Bacon: Chewy or Crispy?

[Blue2010]

What say you?

To me, there is nothing worse than craving a good bacon / egg / cheese biscuit...and it comes over with chewy bacon. Ruins the entire meal and blatantly pisses me off.

 

[coolwaterunc]

Thread of the year.

Anyway, I'm torn on this. If bacon is on a sandwich of any kind, then it needs to be crispy; no exceptions. If I'm eating bacon by itself, then I can go either way. To be, there's nothing better than eating a thick slice of bacon with a little bit of chew to it. Not chewy to the point of it being undercooked, but it has just enough of that chewy resistance to make you savor the flavor for a little while longer than it would be if it was crispy.

 

[BillyL]

Crispy, but, not crunchy . . crunchy is okay if its broken into bits and put in a salad.

 

[GACMAN]

I agree 10000% with Billy's post!!!!

 

[Blue2010]

Thread of the year.

Compliments to the market this morning that prompted this thread b/c the bacon was completely chewy -- might as well have been bacon-flavored gummy bears.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

Crispy.

At the beach last week I honed my technique for bacon in the oven, which I had never done before. Works great for large batches that would take forever in the cast iron skillet.

 

[coryfly]

Crispy. I can eat bacon chewy but I don't really long for it or anything. Crispy bacon calls to me.

 

[tazki]

Only crispy for me.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Thread of the year.

Anyway, I'm torn on this. If bacon is on a sandwich of any kind, then it needs to be crispy; no exceptions. If I'm eating bacon by itself, then I can go either way. To be, there's nothing better than eating a thick slice of bacon with a little bit of chew to it. Not chewy to the point of it being undercooked, but it has just enough of that chewy resistance to make you savor the flavor for a little while longer than it would be if it was crispy.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

With as much fat left on it as possible. I air on the side of "less done" than "overcooked"

I'll also punch you if you order anything past "medium"

 

[gunslingerdick]

Crispy.

At the beach last week I honed my technique for bacon in the oven, which I had never done before. Works great for large batches that would take forever in the cast iron skillet.

It's the only way I cook bacon these days. Set the temp for just under 400 degrees, put the bacon on a cookie sheet and it's done in about 8 minutes depending on the thickness. Much cleaner and less hassle. I don't know why anyone would cook it any other way.

 

[Nuk'EM Heels]

Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, laced with a couple of dabs of hot sauce...

 

[BillyL]

Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside . .

Dayum, NukEEE . . . exactly how thick is that bacon you're cooking . . ?

" Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside " . . . ?

 

[UNC71-00]

Yes

 

[Nuk'EM Heels]

My wife has perfected the technique. She infuses extra-thick bacon with hot sauce (typically, habanero pepper sauce... whatever she's pushing'), then pan sears the bacon and cooks it the rest of the way in the microwave oven. Most excellent!

 

[Raising Heel]

Chewy bacon is an abomination.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

My wife has perfected the technique. She infuses extra-thick bacon with hot sauce (typically, habanero pepper sauce... whatever she's pushing'), then pan sears the bacon and cooks it the rest of the way in the microwave oven. Most excellent!

The hot-sauce infusion sounds good, but the microwave? That's for reheating leftovers. If you're already getting a pan dirty to sear it why not just finish cooking it?

My next experiment will be adding some external flavors before baking in the oven. I think I have a little jar of jalapeno jelly that would make an awesome caramelized glaze.

 

[gteeitup]

i really have no preference...depends on the day.

 

[Grayhead]

Slight crisp, slight chew. Not waffle house style were you bite it and it turns to dust. I like my bacon where it still has some movement after frying. Love my eggs cooked in the remaining bacon grease.

 

[Nuk'EM Heels]

The hot-sauce infusion sounds good, but the microwave? That's for reheating leftovers. If you're already getting a pan dirty to sear it why not just finish cooking it?

My next experiment will be adding some external flavors before baking in the oven. I think I have a little jar of jalapeno jelly that would make an awesome caramelized glaze.

"... the microwave." Hey, I'm just glad I don't have to get off my happy ass and do it myself!

 

[TarHeelNation11]

It's the only way I cook bacon these days. Set the temp for just under 400 degrees, put the bacon on a cookie sheet and it's done in about 8 minutes depending on the thickness. Much cleaner and less hassle. I don't know why anyone would cook it any other way.

Do you lay foil underneath or on top? Or just stick 'em on the cookie sheet. Do you Pam it?

 

[Billheel]

Crispy please!

 

[gunslingerdick]

Do you lay foil underneath or on top? Or just stick 'em on the cookie sheet. Do you Pam it?

I use that aluminum foil that has the no-stick side. It's great because I use bacon grease for cooking other stuff. The way I do it makes it super easy to collect the grease and then I just toss the foil and don't even have to wash the cookie sheet.

 

[Raising Heel]

I would once again like to express my support for crispy bacon.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

This looks about right.

 

[gunslingerdick]

 

[botate]

I like it right at the point before it is classified as crispy. I do not want it chewy, but I like it with a little bit of the fat on the softer side.