Mistakes Everybody Makes When Cooking Bacon
Everybody loves bacon—but not when it's underdone or way too crispy! We're here to help you master the art of bacon-making.
Mistake #1: Cooking too much bacon
If you’re making bacon for just one or two people, why not pick up a slice or two at the butcher counter instead of those big packs? Not only will it be fresher than the pre-packaged strips, it won’t ever go to waste in your fridge.
Mistake #2: Taking things day by day
Mornings a little hectic at your house? When you’re doing your weekly meal-prep on Sunday, it doesn’t have to be only for lunch and dinner! There are so many ways to meal prep breakfast too, so make your bacon in advance. Just pop your pre-cooked slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to crisp each morning.
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Mistake #3: Only cooking bacon on the stove
Baking bacon is a breeze, especially when you have other dishes cooking on your stovetop. This will save you from grease splatters and the clean-up from cooking in the oven couldn’t be easier. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or simply want to make your own morning easier, using your oven is the way to go.
Here’s how to clean absolutely everything in your kitchen, according to Charles the Butler of CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show.
Mistake #4: Cooking cold bacon
In order for the meat and fat in your bacon to cook evenly, they have to be at the same temperature. The fat retains the cold longer than the meat, so letting it sit at room temp for 15 minutes before you start cooking will help produce a more evenly cooked piece of bacon.
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Mistake #5: Crowding the pan
The bacon needs room to breathe. When you crowd the bacon, it will leave you with a mess of tangled strips of floppy bacon instead of the perfectly crisp strips you know and deserve. So spread that bacon out!
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Mistake #6: Cooking in a hot pan
While it might seem like the right thing to do, cooking your bacon at too high a temperature from the start can lead to over-cooked bacon with the fat not adequately rendered, leaving you with a slightly under-cooked and slightly burnt strip. Nobody wants that, so start it low and slow, and bring up the heat as needed.
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Mistake #7: Throwing out the fat
Before you clean up, don’t even think about throwing out that bacon fat! That sizzly combination of oil and rendered fat in your pan is perfect for frying potatoes, adding to soups for a boost of richness or making cornbread. Store your fat in a silicone ice cube tray for easy removal later on.
Now that you’ve mastered the art of cooking bacon, find out the mistakes you’re probably making with eggs.
