There’s nothing worse than the smell of burnt bacon ruining your morning. We’ve all been there – you walk away for a minute only to come back to a smoking skillet and blackened strips. While it may seem impossible to redeem, there are ways to fix burnt bacon and still enjoy it.
With a few simple tricks, you can rehydrate and add flavor back to crispy burnt bacon. Keep reading to learn my top 10 tips for saving burnt bacon so you can keep the breakfast train rolling.
What Causes Bacon to Burn?
Before we get into solutions, let’s look at why bacon burns in the first place. There are a few common culprits
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Cooking at too high heat. Bacon fat can go from sizzling to smoking very quickly if the pan or skillet is too hot.
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Inadequate grease. Without enough grease in the pan, bacon strips will stick and scorch.
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Walking away mid-cook. Just a minute or two of neglected cooking can carbonize bacon.
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Oven cooking. The high concentrated heat of ovens makes burning easy if you don’t keep a close eye.
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Overcrowding. Too many strips in the pan leads to steaming versus frying.
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Thickness. Thin bacon tends to burn faster than thick-cut bacon.
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Forgotten pieces. That lone strip hiding under the others will inevitably burn if you’re not diligent.
Now let’s look at ways to reverse the damage when you do end up with burnt bacon.
10 Clever Tricks for Fixing Burnt Bacon
1. Simmer in Broth
Cover burnt bacon strips with chicken, vegetable or beef broth. Gently simmer for 5-10 minutes to rehydrate. Broth adds moisture and extracts burnt flavors.
2. Give it a Bath
Soak burnt bacon briefly in cold water or milk to draw out charred taste. Pat dry before continuing to cook by other methods.
3. Bake It
Place slightly burnt bacon strips on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 2-5 minutes to crisp it back up.
4. Fry It Again
Re-fry burnt bacon in a generous pool of fresh bacon grease or oil over medium-low heat. The fat helps soften and improve flavor.
5. Chop It Up
If bacon is burnt beyond recognition, chop into small bits. Use as you would bacon bits or crumbles to top salads, baked potatoes or add to dips.
6. Toss It In Sauces
Chop burnt bacon and mix it into tomato sauce, alfredo, mac and cheese, beans or soups. The sauces will hide burnt tastes.
7. Sprinkle on Pizza
Crisp up burnt bacon pieces in the oven. Sprinkle on pizza for a smoky crunch.
8. Make a Sandwich
Chop slightly burnt bacon and add to your favorite sandwich fillings like egg, avocado or BBQ beef. Other toppings help mask burnt notes.
9. Use in Recipes
Swap perfectly cooked bacon for burnt bits in recipes like cornbread, quiche, bacon jam, or baked beans. Burnt tastes won’t stand out.
10. When in Doubt, Toss It Out
If the bacon is far beyond saving, do yourself a favor and throw it away. Some burnt foods just can’t be fixed.
How to Avoid Burning Bacon in the First Place
Now that you know how to redeem burnt bacon, here are some tips to avoid burning it during cooking:
- Use medium-low heat and preheat pans.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Cook thick-cut bacon more slowly than thin.
- Pour off excess grease as it renders to prevent smoking.
- Bake on a rack or lined sheet pan for even crisping.
- Microwave for 1-2 minutes then finish in a pan.
- Stay nearby and watch it like a hawk!
Salty, sweet, smokey, bacon-y… this burnt onion & bacon jam may just be the condiment of your dreams.
I’m telling you right now, strongly consider doubling this recipe. Make it three times as big! You’ll eat the whole jar by yourself, and then your friends will want some too. In fact, they may demand this jam accompany you anytime you see them. Yes, bacon jam is that good.
This jam can be used for almost anything because it is smokey, sweet, mildly spicy, and full of meaty, umami goodness. Obviously, eating it straight on a spoon goes without saying. You can add it to steak and toast to make it taste better.
At least in theory, you don’t have to char the onion over charcoal, but if you don’t, the flavor will be less complex. Also, it pretty much pre-cooks the onions and speeds up the whole process. The other key step is to keep cooking the bacon until it’s totally crisp. Stick with it, it’ll happen, because no one wants weird gummy bits of meat in their jam.
Recipe after the pics.
Bacon Burnt Ends | HowToBBQRight
FAQ
Can you still eat burnt bacon?
How to fix burnt bacon grease?
Why does my bacon taste burnt?
Does Bacon burn if left uncooked?
Bacon is typically made from pork belly, which is cured and then smoked. During the cooking process, the fat in the bacon renders, creating that irresistible crispiness we all know and love. However, if left unattended or cooked at too high a temperature, the fat can burn, resulting in a less desirable outcome. Health perspective of Burnt Bacon:
What is burnt bacon grease used for?
Burnt bacon grease can be used to add a smoky flavor to dishes or as a cooking fat for frying or sautéing. Just be mindful of the strong flavor and adjust accordingly in your recipes. Grace Rodriguez is your passionate grill aficionado and the lively host of the Fox Heights Bar and Grill Podcast.
How do you store burnt Bacon?
Simply allow the burnt bacon to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week. You can sprinkle it on salads, soups, or even use it as a topping for baked potatoes.
How do you cook bacon in a jar?
1. Place the burnt bacon bits in a saucepan and heat over low heat to release their oils. 2. Once the bacon bits have rendered their fat, strain the oil to remove any solids. 3. In a clean jar or bottle, combine the bacon-infused oil with the neutral cooking oil. 4.