Crispy bacon secrets: Perfecting texture with frying tips
Sliced bacon, despite appearances, isn't straightforward to prepare. You need high-quality meat—not too lean or fatty—and care during frying. The slices should be flipped at the right moment to avoid them being burnt or insufficiently browned. As the British say, bacon should be "crispy," crunchy.
For meat-eaters, fried or baked bacon is a versatile addition. Whether starting with scrambled eggs for breakfast or ending with party snacks, the uses for bacon in cuisine are endless. However, crispy bacon in twisted strips or spirals came to us from the United States. Although not easily digestible, it certainly has its appeal.
What kind of bacon for crispy slices for scrambled eggs?
The key to success is thinly sliced pieces. If you don't have a slicer at home, don't buy whole bacon. You can ask the butcher to slice the meat for you, though they might decline. Therefore, the best solution is to buy high-quality bacon already sliced.
Crispy, thin slices of bacon can be made from raw, smoked, or boiled meat, though the final result will differ slightly for each. Raw bacon would be the best option, but it's rarely found in slices. That leaves smoked or boiled. Personally, I opt for smoked since it has a more pronounced flavour and doesn't require additional seasoning.
A small addition for browning the crust
When frying bacon in a pan, it's worth adding a bit of real butter. But don't rush this step. Place the slices of bacon on a dry and cold pan. Turn on the burner to medium heat and let the fat gradually render out of the meat. When the bacon begins to brown, add a tablespoon of butter. Spread it across the pan in such a way that it can slide under the browning slices. After about 5 minutes, flip the bacon to the other side.
Crispy bacon from the oven
To prepare crispy slices in the oven, another item that's surely in your kitchen will come in handy. Lightly sprinkle the bacon with a small amount of flour and place it in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the slices to the other side.
You can also use the grill option in the oven, which is an even quicker solution. Slices placed on racks will be ready in just 5 minutes, but watch them to ensure they don't burn. One minute too long, and instead of crispy red slices, you'll serve burnt and tough chips.
