Steam-Cooking Bacon: A Healthy, Tasty Method

There are many ways to cook bacon, but steaming is one of the best. Bacon cooked in a steam oven is ultra-crisp without any additional fat, and the ratio of crispiness to tender meat is just right. It's also a lot less messy than frying bacon, which can cause grease to splatter all over your stovetop. To steam bacon, preheat your oven to 400°F/200°C, line a perforated pan with baking paper, lay out your bacon slices, and cook for 12-15 minutes for thick slices or 8-10 minutes for diced pieces.

How to steam cook bacon in a steam oven

Steaming bacon in an oven is a great way to cook bacon, resulting in crispy yet tender meat without the mess of stovetop frying. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the best results:

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Tray

Firstly, preheat your steam oven to a temperature between 350-400°F (175-200°C). The exact temperature will depend on your oven and personal preference. For example, 375°F for 12-15 minutes will give you crispy bacon with a good texture. If you want a faster cooking time, you can go for 400°F.

Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. You can use a solid pan to collect the drippings and place a perforated pan on top, or simply use a perforated pan.

Step 2: Arrange the Bacon

Lay the bacon slices on the prepared tray, ensuring they are in a single layer with no overlap. If you are using diced bacon, spread it out as evenly as possible, and avoid overcrowding the pan. It is better to use two sparsely covered pans than one overfilled pan.

Step 3: Steam the Bacon

Place the tray of bacon into the preheated oven. If you are using a cold oven, put the tray in before turning it on. This helps the fat render out more gently and keeps the bacon slices flatter.

Cook the bacon for 10-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the slices and your desired level of crispiness. Thick slices may take up to 15 minutes, while diced pieces will be done in 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the bacon to ensure it doesn't burn, as cooking times may vary.

Step 4: Cool and Serve

Remove the bacon from the oven when it is sizzling and golden. It may not seem very crispy at first, but it will continue to crisp up as it cools. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.

Serve immediately, or allow it to cool completely before storing it in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Tips:

• If you want to reuse the bacon grease for cooking, line a fine-mesh sieve with a paper towel and pour the hot grease into it, then store in a glass jar.
• If you prefer your bacon in larger pieces, try rolling it before cooking to prevent stretching and ensure uniformity.
• For extra crispy bacon, use a cooling rack placed over a baking tray to allow hot air to circulate and the fat to render out effectively.

Enjoy your perfectly cooked, crispy, and tender bacon!

How to cook bacon in water

Step 1: Prepare the Bacon and the Pan

Place your bacon in a cold skillet on the stovetop. If you're cooking diced bacon, spread the pieces out as best you can, ensuring there isn't too much bacon in the pan. For sliced bacon, lay the pieces out in a single layer with no overlap.

Step 2: Add Water

Add water to the pan. The amount of water you add depends on the method you prefer:

• Full water method: Add enough water to completely cover the bacon slices. This method takes longer as all the water must evaporate before the bacon starts to crisp.
• Less water method: Add just enough water to coat the bottom of the pan. This method is quicker and results in bacon that is just as tender.

Step 3: Cook the Bacon

Turn the heat to high. When the water reaches a boil (212°F/100°C), turn the heat to medium. The fat from the bacon will have almost completely rendered by this point, and you're less likely to burn the bacon.

Let the water boil off, then turn the heat to medium-low. The bacon will start to crisp up now. Since it's been cooked in water, it won't get tough or cook unevenly.

Step 4: Serve

Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, and serve.

Tips:

• This method works well when cooking a smaller amount of bacon. For larger quantities, it may be easier to cook the bacon in the oven.
• Cooking bacon in water results in bacon that is less salty and thinner than bacon cooked without water. It's a good method to use when you want to use bacon as a garnish.

How to cook bacon in the oven

Cooking bacon in the oven is a super easy, less messy way to prepare bacon that also allows you to multitask in the kitchen. It creates perfectly crispy, evenly cooked bacon.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Prepare the baking sheet: Line a large baking or rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. If using foil, ensure there is overhang on all four sides to contain the hot, rendered fat.
• Arrange the bacon: Place the bacon slices on the prepared pan in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. For extra crispy bacon, place the bacon on a metal cooling rack set over the baking sheet.
• Cooking time:

• For regular bacon, cook for 10 to 20 minutes, checking after 10 minutes, until the desired level of crispiness is achieved.
• For thick-cut bacon, cook for 18 to 20 minutes.

• Flip the bacon (optional): For thicker bacon, you may need to flip the slices and cook for a few extra minutes.
• Remove from the oven: Use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the grease.
• Save the bacon grease (optional): If you want to save the grease for future use, let it cool slightly, then pour it into a glass jar or heatproof container and refrigerate.

Tips:

• If you're cooking a large batch of bacon, use two baking sheets and rotate them halfway through.
• Always keep an eye on the bacon to ensure it doesn't burn, as cooking times may vary depending on the oven and the bacon thickness.
• For easy cleanup, use parchment paper or heavy-duty foil to line the pan.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy bacon!

How to cook bacon in a microwave

Microwaving bacon is a quick and easy way to cook bacon without the mess of grease splatters. It's also healthier than pan-fried bacon as it has less fat.

What You'll Need:

• Bacon (for best results, choose mid-price bacon that's neither too thick nor too thin)
• Microwave-safe plate or dish (preferably glass or Pyrex)
• Paper towels
• Oven mitts or a towel

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Line a microwave-safe plate or dish with two to four layers of paper towels. This will absorb the bacon grease and prevent splattering.
• Arrange the bacon slices on the paper towels in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap.
• Cover the bacon with another two to four layers of paper towels.
• Place the plate in the microwave and cook on high power for 30 seconds per slice or 1 minute per slice. For example, four slices of bacon should be microwaved for around four minutes.
• Check the bacon after a few minutes to ensure it doesn't overcook. Bacon cooks quickly in the microwave, so it's easy to burn.
• If the bacon still looks translucent, continue cooking in 30-second bursts until it reaches your desired level of crispiness.
• Carefully remove the plate from the microwave using oven mitts or a towel, as it will be hot.
• Transfer the cooked bacon to a fresh paper towel to drain and cool for about two minutes. You can pat it with an additional towel to absorb excess grease.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips:

• If you want to cook a lot of bacon, you can use the layering method. Simply add more layers of bacon with two paper towels between each layer. However, this may result in uneven cooking.
• If you like your bacon chewy, cook it for a shorter time.
• You can season the bacon with spices like cayenne pepper or smoked paprika before cooking, but be careful not to burn the spices.
• If you don't want to use paper towels, you can use a brown paper grocery bag or newspaper instead.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Quick and easy method with minimal cleanup
• No greasy splatters or mess
• Safer handling of hot bacon grease
• Less lingering bacon aroma in the kitchen

Cons:

• Uses a lot of paper towels, which is not environmentally friendly
• Easy to overcook if not monitored
• You can't save the rendered bacon fat for future use

Now you know how to cook bacon in the microwave! It's a convenient and mess-free option when you want a quick bacon fix.

How to cook bacon on the stovetop

Preparation

Before you start cooking, you'll need to gather your ingredients and equipment. For stovetop bacon, you'll need just one ingredient: bacon. While any kind of bacon will work, regular-cut pork bacon is recommended. You'll also need a few kitchen tools, such as a skillet or frying pan (non-stick or cast iron), tongs or a spatula, and a plate lined with paper towels.

Cooking the Bacon

Start by placing your bacon strips in a cold pan. Do not overlap the bacon strips, but they can touch as they will shrink during cooking. Turn on the heat to medium or medium-high. As the pan heats up, the bacon will start to release its fat. Use tongs or a spatula to loosen the strips and turn each slice to cook on the other side. Keep flipping and turning the bacon so that it browns evenly.

Cook the bacon until it reaches your desired level of doneness. For medium-cut bacon, this will take around 4-5 minutes on each side. If you like your bacon rubbery, cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. For crispy bacon, cook for 5-6 minutes on each side. Be careful not to overcook the bacon, as it can burn easily.

Once the bacon is cooked to your liking, transfer it to the paper towel-lined plate to drain and rest. If you are cooking multiple batches of bacon, be sure to drain the grease from the pan between each batch and wipe the pan with a paper towel. The grease can be saved and used for cooking other dishes.

Tips for Success

• Be patient and cook the bacon in batches to ensure even cooking. Resist the temptation to cook too many pieces at once, as this can lead to uneven cooking and longer cook times.
• Flip the bacon frequently, especially towards the end of the cooking process, to prevent overcooking and burning.
• If you're using a non-stick pan, there's no need to add oil as the bacon will release its own fat.
• To prevent splattering, which can be messy and painful if it touches your skin, use a splatter screen or wear an apron and oven mitts to protect yourself.
• To get rid of the lingering fried bacon smell, leave a dish of plain vinegar on the counter for several hours.

Frequently asked questions