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Bacon is delicious, but cooking it properly takes some practice. If you want to master the art of cooking bacon, then read on.
Bacon is a great addition to any meal, but it can also be tricky to cook. There are several ways to cook bacon, but they all involve a certain amount of trial and error. The important thing is knowing when the bacon is ready.
While you can cook bacon for as long as you want, a perfect rasher will usually be dark and crispy, which is a lot harder to achieve than it sounds.
When it comes to cooking bacon, you need to be wary of certain factors, such as color, texture, and shape. This article will explain why these factors are important and how they can be used to tell whether the bacon is done.
Why Is It Important?
No matter how you choose to cook your bacon, it is important to know when the meat is done. This is because there is a fine line between well-done bacon and burnt rashers, a line that many people happen to cross.
In most cases, people would rather burn their bacon than bring it to a nice crisp, which can ruin the meat and make it inedible. In fact, burnt bacon is not delicious at all and should be thrown away or given to the animals.
Once you learn how to tell when the bacon is done, you can use any method to cook the meat, as you will know the telltale signs of perfectly cooked bacon.
Having this information will also reduce the chances of burning and inedible rashers.
How To Tell When Bacon Is Done
When it comes to cooking bacon, there are certain factors that you need to be aware of, such as the color, crispiness, and moisture content.
These components can help determine whether the bacon is done, so that you can remove it from the heat before the bacon burns or festers.
In the section below, we will take a look at these different factors and how they impact the bacon during the cooking process:
Crispiness
It’s no secret that bacon should be crispy, especially when it is served with pancakes and other foods.
However, this does not mean that the bacon should be burnt beyond recognition, as this will rob the meat of its natural flavor. Instead, the perfect rasher should be crunchy and incapable of tearing when you bite into it.
Of course, this is a difficult thing to determine, as you cannot test the bacon by eating it or touching it in the pan. Instead, it is advisable to use a fork or spoon to check the bacon’s texture, which should be crispy with a little give.
If the meat is still soft, you will need to cook it longer. Otherwise, you could run the risk of eating undercooked meat.
It is important to note that bacon will need to be checked constantly when cooked on the stove or grill, as this will ensure that the texture remains consistent and even.
When bacon is left on the stove too long, the meat will still offer some give, even if it has been overcooked. For this reason, you should remove the bacon from the heat as it crisps, otherwise, it could become stiff and inedible.
Shape
While it may sound like a strange concept, you can also use the bacon’s shape to determine whether it is done.
For example, raw bacon is commonly thick and will begin to reduce in size when exposed to extreme heat.
In fact, bacon is known to reduce by 40% during the cooking process, which means you can use this phenomenon to tell whether the bacon is ready.
This is because bacon contains a lot of moisture and fat, which will begin to render as the meat cooks.
Of course, the final shape of the bacon can vary depending on certain factors, with most rashers taking on a wavy appearance. The corners of the bacon should also curl up in the pan, which should help them to crisp as they cook.
Color
Color can also be used to determine the doneness of your bacon, as the meat is known to take on a different shade when cooked. In most cases, raw bacon will be pale in color, with rivers of white fat streaking the meat’s surface.
However, when the meat has been cooked, it can turn brown or black, although the final color will depend on how long the bacon has been left on the heat.
For the best results, we advise cooking your bacon until it is golden brown, as this will ensure a crisp and even finish.
When you start cooking the bacon, you will notice the change in color almost immediately and once the meat has turned brown you will need to check its texture to see if it is cooked.
If the meat turns dark brown or black, then you have overcooked it, and it will need to be thrown away.
Moisture
As we previously mentioned, bacon contains a lot of moisture and fat. However, this does not mean that the meat should be wet when it is cooked.
In fact, bacon should not retain any moisture when removed from the heat, as finished rashers can often be identified by their dry and crunchy texture.
That being said, moisture does play an important role in the cooking process, as the bacon’s natural fat will begin to foam as it renders in the pan.
When this happens, you will need to turn the bacon and check its texture, as this could mean that the rashers are cooked and ready to come off the heat.
How To Cook Bacon
Now that you understand how to tell when bacon is done, let’s take a quick look at the different methods you can use to cook the meat:
Grill
While many people choose to cook their bacon on the stove, it is also possible to cook it on a grill or barbecue.
During this method, the grill will need to reach a temperature of 400 F before you can get started. This will ensure that the bacon is evenly cooked and that it is safe for human consumption.
Smoker
Cooking bacon in a smoker is easier than it sounds. However, the overall process does take some time.
In most cases, the smoker will need to reach a temperature of 300 F before you can add the bacon to the grate. For the best results, we recommend cleaning the grate before getting started.
Oven
Using an oven is often seen as one of the safest ways to cook bacon, as it ensures a crisp and even finish.
The only downside is that you will need to use a rack, as bacon fat can prove difficult to clean. In most cases, the meat will need to be cooked for 10 – 20 minutes at a temperature of 375 F.
Stove
This method is considered one of the best ways to cook bacon, as it can be done quickly and without harm.
For the best results, the bacon will need to be laid out flat in a frying pan and then seared on both sides for 7 – 12 minutes. Once the bacon is done, you can pat it down with paper towels to remove the excess moisture.
Microwave
While it is possible to cook bacon in the microwave, we do not recommend it, as it can prove dangerous if done incorrectly.
The method involves layering the rashers with paper towels and then cooking them for 3 – 6 minutes. This gives you enough time to check the texture until it meets your preference.
Conclusion
To make sure that your bacon is done right, there are a few things you need to keep in mind – whether that be the color of the meat or its overall texture.
Once you understand what to look out for, you will be able to tell when your bacon is done, which will help to reduce burning and other issues.
