# How to cook bacon: need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720 "2019-10-13T15:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/21 "2019-10-13T21:53:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If you want to stop bacon from curling in the pan, take away their little brooms. 😃 > [@friedo](#): > > You must be thinking of Canadian bacon. 😃 😃 Or, if it is a serious issue for you, get a [bacon press](https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=bacon+press&crid=2HK9OXWWLSYT6&sprefix=bacon%2Caps%2C155&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_5). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/22 "2019-10-13T22:12:39Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > 😃 > > 😃 😃 > > Or, if it is a serious issue for you, get a [bacon press](https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=bacon+press&crid=2HK9OXWWLSYT6&sprefix=bacon%2Caps%2C155&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_5). **Kaylasmom** and I got one as a wedding gift back in 1983. I recall that I used it exactly once. After cleaning it, I decided that it could best serve as a quaint ornament for our kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/23 "2019-10-14T01:19:18Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > 😃 > > 😃 😃 > > Or, if it is a serious issue for you, get a [bacon press](https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=bacon+press&crid=2HK9OXWWLSYT6&sprefix=bacon%2Caps%2C155&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_5). I made one recipe that needed flat bacon, and instructed you to put the bacon between two plates and microwave it. Worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/24 "2019-10-14T15:54:04Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Only way to ruin bacon is to burn it. Baking is best for a batch; much more forgiving. For 3 strips spray a non-stick frying pain with oil and cook it on a medium setting five minutes. If you prefer crispy to fatty flip it over until desired texture, checking every few minutes. I must say I’m confused by the 5 minutes. Even if I’m frying regular sliced bacon, instead of thick sliced, I find it takes closer to 15 minutes just to get to an edible cooked level, longer for crispy? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/25 "2019-10-14T16:06:30Z")
I recently watched Cook’s Illustrated Test Kitchen make bacon by putting it a pan and adding enough water to cover. Then cook on med-high until water has evaporated and bacon is browned. I’ve not tried it yet. Seems a novel way to go about it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/26 "2019-10-14T16:16:49Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I must say I’m confused by the 5 minutes. Even if I’m frying regular sliced bacon, instead of thick sliced, I find it takes closer to 15 minutes just to get to an edible cooked level, longer for crispy? Don’t know what he’s talking about. Since he starts with non-stick pan and some oil maybe he’s pre-heating the pan. To pan fry bacon I’ve started the bacon in a cold pan with no problems with the bacon sticking to the pan. I guess is you start with a hot enough pan you can get the bacon cooked in 5 minutes. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > I recently watched Cook’s Illustrated Test Kitchen make bacon by putting it a pan and adding enough water to cover. Then cook on med-high until water has evaporated and bacon is browned. I’ve not tried it yet. Seems a novel way to go about it. Recently heard of this. It’s supposed to stop splattering but I don’t see how mixing water and hot grease would do that. I guess it cooks the bacon slowly at first until the water is mostly gone. This is supposed to work in a baking pan in the oven too. Maybe I’ll try it some day. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/27 "2019-10-14T16:51:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Recently heard of this. It’s supposed to stop splattering but I don’t see how mixing water and hot grease would do that. I guess it cooks the bacon slowly at first until the water is mostly gone. This is supposed to work in a baking pan in the oven too. Maybe I’ll try it some day. splatter is caused by the water in the meat portion flash boiling when heated by the 250-300° fat. so yep, starting it in a pan with a little water brings the bacon up to done temp gradually and cooks the water out uniformly so there’s little left to flash boil at the end. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/28 "2019-10-14T20:49:46Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You must be thinking of Canadian bacon. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/29 "2019-10-14T23:10:46Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > As a bacon fan, it may be sacrilege, but after experimenting with many different techniques, I’ve found that the best way is to just put it in the microwave sandwiched in paper towels. Fast, easy, and results in even, crispy bacon with no gross stringy/fatty bits. Of course the crispiness means it’s not good for wrapping around stuff. I do this too. Out of circumstance, we ended up with two microwave ovens. So while I’m working breakfast on the stove, I can pop bacon in a microwave and zap it. Paper towels on plate, cover it with paper towels and turn it a few times. Much, much less mess in the end. And you can cook it just right. Give it another 20 seconds before serving and you have very nice hot bacon. It’s the only thing I cook in a MW. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720/30 "2019-10-15T15:19:05Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I recently watched Cook’s Illustrated Test Kitchen make bacon by putting it a pan and adding enough water to cover. Then cook on med-high until water has evaporated and bacon is browned. I’ve not tried it yet. Seems a novel way to go about it. I’ve done this. It makes the bacon cook evenly and reduces splatter. The downside is that it takes alot longer than just in the pan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cook-bacon-need-answer-fast/841720.md?page=1)