by Betty Blake

Created on: June 22, 2010

Bacon originates from the side section of the pig. And, before we purchase this at the store, it is first cured and most times smoked. Some of the flavors used are maple, apple and hickory.Bacon is very high in saturated fats. In fact, about a half or up to two-third of it is made up of fats. And, it is the fats that produce the unique mouthwatering flavors. This very popular food item produces a very flavourful dish enjoyed widely by its users.And, it generally comes at pre-cut slices and sometimes in slabs. In order to consume the bacon, it is necessary to cook by rendering.

For those who are busy and wish to indulge in this delicious food item, some markets do offer a cooked version. However, for those who have time to prepare this widely used breakfast item, they can choose from a variety of ways to cook same. A good rule of thumb is that if you know you are going consume bacon, do remove same from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking time. It will be easier to separate slices. When cooking bacon, do keep an eagle's eye so as to prevent burning. There are many ways to cook bacon. Some of the ways are:

In the Skillet

With this method, you have to be very careful of the splatters.Ensure that you use a cheese cloth or paper towel to remove excess moisture. Spray a little Pam in skillet. Cook the bacon on a low to medium heat. In order to prevent burning or overcooking, turn bacon frequently. Bear in mind that thin slices cook faster. When cooked to your preference, drain on paper towel and serve with eggs or any other dish.

Because the fat is very flavorful, many cooks utilize same in order add additional flavors to their dishes. If you choose to use same, cool and store in refrigerator for future use. However, if you are on a lowfat diet, discard grease by cooling and placing in a disposal container. By all means, do not pour down the drain as it will cause clogging.

Microwave

A quick way to cook your bacon is to microwave. This process is clean and efficient. Lay paper towel on a glass plate; then, place bacon on towel. Proceed to cover with another paper towel. It takes about one minute per slice. Half way through cooking process make a check. Do bear in mind that the duration of cooking is dependent on the wattage of each microwave.

Baked

This method produces an even, flat and crispy bacon; and no curls. Preheat oven to 350 to 400 degrees F.Line a cookie sheet with foil paper and spray with a little Pam. This will make for easy clean-up. Lay bacon slices on sheet and bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

You can also cook bacon by wrapping them around asparagus. It is best to blanche asparagus to equal cooking time with bacon. These can be serve as a great side dish.  Or, bacon could be wrapped around fillet mignon to give added flavors to meat.

Clearly, despite the saturated fats in bacon, it is a crowd pleaser to many. And, like anything else, balance is necessary. If you are on a restricted diet, you can find and enjoy the lowfat and low sodium in your store.  

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