Bacon is always a hit when served alongside sunny side up eggs or added into a dinner casserole, adding that satisfying crunch everyone craves.
But standing over a hot stove flipping bacon for an eager group may not be ideal when an oven can do the same thing more efficiently and with less hassle.
1. Stovetop
Pan-frying remains one of the go-to stovetop bacon methods for many home chefs, offering multiple textures while being hands-off cooking.
Begin with a cold skillet: Doing this allows the bacon to heat evenly without overcooking and helps the fat render slowly for consistent strips
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Use a spatter guard: This tool helps reduce grease splattering and makes flipping the bacon much simpler.
Oven-baked bacon tends to produce uniformly crisp results; however, this method may take longer.
Oven baking can provide an easier hands-off approach and provides for faster breakfast solutions.
2. Oven
If you love crispy bacon, the oven can be an ideal way to prepare it. It provides greater control of doneness than stovetop frying, plus cleanup is a simple matter.
This method works best with regular-cut bacon as it will cook more evenly in the oven. Allowing time for it to reach room temperature before placing the bacon into the oven can also ensure better results.
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An easy way to make delicious bacon is to line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, arrange the bacon slices without overlap, and bake until your desired crispiness.
Save any of the rendered fat in an airtight container so it can be used as bacon butter in eggs, soups and more!
3. Broiler
Baking bacon ensures even cooking and creates crispier results than pan frying can do, without the messy grease splatters that occur from pan frying.
To make baked bacon, begin by lining a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and setting an elevated cooling rack or oven-safe baking rack on top.
This allows excess fat to drain away while simultaneously raising the bacon for even cooking.
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Put bacon slices in an even layer and bake. After 20-25 minutes have passed, remove from the oven and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels in order to absorb any extra grease that has accumulated during baking.
4. Deep Fryer
Deep frying provides more even and satisfying bacon cooking results than baked, microwaved or pan fried methods can.
A deep fryer allows you to prepare large batches at the same time.
Battering and deep frying bacon is one of the quickest, easiest, and tastiest methods of preparation.
You can spice up the batter by adding spices like salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika or cayenne pepper for more variety in flavor and texture.
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Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F (177 C), add a few strips of bacon carefully into the hot grease, cooking until crisp.
Be mindful not to overcrowd your fryer as this could result in oil splatter that could burn yourself or your clothing.
5. Air Fryer
Air-frying bacon is an efficient and simple way to create extra crispy treats without the lengthy oven cooking times or messy stove top scenarios. Plus, clean-up is effortless!
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Preheat your air fryer, arrange the bacon slices in an even layer (some overlap is okay), cook for 8 minutes on the first side before flipping and continuing cooking until your desired crispiness.
3Drain on paper towel-lined plate after cooking is completed before refrigerating or freezing to extend storage times to up to 1 month in either case.
6. Microwave
Avoid plastic bacon trays by microwaving your bacon on a regular plate or Pyrex dish instead.
Start by lining it with three layers of paper towel (you will use lots!), this will absorb excess grease and prevent splatters during microwaving.
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Add bacon slices on top, making sure none overlap, cover with another layer of paper towels and place in the microwave.
Check bacon after two minutes and continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until desired crispiness has been reached - this method requires slightly more attention but is much simpler than cooking in either an oven or on a stovetop!
7. Sheet Pan
Baking bacon on a sheet pan is both quick and convenient when serving a crowd. Plus, this method eliminates the need for messy frying racks that do not heat evenly enough!
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Foil or parchment lined baking sheets make cleanup simple and cooking effortless, plus an additional paper towel can soak up excess grease from cooking.
Sheet pan cooking offers more flexibility for using any type of oil or fat imaginable, from olive oil and coconut oil to duck fat, peanut oil or even leftover bacon grease (though be sure to drain it properly!).
Although this method takes longer, patience will pay dividends as each step must be completed successfully before eating!
8. Cooling Rack
An alternative approach to baking bacon that's often underrated is using a rack in your foil-lined sheet pan as an elevated baking surface for your strips, which allows air circulation while eliminating the risk of flipping it halfway through and ending up with hot grease on your hands.
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Just be sure that your bacon slices do not overlap, as this could result in sogginess.
Additionally, this method makes large batches easy for entertaining events or parties and clean-up is quick & simple - plus, your leftover bacon grease can be used to saute vegetables or eggs!
9. Foil
Foil grilling bacon can be the ideal way to achieve delicious crunchy results, shielding it from flames while helping prevent it from burning on the grates or splattering onto other parts.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place an oven-safe wire rack atop. Arrange bacon slices in one layer on the rack before baking until crispy.
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After your bacon is finished cooking, remove from the pan and blot with paper towels to absorb any remaining grease. Save this fat to use later for eggs, roast vegetables or sauteeing recipes!
