Published: 01/15/2021 | Updated: 04/03/2024
The different methods of cooking bacon- oven, stove and air fryer- are tested to see which one is our favorite!
Cooking bacon bits is a skill that anyone can learn. It’s easy to do and the results are always delicious. In this article, I will teach you how to cook bacon perfectly using 3 different methods of cooking bacon- oven, stove and air fryer. All these methods are very easy and simple; you only need a few minutes to prepare.
First and foremost, please note that different brands of bacon can vary in terms of fat content. Some brands’ slices of bacon contain more bacon fat than others. The amount of fat that is absorbed into your food depends on the type of fat. For example, some brands of bacon contain less saturated and more unsaturated fats. Other brands have a lot of sodium. Some brands have a lot of sugar, too.
So, you have to be careful about which brand of bacon you buy. I always buy a pack of 4 bacon slices per package. This helps me to cook them all at the same time and it makes my life easier.
I’ve pretty much always cooked delicious bacon in a frying pan on the stove, because it’s honestly just auto pilot at this point. It’s what I’m used to and seems the most convenient.
But I’ve always wanted to test cooking bacon in the oven and I’ve been hearing more about cooking bacon in the air fryer, so it seemed like the perfect time to put all 3 to the test!
All of the bacon used was from the exact same pack. I wanted to be sure it was all the same brand, same thickness and same salt content. I’m not a scientist at all, but it seemed like a good idea to have the same starting point for each method I was testing!
Frying Bacon on the Stove
Since this is where my comfort zone is, I thought I would start here, the classic stovetop awesome bacon method.
The best way to cook bacon in a frying pan is low and slow. I always place my bacon in a cold pan, rather than a pre-heated pan. I turn my burner to medium low and let it cook slowly until crispy.
Pros:
- Only took about 10-15 minutes
- Since I can watch it the whole time, I can control when it’s ready to be pulled off. Sometimes there’s a fine line with bacon between needing more time and being too well done, and a frying pan let’s you eye that up the easiest.
- This is also the only method that would allow you to cut your bacon into smaller pieces and fry them up that way. I do this frequently, so this is something I keep in mind.
- The end product was perfectly crispy, but not too well done.
Cons:
- It makes the biggest mess out of all 3 methods. There are bacon grease splatters everywhere and you really do need to wear an apron.
- It needs more attention than the other methods. I flip my bacon a few times when it’s on the stove whereas the other two methods I only flip once.
- You can only fit a small amount of bacon at a time so you need to cook it in stages.
Bacon Cooked in the Oven
Most people I know seem to swear by the oven-baked bacon method, so it was time I gave it a shot! I was pleasantly surprised!
Pros:
- The biggest pro to me was how much you can cook at once. The cookie sheet in the picture above is actually the smallest one I own. I could have easily fit two much larger baking sheets and cooked quite a bit of bacon at one time.
- This also seems to be the cleanest method. Just throw the foil away at the end and you’re good to go.
- This oven baked bacon was delicious! At first it didn’t seem like it was going to crisp up, but after removing it to paper towels, it really did crisp up very nicely.
Cons:
- This method took the longest out of all 3 that I tested. It took about 12-17 minutes total at 400 degrees. Not a ton longer, but that’s about 50% longer than pan-frying.
- I’m not sure I would take the time to heat the oven up for that long if I only needed a few slices. This is more a method for large batches of bacon it seems.
Cooking Bacon in the Air Fryer
I’m just going to say that this was my least favorite method and one I probably won’t ever use again! The bacon didn’t taste as burnt as it looks, but it wasn’t great either!
Pros:
- Took the least amount of time
Cons:
- Was the most well done, almost on the verge of being too well done! I cooked it at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping once halfway through. I saw on a number of other sites that they recommended 10 minutes in the air fryer, so I figured I would check it at 8 minutes and track it from there. Umm, it was already a bit extra too crispy for my liking at 8 minutes!
- Even if it hadn’t cooked too long, I still wouldn’t be thrilled with this method because the air circulating flipped the bacon around and made it curl into itself. It didn’t stay flat pieces of bacon.
- This was also the method where I could cook the fewest pieces at one time. Not a fan of that either!
I was glad I took a little time to test them out, and could easily see myself baking bacon in the oven more often when I’m cooking anything close to a 1 pound bacon. The oven method is just easier to do the large batches at once.
But I think overall, I still liked the stove top the best! It was just easier to keep my eyes on and came out tasting the best and chewier bacon, with the level of crispiness that I prefer.
If I learned anything, though, it’s that my beloved air fryer Parmesan Pork Chops can’t make any food better…
What are the doneness levels of cooked bacon?
Bacon is a type of pork that is typically cured and then smoked. It can be eaten on its own or used as a flavor enhancer in various dishes. The level of doneness refers to how well-cooked the bacon is. There are four main doneness levels: raw, soft, medium, and well-done. Each level has its own distinct taste and texture. Raw bacon is the least cooked, while well-done bacon is the most cooked.
In conclusion, bacon is a delicious and versatile food that can be cooked in different ways to suit your tastes. Whether you prefer it soft, crunchy, or somewhere in between, the key is to pay attention to the bacon as it cooks and adjust the temperature accordingly. With practice and patience, anyone can master the art of cooking bacon for breakfast. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of bacon desserts and cooking methods until you find what works best for you.
Looking for more bacon recipes
If you’re looking for some more American bacon recipes to try! Here are some favorite recipes that will have your taste buds dancing with delight.
- Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
- Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Campfire Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
- Bacon-Wrapped Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Easy Stuffed Mushrooms with Cream Cheese and Bacon
- Bacon, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Bites
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