There are several effective methods to cook bacon, each with its own benefits depending on your preference for crispiness, convenience, and cleanup.

1. Cooking Bacon in a Frying Pan (Stovetop)

• Heat 1 tablespoon of sunflower or vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Add bacon slices and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side, adjusting time for desired crispiness.
• For best results, start with a cold pan and cook over low to medium-low heat to allow fat to render slowly and cook the bacon evenly without burning

2. Oven-Baked Bacon

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly oil a non-stick tray.
• Lay bacon slices in a single layer without overlapping.
• Bake for 10-20 minutes, flipping halfway if not using a rack, until crispy to your liking.
• Using an ovenproof rack on a tray allows fat to drip off, making it slightly healthier and eliminating the need to flip

Tips for Oven-Baked Bacon

• For extra crispy bacon, place bacon between two sheets of greaseproof paper and weigh down with a heavy pan while baking for 15-20 minutes

• Oven baking is cleaner, produces less splatter, and frees you to multitask while cooking

3. Sous Vide Bacon (Advanced)

• Cook thick-cut bacon vacuum-sealed at 145°F for about 8 hours.
• After sous vide, crisp it quickly on a hot pan or griddle for a perfect texture contrast

Additional Tips

• Avoid cooking bacon too fast to prevent uneven cooking and burnt fat.
• Use tongs or a wooden spoon to flip bacon occasionally for even browning

• Save rendered bacon fat for cooking other dishes

In summary, the oven method is great for ease and batch cooking, the stovetop method allows more control over crispiness, and sous vide offers a gourmet texture. Starting bacon in a cold pan and cooking on low heat is key for stovetop success, while baking at 200°C for 10-20 minutes yields consistently crispy bacon