Taste.com.au’s guide for cooking bacon

Chefs have been doing it since the dawn of cafe culture, but now it's your turn. Here's everything you need to know about making the best bacon in the pan, or in the oven.

2 min read

November 14, 2023 - 7:52AM

Slow-cooked Sticky Maple Pork with Pork Crackling Dippers

Crispy bacon is a staple in Sunday breakfasts, but it’s also found in a wide variety of savoury snacks and meals. Learning how to cook bacon couldn’t be simpler.

Prepare

Remove the rind. Lay the bacon flat on a chopping board and slice it off with a knife. (The rind is the brown edge that runs along the length of the bacon).

Cut the bacon in two halves.

Make small cuts along the edge of the fat with a knife. This helps stop the bacon curling.

How to cook bacon (pan fry method)

Add bacon to a cold fry pan. (Start with a cold pan to render the fat)

Increase heat to medium.

Turn over and cook on the other side until golden.

Remove from frypan and drain on paper towel.

How to cook bacon in the oven

Remove the rind. Lay bacon flat in a shallow baking tray, lined with baking paper.

Roast at 200 degrees for 10 minutes

Turn halfway, and bake for a further 8-10 minutes

Tip: brush with maple syrup for a flavour twist.

Bake for a further 3-4 minutes

Serve.

Make small cuts along the edge of the fat with a knife to stop the bacon curling.

How to tell if bacon is off

Colour – If the bacon has turned brown or grey with a tinge of green or blue, it is off. Bacon is safe to eat if it has a natural pink colour with the fat being white or yellow.

Smell – Bacon is spoiled if it smells sour, fishy, or just unpleasant. Fresh bacon will always have a natural meaty smell.

Touch – Bacon that has gone off will feel slimy to touch with a sticky sheen around it. Good bacon is soft, fresh and moist.

Is bacon good for me

As an animal protein, bacon contains B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. It also has decent amounts of selenium, iron, phosphorus and zinc. However, bacon is also very high in sodium and saturated fat. It is suggested to limit your intake of bacon to occasional consumption, or substitute with lifestyle changes to counteract any negative effects.

How to cook with bacon

Bacon has many uses in the kitchen, the most popular ways to cook with bacon are:

With eggs – quiche Lorraine, egg and bacon pie, or bacon and eggs.

With meat – coq au vin, beef bourguignon, or saltimbocca. Bacon can also be used as a base for stews or braises.

With seafood – bacon goes wonderfully with seafood. Bake oysters with matchsticks of bacon and a splash of Worcestershire sauce for oysters kilpatrick or top clams with bacon, breadcrumbs and garlic to make the US dish of Clams Casino.