Why A Pot Is The Best Tool For Perfectly Cooked Bacon With Zero Splatter

It's like they say, bacon goes with everything. It's oftentimes the perfect complement for our morning egg breakfast, an amazing topping on a sandwich, and a yummy snack in its own right. But making bacon isn't always fun. Cook it on the stovetop, and grease can splatter everywhere, making a stubborn mess that you'll have to clean up later, not to mention stinging your arms in the process. Fortunately for us, there's a way to enjoy crispy bacon without the splatter. Baking can fare better, but it can be more time-consuming and requires getting out more equipment and firing up the oven. 

One of the best tips for cooking bacon is to put it in a pot instead of a pan. The higher sides will contain the grease and prevent it from going everywhere while the bacon is cooking, which protects your stovetop and your vulnerable skin. Even if you cram the bottom of the pot full, your bacon can come out perfectly crispy and delicious.

To cook bacon in a pot, let the meat come up to room temperature while the pot heats up, then drop in as much as you desire. While it cooks, use a pair of salad tongs to toss it every so often and prevent it from burning. Use a pot with high sides to ensure all of the grease splatter is contained, and if you still find that some escapes, consider using a lid when not tossing. You may have to adjust the cooking time and temperature for your bacon to account for the more intense temperature.

Cooking bacon in a pot doesn't just cut down on splatter. It also keeps the grease contained so that you can easily collect and store it. Bacon grease is a flavorful, versatile ingredient you can use in a wide variety of other dishes. For example, frying chicken in bacon grease gives it that delicious bacon flavor and can help you make a much juicier chicken. Since pans are so shallow, it can be tough to collect the grease without spilling, but a pot is much easier to tip and pour (just be sure you never pour it or other fats like butter down the drain).

Another benefit is that the bacon becomes much more flavorful when cooked in a pot than in the oven or a pan. The grease is more contained and concentrated in the bottom of the pan and covers the bacon more, so you're essentially deep frying the pork in its own fat. This infuses it with flavor that could otherwise go to waste when that grease is more spread out in a pan or a baking sheet.

Depending on your cookware, a large pot can also have a much greater capacity than a pan, so you're able to cook more bacon at once. It's ideal if you're making big quantities for a special occasion, like a party. Even if you're just making it at home, you can easily cook all your bacon ahead of time and, with the right storage tips to keep bacon crispy, store it in the fridge or freezer, which makes it great for meal prepping.