I cooked bacon with 4 different appliances, and I'll never make it on a stovetop again

Steven JohnJun 13, 2024, 01:22 IST

Only one appliance made perfect strips of bacon.Steven John

I cooked bacon using my stove, oven, air fryer, and microwave to see which had the best results.
A pan on the stove may be the classic approach, but it was messy and extra greasy.

I cook a lot of bacon — as in about a pound a week. Even though pork prices are slightly lower this year, I still don't have much room in the budget for a bad batch.

My preferred way to prepare our bacon is to cook a large batch in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. When it's done, I'll chop up the fatty meat into bits and store it in the freezer for breakfast omelets.

But when bacon is front and center rather than a mere part of a larger meal, I'm not sure the oven is the best way to go.

To find the best cooking method, I made bacon using my oven, stove, air fryer, and microwave to see which appliance came out on top.

I used three different types of bacon to ensure my tests were thorough.

I wanted to try different cuts and flavors of bacon in all the appliances. Steven John

I already knew what to expect from oven-cooked bacon.

I like to use a bit of parchment paper on the pan. Steven John

If you're cooking for a crowd, the oven might be the way to go.

There were no surprises when I pulled the pan out of the oven. Steven John

Microwaved bacon is so quick that it’s easy to forgive it being the worst method.

I sandwich the bacon in between paper towels.Steven John

Now I remember why I stopped cooking bacon like this.

The bacon was so greasy.Steven John

Cooking bacon in a pan was a surprising letdown.

I started with a completely cool pan.Steven John

A couple of minutes later, the bacon was done, and I was so over the method.

Only one piece was to my liking. Steven John

The air fryer quickly became my favorite way to cook bacon.

My air fryer has several layers of shelves.Steven John

The taste, texture, and grease level were all perfect.

I loved the slightly crispy but still fatty bacon.Steven John

I’ll still cook bacon in the oven for ease, but the air fryer produces the best results.

I can't believe how good the air-fryer results were.Steven John

I made Gordon Ramsay's easy 10-minute pasta and it's the perfect summer dinner when you're feeling lazy

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