel free to place each sheet close together
Step 4. Bake the bacon in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes
Place the baking sheet on the oven rack, and close the oven door tightly. Remember, the bacon doesn't need to be turned over while it's baking. After 15-20 minutes, the bacon should be perfectly cooked with a non-wrinkled surface!
If you want to give the bacon a crispier texture, try baking it for 20-22 minutes
Step 5. Drain the bacon on 2-3 kitchen paper towels for a few minutes
Fold some kitchen paper towels and place them on a flat surface. After that, transfer the bacon with the help of tongs onto a paper towel to drain the excess oil and cool it down.
- Do not cool the bacon on a hot baking sheet to stop the cooking process and prevent the bacon from burning.
- Draining excess oil on the bacon with the help of a kitchen tissue is effective in making the texture feel crisper when eaten.
Method 3 of 4: Microwave Baking
Step 1. Cover a heat-resistant plate with 3-4 pieces of kitchen paper
Kitchen towels are effective at absorbing the oil that comes out when the bacon is cooked. As a result, if you ignore the use of kitchen paper towels, the bacon will end up tough and too greasy when cooked.
Step 2. Place the bacon strips on a plate, then cover the surface with 1-2 pieces of kitchen paper
Remember, each piece of bacon should not overlap each other, even if they are placed close together. Don't forget to put 1-2 pieces of kitchen paper on the surface of the bacon to prevent the oil from splattering in all directions as it cooks.
Step 3. Cook each piece of bacon for 1 minute on HIGH
Close the microwave door and set the time. For example, if you want to cook 4 pieces of bacon, set a timer for 4 minutes. During this time, the bacon doesn't need to be turned over to even out the level of doneness.
Step 4. Continue to cook the bacon in 30 second intervals until it is as crispy as you want it to be
Check the condition of the bacon. If the texture isn't as crispy as you'd like, re-cook the bacon at 30-second intervals. Remember, the bacon will take a while to cook even after removing it from the microwave. That's why it's best to take the bacon out just before it's textured to your liking.
Step 5. Transfer the bacon to a serving plate to cool it down
Don't forget to remove the kitchen tissue so the bacon doesn't end up sticking when it's cold. After that, use tongs to transfer the bacon to a serving plate without draining it first. Let the bacon sit for a few minutes, then eat it as soon as it cools down!
Kitchen tissue serves to absorb excess oil on the bacon. As a result, the bacon does not need to be drained after being removed from the microwave
Method 4 of 4: Modifying the Bakon Recipe
Step 1. Soak the bacon in maple syrup to make a Vermont-style dish
Put two pieces of bacon in a bowl, then coat the surface with real maple syrup. After that, cover the bowl and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
The caramelized sugar on the surface of the bacon may look messy, but it's not tempting. But believe me, you don't need to doubt the deliciousness anymore
Step 2. Coat the top of the bacon with brown sugar before cooking
First, wait for the bacon to cool down. After that, coat both sides with brown sugar (dark or light), and let the bacon sit for 4-5 minutes before cooking.
Step 3. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the pan to make the bacon with a crumbly texture
Before the bacon is fried, pour a little water into the pan. As the cooking process progresses, the water will evaporate and help create a crispier, more easily crushed bacon texture. The bacon crumbs can later be mixed with lettuce, baked potato, and casserole to enrich the flavors of the three.
Tips
- If the texture is tough, it means the bacon isn't fully cooked and will need to be re-cooked for a few minutes.
- Keep an eye on the cooking process as bacon is very easy to cook!
Warning
- Never flip or move a hot bacon with your bare hands.
- Wait for the pan to cool before washing it so it doesn't bend.
