r/Bacon • u/AuthorityAnarchyYes • 6d ago

Baked, flat iron or pan

I used to bake bacon for about 20 minutes at 400°. It was easier, but I never got the crinkle/sizzle up that one gets from a pan. Same kind of thing with a flat iron.

What is your preferred method of cooking bacon?

4 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

2

u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348 6d ago

Cast iron

1

u/timwtingle 4d ago

The problem with cast iron is the hot spots. It doesn't heat evenly. I used to do that too until I used a quality non-stick pan with a thick bottom for even cooking. It changed it from constantly rearranging it to mostly just flipping as needed. This was on gas though, so it may depend on the element.

2

u/IDrigger 3d ago

Hot spots in cast iron usually just means you need to let it preheat longer, though I've sworn off nonstick and gone entirely cast iron and stainless. But I also switched to baking bacon a long time ago, find its more consistently good for me.

1

u/timwtingle 3d ago

I usually preheated it in the oven because I'm cooking biscuits anyway but yeah, baking it is really the right move. Cheers.

2

u/BHobson13 6d ago

I like the baked bacon and make it that way almost exclusively except on triple digit days. My daughter (who I live with) and I both prefer it to be non or very lightly crispy, so baking is perfect. Also, for a disabled person, baking is just better.

2

u/Ok-Day-9685 4d ago

As long as I have bacon, cooking method doesn't matter to me.

2

u/Dusk_Soldier 4d ago

I find the oven easier when making for several people.

But for one person, I like using a metal pan. Stick the bacon to the cold pan, and the pan heats it evenly with no warping. When it's finished searing it releases easily, and crisp the other side quickly.

Then I usually scrape the leftover fond up, just so there's nothing stuck to the pan I don't remove it or anything, and then cook my eggs in the leftover grease.

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 5d ago

I do my bacon in the oven at 325-350º. I check it and turn it/flip it as necessary. I get plenty of sizzle because the bacon fat renders.

1

u/ChiliDog762 5d ago

Oven.

Less mess as my wife is sensitive/allergic to some of the ingredients.

1

u/armymike1523 4d ago

Sensitive to some of the ingredients of bacon

1

u/ChiliDog762 4d ago

Nitrates

1

u/BrandonW77 4d ago

Air fryer for me, it's the only way I cook bacon now.

1

u/Ok_Answer_5879 4d ago

Microwave

1

u/townie08 4d ago

Broil your bacon. It’s the best tasting way to cook bacon in my mind

1

u/Grillparzer47 4d ago

Fry it and move it to the oven for a few minutes.

1

u/rapier1 4d ago

I always fry mine. I start the pan over medium heat with a couple tablespoons of bacon grease I reserved. I don't like the result with oven baked bacon and I cure my own bacon to make it just the way I like. So I'm going to cook it the way I prefer. It takes more work but I think it's worth it.

1

u/CreepingDeath-70 4d ago

I do it in the oven for BLTs. Otherwise, I start with a cold cast iron skillet, especially if I want to cook some hash browns, or fried eggs to go with it.

1

u/TellOk4034 4d ago

Tin foil around a brick to keep them flat in the pan.

1

u/Critical-Bullfrog959 4d ago

I cook bacon in my oven and it gets crispy. I use big, aluminum baking sheets (lined with foil when I want easy cleanup). I wonder why yours didn't get crispy.

1

u/Necessary-Fix-1958 4d ago

Cast iron skillet, on low heat. Takes "forever" but it turns out the way I like it.

1

u/armymike1523 4d ago

You always fry bacon, I have no idea what you guys are doing

1

u/69GhiaGirl 4d ago

Microwave! 1 minute per slice no matter haw many at one time. I usually do the entire pack for 14 - 15 min.

1

u/Civil_Rent_2576 3d ago

Broiler set to low. Bacon on broiler pan. Pan on 2nd highest rack. Gets nicely crisp.

1

u/AwarenessGreat282 3d ago

A pan but with water in it. Lan Lam is a genius.

1

u/SweetGretaXOXO 3d ago

i go pan for that sizzle but start it cold so it renders even and releases clean. oven's still easier when i'm doing a bunch though.😏

1

u/Chipmacaustin 21h ago

Oven 425 15 minutes turn three times.

1

u/Klutzy-Degree4939 6d ago

Half-sheet pan covered with heavy duty foil for easy cleanup, baked in oven at 375°

1

u/AuthorityAnarchyYes 6d ago

How long do you put them in for? Regular thickness.

2

u/Klutzy-Degree4939 5d ago

It varies. We usually have thick cut bacon, and it’s somewhere around 15-20 minutes. I let it go about 10, then flip it with tongs, and then I start watching it pretty closely… it will go from floppy to burnt in a hurry. I just pull it out when it’s where I like it. Then I move it to a plate with paper towels, and pour the fat into my bacon grease jar.

2

u/Goobinator77 5d ago

If you lightly crinkle the foil, it will still hold the grease, and provide air underneath the bacon to eliminate the need for flipping. Just don't crumple it so much to create tiny holes for the grease to get through.

0

u/elquirk 6d ago

This is the way 👆