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(Almost) everybody loves bacon, but how many of us know how to make perfectly cooked bacon every time? When you really think about it, you've probably settled for less than stellar bacon in your home kitchen. Perhaps burned, perhaps a little raw...maybe a little of both — it turns out, bacon isn't the easiest food to cook perfectly. Fortunately, there are some simple methods that can improve your bacon outcomes the next time the hankering takes you. Some involve a bit of planning, others a touch of craftiness, but you'll surely be able to try one of these methods for your next bacon meal. You should be doing this to bacon before you cook it.
Transcript
00:00Bacon is one of the most beloved breakfast foods in the country. While not renowned for
00:05its health benefits, fans of the fried meat feel that its rich, savory flavor makes it
00:10more than worth the indulgence. And the salty cured pork isn't just reserved for the mornings.
00:15It is a popular addition to all kinds of meals, from a side dish to a topping on burgers and
00:20salads to the main event in a sandwich like a BLT. In fact, it seems pretty likely that
00:26many bacon fans would add it to just about any meal if they could. However, there is
00:31one thing that makes bacon less than perfect — the preparation process. Some find the
00:36strips can be difficult to cook evenly, with some pieces coming out more chewy while others
00:41are more crispy. Furthermore, strips do not often lay flat inside a sandwich, which can
00:46make it difficult to distribute all the deliciousness evenly. The different pieces can also sometimes
00:51spill out when one goes to take a bite, leaving a disappointing baconless hole in a sandwich
00:56or burger.
00:57Fortunately, there's an easy solution for this bacon conundrum. To avoid uneven bacon
01:03in subpar sandwiches, some cooks recommend preparing the bacon in a specific way to prevent
01:08spillage and ensure all the bacon pieces are cooked evenly. What is that? Some swear that
01:13weaving the strips together and placing them in the oven is actually the best way to cook
01:17bacon. Layering the bacon like this and then baking it not only helps the meat cook thoroughly
01:22and evenly on all sides, it is also the best shape for evenly distributing it across every
01:28bite of your sandwich.
01:30Although frying bacon may be the more traditional way of cooking it, true bacon aficionados
01:35know there is much more to cooking bacon than simply tossing the strips in the frying pan.
01:41But whether you choose to use a skillet or not, do not put the bacon straight from the
01:44refrigerator onto the frying pan. Allowing the strips to rest and soften before cooking
01:50will allow the meat to cook more evenly and perfectly.
01:53Mmmmm.
01:55Bacon.
01:57However, if you do decide to skip the pan in favor of the oven rack, there are still
02:02a few important things to note. Bacon cooks best when it's laying flat, and an easy way
02:07to make that happen is to lay the strips out evenly and then cover them with a rack to
02:12ensure they remain flat throughout the cooking process.
02:15While bacon can always be prepared in the microwave for a faster cooking time, a waffle
02:19maker can also come in handy if you are in a pinch and you still want the same even,
02:24crispy result that you would achieve in a regular oven.
02:27When it comes to cooking bacon, the waffle iron works in much the same way as a conventional
02:32oven. Simply lay the strips flat, allow them to cook until crispy on both sides, and voila!
02:38There are endless hacks out there to help home chefs achieve that delicious, perfectly
02:42cooked strip of bacon, but honestly, all bacon is amazing.
02:46Kevin Bacon here. You know me from Six Degrees of, well, me. But it's time to expand.
02:53Those who prefer less grease can cook their strips on an incline, allowing the excess
02:57fat to drip off. But of course, the ultimate bacon cooking hack, no matter which device
03:02you choose to cook it on, is weaving the strips together. Many fans of this method insist
03:07that once you give the weaving method a try, you won't go back.
03:10The trick to achieving a perfect weave is to first lay the strips against each other
03:14vertically on a baking sheet, with the fatty sides all facing the same way. Then flip every
03:20other strip in half and lay another piece of bacon perpendicular to it before flipping
03:24it back down. Then do the same to the alternate column, and repeat, laying interlacing perpendicular
03:30strips across all the bacon columns.
03:33Finally, put the bacon weave in the oven and let it bake for about 30 to 35 minutes
03:38at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, although times may vary. Once the meat is thoroughly cooked,
03:43simply take it out and enjoy your perfectly cooked square of bacon.