Top 5 Bacon Cooking Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)

Bacon is one of life’s simple pleasures. Whether you’re cooking it for breakfast, layering it on a BLT, or crumbling it into a salad, there’s nothing quite like the salty, crispy goodness of perfectly cooked bacon. But despite its simplicity, many of us make mistakes that can leave bacon soggy, burnt, or unevenly cooked. Don’t worry, though—we’ve got you covered. Here are the top five bacon cooking mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Starting with a Hot Pan

The Mistake: Throwing cold bacon into a sizzling hot pan seems like a quick way to get breakfast on the table. But this often results in bacon that’s crispy on the edges but undercooked in the middle.

The Fix: Start with a cold pan. Lay your bacon strips out in the pan before turning on the heat. This allows the fat to render slowly, ensuring even cooking and crispiness throughout.

2. Overcrowding the Pan

The Mistake: Trying to cook an entire pack of bacon in one go. When the pan is overcrowded, the bacon overlaps, trapping steam and preventing proper crisping.

The Fix: Give your bacon room to breathe! Cook in batches or use a larger pan. Alternatively, use the oven, where you can spread the bacon out on a sheet pan for even cooking.

3. Cooking on High Heat

The Mistake: Cranking up the heat to get the job done faster can lead to bacon that’s burnt on the outside and chewy on the inside—or worse, bacon that’s charred beyond recognition.

The Fix: Patience is key. Cook your bacon on medium or medium-low heat. This allows the fat to render out gradually and gives you better control over the final texture and flavor.

4. Not Draining Excess Grease

The Mistake: Leaving bacon to cook in a pool of grease might sound flavorful, but it can lead to limp, greasy strips instead of crispy perfection.

The Fix: Use a slotted spoon or tongs to move cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate immediately after cooking. This step removes excess grease and keeps your bacon crunchy. If cooking in the oven, use a wire rack over a sheet pan to let the fat drip away during cooking.

5. Skipping the Flip (or Over-Flipping)

The Mistake: Some people forget to flip their bacon entirely, resulting in unevenly cooked strips. Others flip too frequently, interrupting the browning process.

The Fix: For pan-fried bacon, flip only once halfway through cooking. In the oven, there’s no need to flip at all; the heat surrounds the bacon for even crisping.

Bonus Tip: Cook Bacon in the Oven for Foolproof Results

If you’re tired of dodging grease splatters or battling uneven cooking, try baking your bacon. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, and lay the strips out in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. No flipping, no fuss, just perfect bacon every time.

Bacon is a crowd-pleaser, and with these tips, you’ll never have to deal with soggy, burnt, or greasy strips again. Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll be serving up restaurant-quality bacon like a pro in no time. Happy cooking!

Do you have any bacon cooking tips or favorite recipes? Share them in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!