Learn how to cook bacon from frozen more easily so that you don’t have to wait for it to thaw out. There are better ways to do it than the microwave! I also share my favorite ways to defrost bacon.
Everybody loves bacon, right? It can take the most simple dishes and make them feel rich and indulgent. You don’t have to just eat bacon in the morning, I love it in sandwiches, on burgers, and I even love to wrap other proteins in bacon, like this bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin.
The problem with bacon is that I often buy a few pounds of it when it goes on sale, and then freeze it. Or, I only want a few pieces for breakfast and I end up freezing the rest in a freezer bag for later. I’ve learned how to cook chicken breasts, shrimp, and fish from frozen, so why not bacon?
There are several ways to cook or thaw bacon from frozen, and some ways are better for certain dishes than others. Let me tell you what I learned.
While larger cuts of meat like pork butts and chicken breasts need to be thawed before cooking, bacon can go right from the freezer to the heat. However, you will need to separate the individual strips of bacon before cooking. If your strips are stuck together, try prying them apart with your hands or a fork.
The Best Method For Thawing Bacon Slowly: The Fridge
If you’re not in a rush and planning ahead, defrost your bacon in the refrigerator. It takes some time, overnight or up to 24 hours, but you can move it from freezer to fridge and then not worry about it until you’re ready to cook. It can safely stay in the fridge for up to 5 days before cooking.
The Best Method For Cooking Frozen Bacon
This is my favorite way to cook bacon from frozen. It’s fast and the bacon cooks evenly. It’s perfect if you want to top a salad with bacon, or add bacon to a bake, casserole, or quiche.
A lardon is just a strip or cube of bacon cut into chunks and then cooked. If you have a very sharp knife (this is the one I used) carefully slice horizontally across your frozen block of bacon and place the little slices in a skillet to cook. They’ll separate into lardons as they thaw and then they’ll cook up perfectly. Instructions for how to cook them are below.
Here is a great tip! Keep a block of bacon in a zip top bag in your freezer. Whenever you want to add some bacon to a dish, take out the block and cut off a couple of slices from the block and cook them. Put the rest of the bacon in the freezer. This way you’ll always have bacon to quickly cook up and add to things. This is a particularly good technique when you’re making things that use chopped bacon, like this delicious bacon gravy recipe.
How to Cook Frozen Bacon
FAQ
Should you defrost bacon before cooking?
Can you eat bacon from frozen?
What to do if bacon is frozen?
Can I put frozen bacon in oven?
Can Bacon be cooked from frozen?
While most bacon can be cooked from frozen, you can also thaw it first and then cook it normally. This may be preferable if you are more comfortable working with defrosted bacon. In this section, a few easy thawing methods are suggested. Thaw in the refrigerator. This is generally the cleanest way to thaw a package of bacon.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Can You refreeze cooked bacon?
Yes, you can refreeze cooked bacon. However, it is important to properly cool the cooked bacon before storing it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Can I use a microwave to thaw frozen bacon? While you can use a microwave to thaw frozen bacon, it is not recommended as the texture may become rubbery.
Can You defrost frozen Bacon?
Low Heat Method: Place your frozen bacon on a microwave-safe plate and defrost using low heat settings on your microwave oven. Be cautious not to cook the bacon during the defrosting process. Refrigerator Method: Although it takes longer, thawing bacon in the refrigerator is a safe and reliable method.