Scientist Attempts to Determine the Best Way to Cook Bacon

Jess Pryles is a graduate student in meat science at Iowa State University and the founder of Hardcore Carnivore, a company that produces meat seasonings. She developed those seasonings after careful, scientific experiments.

Pryles is continuing that scientific rigor at the Test Kitchen and Sensory Evaluation Unit at Iowa State, which offers the controlled conditions that good scientific research requires. She's now using these facilities to attempt to find the tastiest way to cook bacon. As she proceeds through the work, Pryles posts summaries on Twitter.

Folk wisdom holds that the optimal way to prepare crispy bacon is to add water to the pan while frying it.

Pryles's results, though, don't support this conclusion. There's a lot of uncertainty because the culinary nature of bacon varies so widely from package to package. Pryles offers a hypothesis for further research: try baking the bacon in an oven.

-via David Burge


Newest 2
Newest 2 Comments

Looks as though it was served after it had cooled down, that's about as invalid as you can get for a bacon tasting test. Everyone knows bacon isn't quite the same after it cools down. Also you can cook bacon slightly less to make it tastier and less hard to chew. Kinda like how steak is typically taken as Medium Rare instead of Well done. Or hamburgers. Just saying.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
After years of burning the hell out of my fingers and face I quit frying bacon in a pan - any pan. I now cook it on baking sheets in the oven @400 degrees turning the bacon over 1x during cooking or if bacon is thick cut 2x. No splatters or burnt human bits anymore. Brown sugar rubbed bacon is excellent, too.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Scientist Attempts to Determine the Best Way to Cook Bacon"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More