For many across the UK, the sizzle of bacon in a frying pan is the quintessential sound of a weekend breakfast. However, the inevitable greasy splatter covering the hob and surrounding counters is a familiar and frustrating downside. Now, a revolutionary cooking method is taking the internet by storm, promising to deliver perfectly crispy bacon with a fraction of the mess.
The Viral Kitchen Hack Everyone's Talking About
Earlier this year, a TikTok user named Jenifer shared a simple yet transformative tip that has since amassed a staggering over 17 million views. Her proposal? Abandon the conventional shallow frying pan or skillet and reach for a large pot instead. In her now-famous video, Jenifer demonstrated that cooking bacon directly in a deep pot yields superior results with no greasy splatter.
She captioned the clip, "I know I can't be the only one who cooks bacon this way! It's so much better than frying and a skillet. You don't get the splatter and it all cooks and it's done at the same time." The final product, as shown in the video, was a batch of mouth-watering, evenly cooked crispy rashers, achieved in just minutes.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Mess-Free Bacon
Ready to try this game-changing method yourself? The process is remarkably straightforward. First, take any large pot you have to hand and place your strips of bacon directly into it. There is no need for additional oil, as the bacon will render its own fat during cooking.
Place the pot on the hob and cook the bacon as you normally would, using a pair of tongs to toss and turn the rashers frequently. This ensures even cooking and prevents any pieces from burning. The entire process should take roughly 10 minutes, though the exact time will depend on the thickness of your bacon and how crispy you prefer it.
Once the bacon has reached your desired level of crispness, remove the rashers and place them on a plate lined with kitchen roll. This will soak up any excess fat, leaving you with perfectly cooked bacon that is ready to be served.
Why This Method is a Game-Changer
The benefits of this approach are twofold. Firstly, as one keen-eyed TikTok commenter noted, the bacon is essentially "deep fried in its own fat," which results in an incredibly rich flavour and uniform crispness that can be hard to achieve in a frying pan.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is the significant reduction in cleaning time. The high-sided pot contains the hot fat completely, eliminating the hazardous and messy oil splatters typically associated with a shallow pan. This means you can enjoy your full English breakfast, bacon butty, or salad topping without dreading the clean-up operation afterwards. It’s a simple switch that makes a world of difference to your cooking routine.