Bacon is crispier if you ditch oil and pour a simpler item into the pan instead
There is no cosier feeling than making up on a rainy autumn morning and making yourself a big bacon butty, but it is easy to be put off cooking one if you hate frying food. Everyone loves a breakfast sandwich, but cooking with oil can be frustrating because it often splatters everywhere, which risks burning yourself and leaving a lot of cleanup afterwards.
TL;DR
- Chef Joshua Weissman suggests cooking bacon in water instead of oil.
- Adding bacon to a cold pan, covering with water, and heating to medium allows fat to render evenly as water evaporates.
- This method prevents bacon from browning too quickly, ensuring even cooking and crispiness.
- Using water controls pan temperature, promoting gentle fat rendering and preventing burning.
- The water method results in crispier, more flavorful bacon with less cleanup compared to frying in oil.
- Place bacon in a single layer in a cold pan, add water to cover halfway, and heat over medium.
- Simmer until water evaporates, then continue cooking until desired crispiness is reached.