5 Tips for Making the Perfect Piece of Bacon

Bacon experts share 5 fool-proof tips for achieving "bacon perfection" the next time you're frying up breakfast.

We spoke with Ed and John from Handsome Devil Barbecue who will be cooking up some amazing recipes for the Beer, Bourbon, Bacon festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds on June 20. They shared their bacon expertise with us and some incredible tips on preparing your own bacon the right way.

Make good use of the "bacon window"
When buying bacon make sure you utilize the little window on the back of the package. It's there to let you see the whole slab and determine if it's the right cut. You want to look for a perfect blend of meat and those white strips of fat. You don't want to pick a bacon that has too much white or it will burn right up on you in the pan.

Choose the proper thickness for your bacon needs
When wrapping food items in bacon, Ed says that it's smart to go for a thin cut. The bacon will easily wrap around the item without falling off and will be sure to cook all the way through. When preparing the bacon itself as a main dish, the experts always go for the thick cut. Thicker bacon wont burn as quickly and turn into bacon bits if you turn your back on the pan for a few moments. Also, the thicker the bacon, the more flavor you're going to get in each bite.

Cook it medium-high
You want to make sure your pan is nice and hot before placing the bacon into it... but not too hot. A medium heat will create that sizzle and start cooking the bacon without burning it too quickly.

Don't over-flip
Ed suggests cooking the bacon on one side and then just flipping it once to finish it off. Don't over-handle the bacon, it won't help it cook any better or faster.

Don't be concerned with the curl
Bacon is going to curl up, that's all part of the experience. Some people use a flat iron or even bake it in the oven in attempt to keep the bacon flat and straight. John discourages people from using these methods, since hey will dry out your finished product.

If you want to sample some professionally prepared bacon, tickets are still available for Beer, Bourbon and Bacon. Check out our special preview of some mouth-watering bacon recipes that will be available only at the festival: