Risto Mikkola and Mika Pikkis Tuomonen are experienced bacon men, but they were also surprised by their own test.
What is the best way to cook bacon? Adobe Stock / AOP
The way the bacon is cooked has a big effect on the taste. The chefs were also surprised by it Risto Mikkola and What a Pikkis Tuomonenwhen they tested nine different ways to cook bacon at once.
All are good in their own way, but one is by far the best.
The test was done with the best-selling bacon in Finland, i.e. American bacon.
Mikkola and Tuomonen have taken it to heart to announce Burger’s good news. Inspired by that, they founded the YouTube channel Burgerhood, where they cook, test and talk about burgers. Bacon is of course part of a good burger.
Tested methods:
1. Cold carbon steel pan. Place the bacon on a cold pan and the plate to warm up.
Test result:
Good crunch. Really salty because a lot of liquid has come out of the bacon.
2. Hot carbon steel pan. The bacon is placed in a hot pan.
Test result:
The bacon is not as crispy as the first method, but not as salty either. Liquids have stayed inside better. The bacon crisped up quickly in the hot pan.
3. Cold carbon steel pan, into which you put the bacon and a little water. The water will boil off as the bacon cooks.
Test result:
Really crispy bacon, the saltiness is in the right balance. Awesome texture. There is a slower way to cook bacon than the previous ones.
4. Hot Teflon panon which the bacon is cooked.
Test result:
Evenness of frying is good, as is the taste and color. Good crunch. Teflon completely surprised me, it gives a good end result. The pan does not absorb anything and the fat starts moving in the pan.
5. Vacuum cooking or sous vide. The bacon is cooked in a vacuum at 64 degrees for 12 hours and then fried in a hot carbon steel pan.
Test result:
A laborious way. Bacon looks different than others. Its color and mouthfeel are different. Bacon melts in your mouth. It’s crunchy and juicy at the same time. In this way, by far the juiciest bacon is produced, but at the same time the bacon-likeness has disappeared. 12 hours in vacuum cooking is good.
6. In the microwave so that the paper towel is under and on top, about 3-4 minutes of cooking.
Test result:
You can even color the bacon in the microwave, but the flavor is missing something. It tastes a bit weird. Really crispy. It looks browned, but it doesn’t taste like it. It’s not the best, but if there’s no other option, this will do.
7. In the oven on baking paper at about 180-200 degrees for about 8 minutes.
Test result:
In the oven, the bacon gets an even color and looks perfect. It melts in the mouth and the taste is almost sweet. Oven cooking is superior. Bacon has the best taste, crispness and appearance. There is both toughness and crunch in the same bite. The preparation method is even the easiest, because you don’t have to watch the bacon.
8. Oven cooking, but on a rackwithout baking paper.
Test result:
Really crispy, even too. Bacon is like a chip.
9. On the grate of the charcoal grill.
Test result:
The test grill was perhaps too hot. The bacon has a crispiness and a good smoke flavor. But due to the grill being too hot, there is also a slight burnt taste. There is a different way to cook bacon. The grill gives a good taste. It’s best to cook on an indirect fire, and not on a grill that’s too hot.
Result:
WINNER: Number 7
Both Mikkola and Tuomonen declare that they will cook the bacon forever in the oven on baking paper: easy and always an even result. The overwhelming winner is also the easiest.
If you want to cook, number 5, i.e. vacuum cooking, is good.
And the charcoal grill is always a delicious option when cooking, i.e. number 9.
The story was published for the first time in February 2021.