Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork [1] made from various cuts, typically the belly or less fatty parts of the back. It is eaten as a side dish (particularly in breakfasts), used as a central ingredient (e.g., the BLT sandwich), or as a flavouring or accent. Our Test Kitchen tells how to cook bacon in a pan, in the microwave, in the oven, and on the grill.

Understanding the Context

Plus, the cooking method to avoid. For our in-depth bacon taste test, we sizzled up best-selling bacon offerings from Oscar Mayer, Aldi, Trader Joe's and more, then ranked them worst to best. Instead of wrangling a grease-spitting skillet, there's a cleaner, easier way to cook bacon — and it's so simple you'll wonder if it really works. (Spoiler alert: It does.) Bacon Health Benefits Bacon has lots of sodium, cholesterol, and fat, all of which can increase your risk of heart disease.

Key Insights

But bacon does have other nutrients, like protein, vitamins, and... Which method makes the crispiest, most flavour-packed bacon? We compared texture, flavour, ease, and overall results so you’ll know exactly how to cook bacon perfectly every time. Let's talk about turkey bacon. Chances are you've had a slice of this beguilingly smoky, meaty, pork-product impersonator — even if you question its place in the bacon section of the grocery store.

Final Thoughts

How to Cook Bacon Perfectly 4 Ways and What Method Never to Use Read this guide to different types of bacon including streaky bacon, Canadian bacon, Cantonese lap yuk, Irish bacon, and more. The Best and Easiest Way to Cook Bacon — In the Oven