Cooking Bacon on the Stovetop in Fry Pan

Start cold

1. Lay the bacon strips in a cold pan. Do not overlap. This helps the fat render slowly and evenly.

Turn on the heat

1. Set the stove to medium heat. As the pan heats, the bacon will begin to sizzle and shrink.

Flip as needed

1. Use tongs to turn the bacon every couple of minutes. Flip more often for even cooking and to control crispness.

Adjust the heat

1. If the bacon starts smoking or browning too fast, lower the heat slightly to prevent burning.

Check doneness

1. Cook for 8–12 minutes, depending on thickness and preferred crispiness.

Drain

1. Once done, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.

Save that fat (optional)

1. Carefully pour the rendered bacon fat into a heat-safe jar to use in future recipes.