Bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many. But cooking bacon can be tricky – it’s easy to end up with undercooked limp pieces or overdone burnt crisps. That’s where par cooking comes in handy! Par cooking bacon refers to partially pre-cooking the bacon before finishing it later. This technique allows the bacon to cook evenly when you need to use it in recipes.
In this detailed guide I’ll explain everything you need to know about par cooking bacon. You’ll learn
- The benefits of par cooking bacon
- How to choose the right type of bacon
- Step-by-step instructions for par cooking bacon in the oven
- Tips for par cooking on the stovetop or in the microwave
- How to store and reheat par cooked bacon
Plus plenty of tips for getting perfect results every time!
Why Par Cook Bacon?
Par cooking bacon provides a few advantages
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Even cooking – Partially cooking the bacon ensures it finishes cooking evenly later on. No more limp middles or burnt edges.
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Better wrapping – Par cooked bacon is flexible so it’s easier to wrap around foods like scallops or chicken
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Timesaving – You can par cook bacon in advance when you have time, then quickly finish cooking it when needed.
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Inventory control – Par cooking allows you to prep just the amount of bacon needed for a recipe. Less waste.
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Food safety – Partially cooking reduces the risk of bacteria compared to handling raw pork.
Choosing the Right Bacon
For the best par cooked bacon, choose a good thick-cut bacon that’s around 1/8 to 1/4 inches thick. Thinner bacon will overcook too quickly while thicker cuts won’t par cook evenly.
Slab bacon, steakhouse bacon, or other regular sliced bacon works well. Go for the thickest cut available.
Avoid extra-fatty bacon which can lead to greasy results. Look for bacon with a nice lean meat-to-fat ratio.
Any bacon will work including smoked, uncured, turkey, or other flavors. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
Par Cooking Bacon in the Oven
The oven provides an easy hands-off method for par cooking bacon evenly. Here’s how:
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Use the middle rack position.
Step 2: Prep Baking Sheet
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 3: Arrange Bacon
Place bacon strips in a single layer on the sheet without overlapping. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking.
Step 4: Par Cook
Bake for 8-12 minutes until bacon just starts to shrink and stiffen. It should not be fully crisp.
Step 5: Drain and Dry
Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease.
Step 6: Cool and Store
Allow the par cooked bacon to cool completely before storing.
That’s all there is to it! The oven provides even, hands-off cooking.
Par Cooking Bacon on the Stovetop
You can also par cook bacon on the stovetop with a skillet:
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Use a heavy skillet or cast iron pan. Nonstick is ideal to prevent sticking.
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Cook the bacon over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
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Fry in batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan which causes uneven cooking.
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Frequently flip and rotate the bacon with tongs as it cooks.
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Remove bacon from the pan before it fully crisps. It should still be pliable.
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Drain on paper towels before allowing it to cool.
Stovetop par cooking allows you to closely monitor the bacon as it cooks.
Par Cooking Bacon in the Microwave
The microwave can also be used to par cook bacon:
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Arrange bacon strips in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate.
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Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes. Time will vary based on your microwave.
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Drain away excess grease.
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Check bacon and continue cooking at 30 second intervals until just partially cooked but not crisp.
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Let cool completely before storing.
Microwaving is a fast option but you’ll need to closely monitor cooking.
How to Store and Reheat Par Cooked Bacon
Storage
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Store par cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
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For longer storage, keep frozen for 1-2 months. Freeze strips individually between parchment paper.
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Place paper towels in the storage container to soak up excess grease.
Reheating
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Thaw frozen bacon overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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Reheat par cooked bacon in a 400°F oven for 5-8 minutes until hot and crisp.
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Can also be reheated in the microwave or skillet until sizzling.
Tips for Perfect Par Cooked Bacon
Follow these tips for excellent results when par cooking bacon:
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Use thick-cut bacon around 1/8 inch thick.
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Choose bacon with a good lean-to-fat ratio.
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Cook low and slow. Higher heat causes uneven cooking.
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Don’t overlap bacon. Crowding leads to uneven cooking.
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Cook just until pliable but not fully crisp.
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Drain away excess grease after cooking.
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Let cool completely before storing.
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Store par cooked bacon in the fridge or freezer.
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Reheat before serving until hot and crisp.
Get Perfectly Cooked Bacon Every Time
Give par cooking a try for bacon that’s always perfectly cooked from the first bite to last – never limp, soggy, or burnt again! It just takes a few minutes of hands-off oven time to prep bacon in advance for recipes.
Reheat the bacon when you’re ready to use it.
- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/9/98/Precook-Bacon-Step-8-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Precook-Bacon-Step-8-Version-4. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/9/98/Precook-Bacon-Step-8-Version-4. jpg/v4-728px-Precook-Bacon-Step-8-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:”u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this under U. S. and international copyright laws. This text and some other things on the wikiHow website are licensed under the Creative Commons license, but this is not. Other groups are not allowed to use this without wikiHow, Inc.’s written permission. It only takes minutes to reheat precooked bacon, making it easy to add to dishes. Don’t use frozen bacon until the next day. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. You can heat up your bacon on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven to make it crispy again. [10] Boil bacon for 30 to 60 seconds on medium power after putting it on a plate. You can put the strips on paper towels to soak up any extra oil. Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Wait two to three minutes for the strips to get hot. Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and place the bacon strips on a baking sheet. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
Cook your bacon for 15–20 minutes.
- The longer you bake your bacon, the crispier it will get. Place your bacon on the middle rack of your oven once it’s hot. Check your bacon every 15 minutes to see how crispy it is. Add a few more minutes to the oven and check it again. If it’s still soft, add a few more minutes to make it crispier. 5. When you’re par-cooking the bacon, keep it a little on the soft side, especially if you’re going to use it to wrap other things. That way, when you reheat it, it will still be soft and juicy. You might need to cook the bacon for 25–30 minutes longer if you have thick-cut bacon or if you want the strips to be extra crispy.
How to Make Pre-Cooked Bacon | Family Savvy
How do you cook bacon in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Making bacon in the oven is the easiest and cleanest way to precook it. Set one of the cooking racks in the middle position before turning on your oven. Let it heat up completely before you start cooking your bacon. Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper or foil.
How long does Bacon take to cook?
Perfect level of crispy – The key to getting the bacon to your perfect level of crispiness is checking on the bacon starting around 20 minutes. I peek in every couple of minutes to see if it has reached our desired level of doneness. Once it does, just pop it out of the oven and transfer it to paper towels to cool.
Do you have to flip Bacon when cooking?
You don’t have to flip it while cooking. You just lay the bacon on a baking sheet, stick it in the oven, and set a timer. The strips of bacon bubble away in the oven (no splattering!) and gradually become the crispy, golden-hued, irresistible bacon we know and love. How Do I Make the Bacon Extra-Crispy?
How do you cool cooked bacon?
Drain and cool the cooked bacon on paper towels. Paper towels absorb the excess grease from your bacon. Line a plate with a few layers of paper towels. Pull your bacon out of the oven and transfer the strips onto the paper towels with a pair of tongs. Pat the bacon with another paper towel and let the strips cool to room temperature.
What is the easiest way to make bacon?
There is possibly nothing better than a perfectly cooked crispy piece of bacon! Making bacon in the oven is not only a virtually fool-proof method to get consistently perfect crispy bacon every time, but it is also by far the easiest way to make bacon.
How do you make Twisted Bacon?
To make twisted bacon, you tightly twist each piece of bacon and place them close together on the baking sheet to help avoid them unraveling. Bake at 400˚F for 20 minutes, then flip and continue to cook for 10+ minutes or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Pros: Fun new shape. You can fit more bacon in one batch in the oven.