The Best Way to Broil Bacon

Broiled bacon contains less fat than fried bacon.
Image Credit: apomares/E+/GettyImages

Although fried bacon smells delicious and tastes wonderful, it might contain more fat and calories than you care to consume. Try oven broiling your bacon instead of pan frying it for a healthier alternative.

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Broiling allows the grease to drip off the bacon, which means that you'll consume fewer calories and far less fat. Although broiling bacon takes more care than frying, the pleasant and the lack of greasiness just might make it worth your while.

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Things You'll Need

  • Oven with a broiler

  • Bacon slices

  • Butter knife, optional

  • Broiler pan

  • Timer

  • Fork or tongs

  • Salt and pepper, optional

Instructions

  1. Place your oven rack about three inches from the heat source. According to Purdue University, broiling any type of meat requires direct heat from a flame or an electric heating unit.
  2. Preheat your broiler. Turn on your oven's broiler and allow it to heat up as you prepare to cook your bacon.
  3. Remove the rind from the bacon slab, if necessary, and slice the bacon if it didn't come pre-sliced.
  4. Carefully separate cold, pre-sliced bacon strips by sliding the edge of a butter knife between the slices and gently moving the knife back and forth.
  5. Place the bacon on a rack in your broiler pan. Don't let the bacon slices touch or the fat in the meat will cause the strips to stick together.
  6. Place the broiler pan in your oven.
  7. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
  8. When the timer goes off, carefully slide out the oven rack and flip the bacon slices over with a fork or tongs.
  9. Slide the oven rack back in and set the timer for another 1 to 2 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.
  10. Remove the broiler pan from the oven when the timer rings again.
  11. Add a dash of salt and pepper to your broiled bacon, if desired.
  12. Eat your bacon as is, add it to a BLT sandwich or crumble up the slices to use as a healthier substitute for commercial bacon bits.

Tip

The Mayo Clinic suggests eating turkey bacon instead of pork bacon for more health benefits.

Read the manufacturer's directions for broiling in your oven. Some electric stoves recommend broiling with the oven door open.

Warning

Don't get distracted when broiling bacon, as it can burn very quickly.

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