If you believe that bacon is one of the world's greatest treasures, you're going to want to keep reading. While you obviously know how to make bacon (either in a skillet or in the oven), you might not realize how many other cooking methods there are that can make it even more delicious. Allow us to offer you some bacon-making inspiration from some of our favorite celebrity chefs, from brining to glazing and more. You might just find your new go-to breakfast recipe.
Ina Garten: Oven Roasted
Sometimes Ina Garten [1], Food Network queen, goes for simplicity over complexity, as evidenced by her oven-roasted bacon recipe [2]. That five-star rating doesn't lie, either. If you've got store-bought applewood smoked bacon, you're just a simple technique away from perfectly crispy bacon.
Michael Symon: From Scratch
Chef Michael Symon doesn't mess around when it comes to bacon. His homemade bacon recipe [4] starts with five pounds of skin-on pork belly, which is then coated in a spice rub and refrigerated for up to 10 days. While that seems like a lot of work, it's worth the effort if you love bacon. One commenter wrote, "This recipe rocks! It was well worth the 10 day wait. I followed it to a T and it was delicious. Better than the bacon I get from the butcher." If you've ever wanted to attempt entirely scratch-made bacon, this recipe is a keeper.
Alex Guarnaschelli: Candied
If your idea of good bacon involves sweet, salty, and sticky, you need Alex Guarnaschelli's candied bacon recipe [5]. Thanks to a coating of finely ground black pepper and light brown sugar, the slow-roasted bacon develops a saucy coating that's finger-licking good.
Alton Brown: Brined For 3 Days
With a brine made of sugar, salt, molasses, and apple cider, Alton marinates raw pork belly for three days to achieve his Iron Chef's bacon [7] results. Once the meat is ready, Alton's tip for baking the bacon in the oven is to line the pan with paper towels [8] to soak up the fat and prevent smoking.
Bobby Flay: Maple-Dijon Glazed
Bobby Flay's maple-dijon- and black-pepper-glazed bacon [9] is next level. By combining the flavors of maple syrup, dijon mustard, and smoked bacon, you'll get a sweet-salty-tangy bite that's hard to resist.