Secret Ingredient for the Crispiest Bacon

by: Nini
July 6, 2024

source: Flickr

There is no concept of leftover bacon in my home. Oh, it’s gone in the blink of an eye! Everyone in my family loves it—my kids love it, my husband loves it, and frankly, so do I. Eggs and bacon are a staple in my house, almost like it’s a tradition to have it for breakfast. I always prefer to have the bacon as crispy as possible because, to be honest, crispy bacon is the best. But occasionally, it does not come out as crispy as I would like it to be. Of course, it’s still delicious, but when you are a bacon enthusiast like myself, the crispiness is where it’s at.

Then, I was informed of this secret for achieving the crunchiest bacon, and I must say, this is the right way to make bacon. It requires some flour and a fair amount of time, but the outcome is, of course, rewarding. Here is a life-changing tip that I want to share with you.

The Flour Method for Bacon that Isn’t Chewy

So, here’s the secret: flour! To achieve the perfect crispy bacon every time, all you need to do is to season your bacon with a little flour and refrigerate it to chill before cooking. But why flour, you may ask? Okay, first of all, the flour helps soak up some of the excess fat in bacon so that it can get crispy faster. Also, it prevents the bacon from curling as much, giving you nice, straight strips of bacon.

Can You Use Other Flours?

Yes, you can! Although all-purpose flour is recommended, you can try other kinds of flour such as rice flour or cornstarch. These can also offer superb results. The key is to use a flour that will absorb moisture well and create a light, crispy coating.

How to Make the Crispiest Bacon: Step-by-Step

Below is the process on how to make the crispiest bacon of your life. It is rather easy, but you should prepare for it beforehand. Believe me, once you try this method, you will not want to do it any other way.

Ingredients:

• Bacon strips (2–3 per person)
• All-purpose flour (or your preferred type of flour)
• Parchment paper
• Beeswax wrap or an additional piece of parchment paper

Instructions:

The Night Before:

1. Grab a medium-sized bowl and put some flour in it.
2. Take each bacon strip and dip it into the flour, ensuring it is well coated. Shake off the excess flour.
3. Place the flour-coated bacon strips on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan so that the bacon pieces are not touching. If you need to layer the bacon, put a sheet of parchment paper between each layer.
4. Cover the pan with beeswax wrap or an additional layer of parchment paper.
5. Transfer the pan into the fridge and allow the bacon to chill for a few hours, or even better, overnight.

The Morning Of:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Take the bacon out of the fridge and remove the covering. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the parchment-lined sheet pan.
3. Cook the bacon in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes.
4. Using tongs, flip the bacon slices over. Bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and evenly browned.
5. Once the bacon is golden brown and super crispy, use the tongs to transfer it to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up the excess oil.
6. Serve the bacon warm and enjoy the crispy experience!

Why the Shape Matters

One of the best parts about this method is that it helps the bacon keep its shape. Always having strips of bacon, rather than crumbled bits, is crucial, especially if you’re making something like bean-and-egg tacos or a classic BLT sandwich. The strips not only look better but also provide that satisfying crunch in every bite.

So, this is it, folks! This hack will give you the crispiest bacon and surely make you the breakfast star of your family. It’s easy to look at the step of coating the bacon in flour and chilling it overnight and think it’s unnecessary, but it’s not. I hope this helps the next time you are planning to prepare a big breakfast or brunch. You will be quite astonished at how crispy and tasty the bacon will be.

In my house, this has become the go-to way to prepare bacon. It’s a simple, yet effective way to get your day started right when you finally taste that first piece of bacon. Also, it’s enjoyable to engage the children in the preparation; they can help shake the bacon in the flour and arrange it on the pan.

Whether you are a traditionalist who only likes your bacon crispy or someone who enjoys experimenting with flavors and textures, this method will not disappoint. So, do not hesitate—start and indulge yourself in the process of creating the perfect bacon. And remember, crispy bacon is not just food; it’s an experience.