How to Cook Uncured Bacon for Maximum Flavor

Cooking uncured bacon can seem intimidating at first, but with a few simple tips, you can easily achieve crispy, delicious uncured bacon every time. As more people move towards uncured, nitrate-free options for health reasons, learning proper uncured bacon cooking techniques is a great skill to have.

What is Uncured Bacon?

Uncured bacon is pork belly that has been cured and flavored without the use of sodium nitrates or nitrites. Instead of these potentially harmful curing agents, uncured bacon relies on natural sources of nitrates like celery juice or celery powder. This allows uncured bacon to deliver the same smoky salty, savory flavor of traditional cured bacon but without the controversial synthetic nitrates.

While regular cured bacon browns faster thanks to the nitrates, uncured bacon can develop just as much crispy, brown deliciousness with slight adjustments to your cooking method. The natural curing process also produces a deep red “uncured” color rather than the pink of cured bacon.

Tips for Cooking Uncured Bacon Perfectly

Follow these simple tips for cooking picture-perfect uncured bacon every time:

1. Choose the Right Pan

A heavy, flat pan like a cast iron or stainless steel skillet is ideal for cooking uncured bacon. The thick pan helps the bacon cook evenly while allowing you to cook multiple strips at once. Nonstick pans can work as well, but may need more oil since uncured bacon releases less fat.

2. Preheat the Pan

Heating the pan before adding the bacon helps prevent sticking. Place the pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until hot. If the bacon starts to stick later, you can lower the heat, but preheating gives the bacon a nice quick start to browning.

3. Don’t Overcrowd the Pan

Lay the bacon strips out in a single layer without overlapping, Crowding the pan steams the bacon instead of crisping it and makes it cook unevenly, Cook the bacon in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding,

4. Cook Low and Slow

Turn the heat down to medium-low once the bacon is in the pan. Uncured bacon needs gentle, even heat to cook through without burning. Cook for 12-15 minutes total, turning the bacon every 3-5 minutes. The lower heat gives the natural nitrates time to react for golden-brown color.

5. Blot Excess Grease

As the bacon cooks, use a paper towel to blot any pools of grease so the bacon can properly crisp. The natural curing makes uncured bacon release less grease than cured bacon. Blotting prevents the bacon from stewing in the grease instead of browning.

6. Watch the Ends

Since the bacon ends are thinner, they can overcook easily. Use tongs to lift the ends out of the pan once they turn crispy so the thicker middles have time to finish cooking without burning.

7. Drain and Blot Before Serving

Once golden-brown and sizzling, transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Blot both sides with more paper towels to soak up excess grease for properly crispy texture.

Cooking Times for Different Cuts

The ideal cooking time can vary slightly depending on the cut of the bacon:

• Regular sliced – Cook for 12-15 minutes total, turning every 3-5 minutes. This allows time for even browning.

• Thick sliced – Cook for 15-18 minutes, turning occasionally. The thicker cut needs more time over lower heat.

• Lardons or diced – Cook for 8-12 minutes, stirring frequently. The smaller pieces crisp up faster than full slices.

Oven-Baked Uncured Bacon

For crisp uncured bacon without the splattering grease, try baking it in the oven:

• Preheat oven to 400??F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

• Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the sheet without overlapping.

• Bake for 15-18 minutes until browned and sizzling, flipping the bacon halfway through.

• Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain before serving.

Baking gives you perfectly even crisping without having to watch the pan. Just keep an eye on it towards the end to avoid burning.

Recipes and Serving Ideas for Uncured Bacon

Once you’ve mastered the cooking process, uncured bacon can be used in all the same classic recipes as cured bacon. Here are some delicious ways to use your crispy uncured bacon:

• Chopped over salads for a smoky, salty crunch. Try spinach, wedge, or Cobb salads.

• Make BLT sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on toasted bread.

• Crumble into homemade macaroni and cheese for a bacon flavor boost.

• Wrap around scallops, shrimp, chicken breasts, or other proteins before cooking.

• Cook into fried rice, quinoa, or Brussels sprouts for a salty accent.

• Mix into the batter of baked goods like muffins, scones, or cornbread.

• Top with an egg, cheese, and uncured bacon for an easy breakfast sandwich.

With its savory flavor and satisfying crunch, uncured bacon can instantly elevate soups, sandwiches, salads, and more. Learning how to achieve crispy uncured bacon allows you to enjoy all its POSSIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS AND DECADENT TASTE.

By using a heavy pan, preheating, cooking low and slow, and blotting away excess grease, you can easily fry uncured bacon for a crispy, mouthwatering result. Once you get the basic cooking method down, you can add uncured bacon’s signature crunch and salty flavor to all kinds of dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between.