Kitchen Tips & Tools
Professional chef says stop frying bacon. Here’s how to cook it so it’s perfectly crisp every time
I've been doing it all wrong!
Sasha Alonzo
02.25.22

When it comes to breakfast staples one of the first things that comes to mind are eggs and bacon! Crisp, delicious bacon. The smell alone can bring a smile to most people’s faces.

Crispy…not limp

Although a small number of people prefer to eat limp bacon, the majority like it super crisp. For some reason, that enhances the overall flavor. While some people don’t think it matters, it does.

YouTube Screenshot/Delish
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YouTube Screenshot/Delish

Frying it

If you were to ask 100 people how they cook bacon, probably all of them would say they fry it. But if you’ve ever done that, you know you have to turn it often and, in the process, avoid painful grease spatters. The other issue, even with a large skillet, you can only cook so many strips of bacon at a time.

YouTube Screenshot/Delish
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/Delish

Crispy but not perfect

Sure, if you fry bacon, you can get it nice and crispy. But even then, there are usually areas that aren’t fully cooked. Or you cook it so long that it begins to curl on the ends. If you’re also looking for a good presentation along with flavor, frying simply won’t work.

YouTube Screenshot/Delish
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YouTube Screenshot/Delish

A pro that knows it all

Someone who’s a Master Chef knows what they’re doing. Being fully trained, they know they understand there’s a right and wrong way to do things. As far as bacon goes, one chef advises people to stop frying it. Instead, bake it.

YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef
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YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef

Baked bacon?

That’s right. And after you’ve cooked it this way, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t done it before. For one thing, it’s incredibly easy. But baking bacon as opposed to frying also allows you to cook more strips at once. If you have a large family, that’s ideal.

YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef

How do you do it?

Using a large oven dish, lay bacon strips flat and right up next to each other but without overlapping. As the bacon cooks, it won’t curl. But better yet, because the heat source is even across the entire dish, every strip comes out completely cooked, flat, and crispy.

YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef
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YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef

Meet Chef Adam

This particular Master Chef’s name is Adam. He and his wife, Jackie, co-own The Country Cat. Since they’re both amazingly talented chefs, they have the opportunity to share ideas and support one another. They’re also co-authors of Portland’s Heartlandia: Heritage Recipes cookbook.

The Country Cat
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The Country Cat

Cooking in bulk

Since bacon is on the menu at their restaurant and they serve a large number of customers, they know a thing or two about cooking in bulk. But along with his tips on how to cook bacon so it’s always crispy, he shares some more insight.

YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/The Stay At Home Chef

A specific type of bacon

Adam explains that you should avoid buying bacon made with liquid smoke and corn syrup. The reason is those two ingredients change both quality and flavor. He recommends bacon that’s been cured with sugar, spice, and salt. And if possible, buy a product that’s cured for a minimum of five days.

Unsplash/Donald Giannatti
Source:
Unsplash/Donald Giannatti

The secret’s out

If you want to impress special guests or even your family members, follow Adam’s advice. Start with the right kind of bacon and instead of frying it, bake it. Just preheat your oven to 350 degrees, line your baking dish with parchment paper, and cook it until it’s crispy.

YouTube Screenshot/Delish
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/Delish

Once you use this method, you’ll never go back. Whether you share your secret with others is completely up to you.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Shareably, YouTube

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