What is the best way to cook thick-cut bacon?
The oven. Lay the slices on a foil-lined sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 18 to 25 minutes, with no flipping, until they’re as crisp as you like.
The oven cooks every slice evenly, there’s no splatter on the stove, and you can cook a whole pack at once. For extra-crispy bacon, set a wire rack on the pan so the fat drips away. Start checking at 15 minutes, since ovens vary.
How do you cook thick-cut bacon in a skillet?
Start the slices in a cold skillet, then cook over medium heat for 10 to 14 minutes, turning every couple of minutes, until browned and crisp.
Starting cold lets the fat render slowly, so the bacon crisps instead of burning before it’s done. Cast iron works best. Pour off extra grease partway through if the pan gets crowded.
How long do you cook thick-cut bacon in an air fryer?
Cook it at 375°F for 10 to 14 minutes in a single layer, turning once halfway, until crisp.
Don’t stack the slices. A little water or a slice of bread in the drawer under the basket helps keep the grease from smoking.
Is bacon raw?
Yes. Bacon is cured and smoked, but it’s still raw pork, so always cook it until it’s crisp or the fat is fully rendered before eating.
How do you get thick-cut bacon crispy without burning it?
Use medium heat, give it time, and pull it just before it looks done. Bacon keeps crisping for a minute or two on a paper towel after it leaves the heat.
- Start cold in a skillet, or use the oven.
- Don’t crowd the pan; steam keeps it from crisping.
- Watch the last few minutes: thick bacon goes from golden to too dark fast at the end.
What is the difference between hickory and applewood smoked bacon?
Hickory smoked bacon has a bold, classic smokehouse flavor. Applewood smoked bacon is milder and a little sweeter, from the fruitwood smoke.
Hickory stands up to beans, greens, burgers and anything with big flavor. Applewood shines at breakfast and with sweet pairings like maple, pancakes and grilled cheese with fruit.
Can you cook bacon from frozen?
Yes. Cook frozen bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat and pull the slices apart as they thaw, or bake the frozen block on a sheet pan at 400°F and separate it after a few minutes. Expect it to take about half again as long.
What can you do with leftover bacon grease?
Strain it through a paper towel or fine strainer into a jar, keep it in the refrigerator, and use it to cook eggs, greens, cornbread, beans and potatoes. Never pour it down the drain.
Throw it out if it smells sour or off. To toss it, let it harden and put it in the trash.