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From breakfast tacos to waffle platters to overstuffed BLTs, a crispy slice of bacon is a peak eating experience. But Im here to tell you: It could be even crispier.
While I was hunting for the simplest possible recipes for my new cookbook, Simply Genius, I stumbled on a trick used by the third-generation stewards of Joe’s Bakery, established in 1962 in Austin. It’s so effective that their customers assume their bacon has been fried, state fair style.
“People, it’s not deep-fried,” co-owner Regina Estrada said, as she described her family’s technique for writer Paula Forbes’s The Austin Cookbook, where I first saw it. So what is it that makes Joe’s bacon so incomparably crisp?
This trick dates back to Regina’s grandfather, Joe Avila: With a flour coating and an overnight chill, bacon both kept its shape better and stayed crispier in their bean-and-egg tacos. And the shape is important, Regina emailed me: “Always strips of bacon . Never crumbled.” (Any crumbly bits and bacon grease go into their beans.)
At the bakery these days, the kitchen team dredges 15-pound cases of bacon, slice by slice, in all-purpose flour; refrigerates them on a sheet pan overnight; then cooks them on the griddle at around 4 a.m. to use throughout the day. But for beginners and busy cooks at home, the easiest way to evenly cook a batch of bacon is in the oven, right on the same sheet pan.
Whether you prefer to microwave, pan-fry, or bake your bacon, the oven will allow you to keep your bacon crispy for up to a few hours. Set the temperature to 200ºF and center a baking rack. Lay your cooked strips out on a baking sheet and place them in the oven until it’s time to enjoy.
Can you swap all-purpose for another flour?
At Joe’s Bakery, the classic dredge is all-purpose flour, but if you’re serving folks who are gluten-intolerant, or you just want to tinker with other flours and starches in your pantry, they’ll all bring their own personalities to the breaded crunch.
Sweet rice flour leaves a delicate, shattering edge. Nuttier whole-grain sorts like rye are more prone toward chew and unmistakably earthier, bringing out the bacon’s smoky vibes. Cornstarch leaves a fine, flaky crunch (just be sure to shake off the excess—it’s a clinger).
And like all good bacon, any of these riffs will be the best part of your club sandwich or pancake breakfast—except now, with Joe’s simply genius trick, it will be even better.
How does flour make bacon crispier?
As Southern cooks like my late grandmother Grace could tell you, pretty much everything—and especially proteins like ribs or catfish—is better when coated in seasoned flour, then shallow-fried. Grace’s Sunday specialty was thin slices of pork belly cooked this way, alongside biscuits and gravy. (She lived to be 98, so feel free to consider this a prescription for a long, happy life.)
Here’s why: When you douse anything in flour before frying, it jump-starts delicious browning, dries the surface for maximum crisping (and minimal spattering), and protects the ingredient’s exterior.
But with an all-in-one ingredient like bacon, which brings its own seasoning and cooking fat to the party, there’s no need to season the flour or fill a pan with oil for frying. You just need high heat and the bacon goes right ahead and fries itself.
How to store and keep bacon crispy by Wrapping in foil to keep bacon crispy, bacon crispness,
FAQ
How do you keep bacon crispy overnight?
How long will bacon stay crispy after cooking?
Is it OK to leave cooked bacon out overnight?
Can you pre cook bacon the night before?
How do you keep cooked bacon crispy?
Let it cool: Allow the cooked bacon to cool completely before storing it. This helps to retain its crispy texture and prevents condensation from forming inside the container. Remove excess grease: Use a paper towel to blot off any excess grease from the cooked bacon. Excess grease can lead to sogginess and affect the flavor of the bacon.
How long does Bacon last in the fridge?
To keep your bacon crisp and fresh, store it in shallow airtight containers or wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Squeeze out as much air as possible and put the cooked bacon in the fridge. Bacon stored in this way should be consumed within 4-5 days – although we doubt it would last that long in most households!
Does cooked bacon need to be refrigerated?
It is best to store it in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain its quality. Q How long can I store cooked bacon in the refrigerator? Cooked bacon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Make sure to place it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag to prevent it from absorbing other odors in the fridge.
How do you store cooked bacon?
To store cooked bacon, allow it to cool to room temperature then place it in an airtight bag. Squeeze all the air out of the bag and put it in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the bacon for up to a month. To keep bacon warm and crispy before serving, place it in a 200ºF oven.