Bacon is a great delight for non-vegetarians. And as cooking is an art, same theory goes for preparing bacon as well. It has to be cooked in a right time and on correct heat. The edges should not be burnt nor should they be kept undercooked. A perfectly cooked bacon is a great accompaniment with fried eggs for breakfast. To master the art of cooking bacon you can follow the following steps.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 15-20 minutes
Estimated Cost: $3-$5
Resources Required
1. Strips of bacon
2. Skillet
3. Tongs
4. Tissue paper
5. Plates
Instructions
1. Remove the bacon from the fridge
The very first step is to remove the bacon strips from the fridge and keep them outside for some time so that they can attain the room temperature. This helps the bacon to cook well. If cold bacon is fried it will be cooked unevenly i.e. some part half-cooked and some burnt. When the strips are cooked at room temperature they will ooze out more fat and which will allow the bacon to cook well.
2. Lay them in the skillet
The next step is to lay the strips of bacon in the skillet, which is not heated, with enough space between them. It’s advisable not to keep too many of these strips in the skillet. When you place 2-3 strips, enough grease is let out and the strips will cook and get crispy evenly. Use 2-3 turns to cook all the bacon so that all get the same crispness.
3. Cook the bacon
The skillet should be kept on a medium to high heat. It takes about 10 mins to cook bacon. All this while use tongs to turn the strips over and over so that they get a golden brown color. Mark Bittman, a famous cookbook author recommends that a close watch should be kept on the strips and they should be turned around more times so that they cook well and turn crispy evenly. Do not keep them on the flame and forget about it as they may burn fast from one side. Also, some pieces may cook faster than the others, remove those from the heat and replace with new strips in the vacant place on the skillet.
4. Remove from pan
Once you feel the bacon strips are equally brown from both sides, take out and put them on a piece of kitchen tissue to remove the excess grease. Then place them on plates and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bacon be cooked in a microwave?
Yes, it can be. You need to lay the strips of bacon on a paper napkin on a microwave safe plate. Then, cover it with another paper napkin and place it in the microwave for 5-6 mins. They should be crisp and cooked well from both sides.
Quick Tips
1. Make sure you have kept the bacon out of the refrigerator for about half an hour before you fry them.
2. Old bacon takes more time to cook than fresh bacon.
3. Once the bacon comes to room temperature you can easily separate the thin slices from each other.
Things To Watch Out For
1. Always use tongs to turn over the bacon and not your hands to avoid burning.
2. Bacon leaves a lot of grease on the pan after cooking. Let the pan cool. Wash it so that it does not get damaged.
3. Do not overcook the bacon and always keep a watch on them.
