We Tried 8 Methods of Cooking Bacon and Found an Absolute Winner #TBT

Bacon Day is tomorrow so this seemed like a good time for a Throwback Tuesday. Today's blog post was originally published last year:

Since Bacon Day is coming up at the end of the month, it seems like a good time to determine the best method for cooking it. This blog post is based on an article from Kitchn.

People often joke that bacon makes everything better. I tend to agree. I use it a lot as a flavoring agent in recipes — a slice or two to infuse a pot of dried beans with porky richness, for example. But on #treatyoself days, I’ll cook up a mess of bacon as a more substantial component to a dish, or as a standalone food. This is the bacon to pile onto burgers or BLTs, or to enjoy alongside pancakes or waffles, dragging the strips through syrup or runny egg yolks.

Yet I’ve never had a consistent, go-to method for cooking that bacon. I’ve cooked it in a skillet and in the oven, and I’ve resorted to the microwave when I was in a hurry. I’ve read about air fryer and sous vide methods I’d like to try, as well as other hacks for easier cleanup or better texture.

To find which method or methods work best, I tested eight that are touted by trusted website sources and compared the results side-by-side. My house smelled amazing, by the way, and my sons and husband were delighted to help me taste test.

Here's a listing of the 8 methods, with their overall ranking on a scale of 1 - 10:

1. Water in Skillet: Rating: 5/10
2. Microwave: Rating: 6/10
3. Nonstick Skillet: Rating: 6/10
4. Baking on a Rack with Paper Towels Underneath: Rating: 7/10
5. Air Fryer: Rating: 7/10
6. Sous Vide: Rating: 8/10
7. Cast Iron Skillet: Rating: 8/10
8. Baking on Parchment Paper: Rating: 10/10

Make sure you read the article to see the pros and cons of each method. Your ratings may be somewhat different based on your preferences.

Let me know if you try any of these methods and let me know what you think!

Interesting days

Today - Tick Tock Day and Pepper Pot Day

Tomorrow - Bacon Day and Bicarbonate of Soda Day

Month long celebrations:

Nov 26 - Dec 31: A Blue Christmas

Next Tuesday - Whipped Cream Day and Bird Day

January 29 - Fun At Work Day, Puzzle Day, Curmudgeons Day, Cornchip Day and Freethinkers Day