We Tried 8 methods of Cooking Bacon and Found an Absolute Winner

[MULTIZ321]

We Tried 8 methods of Cooking Bacon and Found an Absolute Winner.


https://www.thekitchn.com/skills-showdown-bacon-22956708.


Richard

 

[Beachclubmum]

I've been doing their top choice, oven on parchment paper, for the past several years. We really don't eat bacon much these days, though it came in handy again for a Mother's Day Brunch I hosted last May.

 

[buzglyd]

For something different, dredge in flour and pan fry. So damn good you won’t mind the heart attack and the ride to the hospital.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Rick cooks his bacon a very long time on low heat. I think it's greasier that way. I cannot stand bacon that is greasy. I no longer eat bacon at all. I can do without it, and it's not allowed on my weight-loss journey.

 

[klpca]

I've been doing their top choice, oven on parchment paper, for the past several years. We really don't eat bacon much these days, though it came in handy again for a Mother's Day Brunch I hosted last May.

Curious about on thing when prepping this way: does it mess up the inside of your oven? (I have to weigh cleaning time against other alternatives).

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Curious about on thing when prepping this way: does it mess up the inside of your oven? (I have to weigh cleaning time against other alternatives).

We just cover the bacon with aluminum foil. However, we've only been using a baking pan without the parchment paper. I'll have to try the paper next time (and will probably still put the foil on top for good measure).

For something different, dredge in flour and pan fry. So damn good you won’t mind the heart attack and the ride to the hospital.

Alrighty then. It may a death wish, but I GOTTA try this.

I love a good bacon thread.

 

[Beachclubmum]

Curious about on thing when prepping this way: does it mess up the inside of your oven? (I have to weigh cleaning time against other alternatives).

I just lay an extra piece of parchment on top.

 

[Bucky]

Been cooking ours in the oven for years now. I cook up 5-10 lbs at a time and then freeze it. I cook it by lining a large cookie sheet with foil and then placing the bacon on a cookie cooling rack above it. Pull it out and crisp it up in a pan when needed for burgers, soups, foods, etc. Works perfect and keeps the house from having bacon smell every time we need some. Plus, the added benefit is we get a few jars of bacon grease we store in the frig and use as needed.

 

[dayooper]

Been cooking ours in the oven for years now. I cook up 5-10 lbs at a time and then freeze it. I cook it by lining a large cookie sheet with foil and then placing the bacon on a cookie cooling rack above it. Pull it out and crisp it up in a pan when needed for burgers, soups, foods, etc. Works perfect and keeps the house from having bacon smell every time we need some. Plus, the added benefit is we get a few jars of bacon grease we store in the frig and use as needed.

This is the best way I have found. I look up the bacon with coarse black pepper and, if I’m feeling a little crazy, will sprinkle some brown sugar on it. I actually put the the bacon in a room temperature oven and set the temp for 450. After 16 minutes, the bacon is done perfectly. I used to make a “Tuscan” breakfast with a poached egg on grilled Italian bread with white cheddar and bacon. Mrs. dayooper really liked that one.

That all being said, we use Costco’s pre-cooked bacon for our cooking needs. We really don’t have bacon strips very often, maybe 5 times a year. We do use bacon in certain dishes though. A couple of strips of bacon chopped up, cooked crisp and cooled in the freezer really amp up my guacamole. We also use a couple of strips chopped in our spaghetti sauce as a base to cook the onion and garlic.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

If you are lazy (like me) and willing to trade time (and a little money) for effort - here's how I cook bacon.

Buy a bunch of Costco aluminium pans. Take one and cover the bottom with strips of thick cut bacon. (It goes up all 4 sides, I can usually get 8 strips in.)

Pop in the oven at 375 F, Set the timer for 45 minutes, and go do something else. When the timer goes ding, flip the bacon, cook for another 20 minutes or so. (You have to look and see how done it is.)

Chow down.

(You can cook biscuits after the flip in the same oven, if you wish.)

Feed me and my brother. . .

Clean up is pitch the pan.

 

[WinniWoman]

We are really bad with this. We buy turkey bacon. Put a few layers of paper towels on a dish. Then put several strips on bacon on top and then cover with a few more layers of paper towels and nuke it for like 3 or 4 minutes depending. LOL!

 

[klpca]

We are really bad with this. We buy turkey bacon. Put a few layers of paper towels on a dish. Then put several strips on bacon on top and then cover with a few more layers of paper towels and nuke it for like 3 or 4 minutes depending. LOL!

Me too, lol. I may have 2 pieces of bacon every two months. I don't really want to invest any time in the process. The thing that I like about the microwave method is that there is very little fat/grease left. I have problems digesting fats so this is a big deal for me. I may try the oven method if I need to prepare bacon for a crowd though.

 

[Brett]

For something different, dredge in flour and pan fry. So damn good you won’t mind the heart attack and the ride to the hospital.

 

[Fredward]

I tried the parchment method this morning. Worked great, no grease in the oven but the bacon was really greasy when I took it out of the pan. Even draining it on paper towels didn't help much. Going back to my Rachel Ray bacon pan method but will try placing the parchment or foil in the bottom pan, under the rack. Only 1 nonstick piece to clean, a lot less greasy, and I'll be able to pour the grease into a dish to add to dry cat food.

 

[Eric B]

Been cooking ours in the oven for years now. I cook up 5-10 lbs at a time and then freeze it. I cook it by lining a large cookie sheet with foil and then placing the bacon on a cookie cooling rack above it. Pull it out and crisp it up in a pan when needed for burgers, soups, foods, etc. Works perfect and keeps the house from having bacon smell every time we need some. Plus, the added benefit is we get a few jars of bacon grease we store in the frig and use as needed.

... So there's something wrong with the smell of bacon...?

 

[Bucky]

... So there's something wrong with the smell of bacon...?

not to me but doing it this way has helped keep our marriage together 50 years now! If it was up to me I would buy some bacon room freshener!

 

[Carta]

We use "makin bacon" micro wave tray...www.makinbacon.com ....No grease splatter and grease drips into tray. Just toss grease. Bacon comes out perfect..I like crispy; but u can nuke it for ur liking...We always take it on vacation

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I don't like how microwave bacon sticks to the paper towels and you end up with paper on the bacon.

i have lined the baking pan with foil with success. Will have to try parchment to compare. Thanks @Ralph Sir Edward for the foil baking pan idea. Easier clean up.

 

[baz48]

I don't like how microwave bacon sticks to the paper towels and you end up with paper on the bacon.
.

For just myself, I put one long slice cut in half onto a waxy paper plate and put a paper towel over it. Microwave for 90 seconds. It doesn't stick to the plate or the paper towel and doesn't splatter. Toss the paper plate and towel. Easy and neat.