Top chef reveals how to makes the best bacon – and it doesn’t involve frying at all
Is there anything better than a slice (or five) of sizzling bacon? It’s the crucial element that can easily make or break any breakfast dish.
Name a more iconic duo than bacon and eggs, I’ll wait.
That crispy, salty flavor is irresistible. And if it weren’t for the health issues, most people would eat it every day… and you better believe some people still do!
So what if I told you that you’re not making the most of this top breakfast food?
Cooking it isn’t exactly convenient. There’s a delicate balance between undercooking and burning it to a crisp. It’s annoying when it spatters and pops in the pan. Most people make it work and cook the bacon anyway, even if it’s tricky.
It turns out there’s an easy way to cook bacon that most people don’t know about!
You have to bake it. Believe it or not, making perfect bacon is as simple as sticking it into the oven.
In fact, it’s been in the name all along. Bake-on…am I right?
We’ve been doing it all wrong!
And unless you live in a tiny house your oven trays will fit many more slices of bacon than you can fit in a pan. No more folded over, or unevenly cooked slices. No more trying to squeeze enough slices for the whole family in one pan.
Baking is the way many top chefs cook their bacon.
Adam Sappington has worked as a chef for over 20 years, and made it to the Best Chef Northwest semi-finals. He has appeared on various TV shows, and runs The Country Cat restaurant with his wife, Jackie.
They love bacon so much, that they make five tons of house-cured bacon every year. It’s used for different dishes and even drinks, including to garnish a Bloody Mary cocktail.
Sappington swears by cooking bacon in the oven.
“The bacon cooks more evenly without the hot spots which can occur in a skillet.”
For perfectly crisp, oven-cooked bacon, just follow these simple steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit
- Line a large baking tray with parchment paper
- Place each slice of bacon along the tray
- The bacon can touch, but make sure it doesn’t overlap
- Cook for 7 minutes
That’s it! Just 7 minutes to achieve flawless bacon. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Of course, the perfect bacon is in the tongue of the beholder, so cook a little more or less to suit your taste.
It’s almost a shame to know this method, so get the word out!
Does America truly love bacon as much as we think we do, or is it just a stereotype?
Well… it’s estimated that the average American eats a whopping 18 pounds of bacon annually. Hopefully not all in one sitting!
If you had to guess, which State would you expect to hear eats the most bacon? Texas? Everything in bigger in Texas, but no. California? Try again.
The answer is New York!
New York City, to be precise, consumes the most bacon in the country. We’re changing the name from The Big Apple and The Big Bacon, effective immediately.
65% of Americans want bacon to become the national food. And honestly, I’m for it.
Who’s with me?
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Sources: Delish, The Country Cat, Expanded Ramblings, Meat Institute