Bacon is a beloved breakfast staple that can be cooked in a variety of ways. But have you ever considered cooking bacon in a wok?
It may seem unconventional, but using a wok to cook bacon can yield delicious results. In this article, we’ll explore the different methods of cooking bacon in a wok and share some tips and tricks to help you achieve the perfect crispy and chewy texture.
So, grab your wok and let’s get cooking!
Can You Cook Bacon In A Wok?
Yes, you absolutely can cook bacon in a wok! In fact, cooking bacon in a wok is fast, easy, and yields a perfect mix of crispiness and chewiness.
To start, put your bacon slices (12-18) in a cold wok set to medium heat. Arrange the bacon strips in a circular pattern around the wok. As the bacon at the bottom of the wok finishes cooking, move them to the sides to drain and replace them with the strips arranged on the sides.
Once your bacon is cooked to your desired level of crispiness, place it on a wire rack over paper towels to drain. Straighten the strips to get the nice even shape you want, but never place them directly on the paper towels.
Why Use A Wok To Cook Bacon?
Using a wok to cook bacon has several advantages. First, the metal of the wok is thin and heats quickly, making cooking bacon in a wok a fast process. Additionally, cooking bacon in a wok is a great way to season newer woks. Woks, especially new ones, love fat during the seasoning or reseasoning process, and frying bacon is an easy way to get that nice coating into your wok.
Furthermore, cooking bacon in a wok can help reduce your reliance on foil and parchment paper. The wok has a built-in drainage system where the grease pools to the center and the bacon can be drained along the sides. This means you’ll wash fewer dishes like oily sheet pans and racks.
Another advantage of using a wok to cook bacon is that it yields the perfect mix of crispiness and chewiness. The circular pattern of arranging the strips around the wok ensures even cooking of the rashers. Moreover, a well-seasoned wok has developed a great nonstick surface, which means minimal cooking oil is needed for stir-fries. Your wok-cooked dishes will be healthier, and who doesn’t love that?
Preparing Your Wok For Bacon
Before you start cooking bacon in your wok, it’s important to prepare the surface of the wok to ensure that the bacon doesn’t stick. This process is called seasoning the wok, and it involves creating a non-stick layer on the wok’s surface.
To season your wok for bacon, you’ll need oil and high heat. It’s recommended to use oil with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, such as canola, flaxseed, or grapeseed oil. These oils are more effective at creating the polymer layer that will prevent the bacon from sticking.
Start by applying a thin layer of oil to the surface of your wok. Then, heat the wok until the oil starts to smoke. This is important because the polymerization process only happens when the oil is heated at its smoking point.
As the oil heats up, its molecules will begin to bond to each other, forming a thin layer of polymer on the wok’s surface. This layer is tough, impermeable, and hydrophobic, which means it expels water. It separates the food from the wok and prevents it from sticking.
However, this layer is not very secure and tends to detach from the wok. Therefore, it’s important to heat the wok again to lay down this polymer onto the wok surface. This reaction can happen only when it is sufficiently hot, above the oil’s smoking point. Hot oil is less viscous and will fill up the wok’s spores and crevices and molecularly bond to the iron. Once this happened, the non-stick layer will firmly integrate with the wok.
By seasoning your wok before cooking bacon, you’ll ensure that your bacon comes out perfectly crispy and doesn’t stick to the surface of your wok. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference in the quality of your bacon.
Method 1: Stir-Frying Bacon In A Wok
Stir-frying bacon in a wok is a popular method that many people use to cook bacon. This method is perfect for those who love their bacon with a mix of crispy and chewy bits. To start, heat your wok over high heat until it starts to smoke. Lay the bacon strips in a single layer across the wok, making sure to put a few pieces along the sides of the wok.
Allow the bacon to cook for about a minute without moving it around. If the bacon is getting too dark, turn down the heat slightly. The fat should start melting and crisping up. Once the bacon is partially browned but not fully cooked, use chopsticks or a spatula to flip the bacon and cook the other side to the same level.
Next, grab your wok spatula and stir-fry the bacon with the heat on high to evenly crisp it to your liking. This is the method that yields a mix of crisp and chewy bits of bacon! If you prefer your bacon uniformly crispy, instead of using your wok spatula, flip the bacon a third time and let it fry a little longer over lower heat.
It’s important to note that grease pools in the wok, so when the bacon is done, push it to the sides and let gravity do the work of draining. Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate when drained.
Stir-frying bacon in a wok is not only easy but also fast. It takes only a few minutes to cook up a batch of deliciously crispy and chewy bacon that you can enjoy on its own or in sandwiches. Give this method a try and see how it compares to other methods of cooking bacon!
Method 2: Deep-Frying Bacon In A Wok
Deep-frying bacon in a wok is a popular method employed by many professionals and is a favourite of our American cousins. To start, put 5 or 6 strips of streaky bacon (works less well with back bacon) in a deep fat fryer for 5 minutes. This will give you curly and chewy bacon that is deliciously crispy.
Alternatively, you can deep-fry bacon in a wok by filling it with oil and heating it over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350-375°F. Once the oil is hot, add your bacon strips to the wok and cook them for about 2-3 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy.
Be sure to use caution when deep-frying in a wok, as the oil can splatter and cause burns. It’s also important to use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the bacon from the wok to avoid getting burned by the hot oil.
Tips And Tricks For Perfect Wok-Cooked Bacon
If you want to achieve the perfect wok-cooked bacon, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind:
1. Use good quality bacon and a nice, crusty bread. Sourdough bread works particularly well.
2. Heat your wok over high heat until it’s just smoking before adding the bacon. This will ensure that the bacon cooks evenly and quickly.
3. Lay the bacon strips in a single layer across the wok and don’t move them around for the first minute or so. This will allow the fat to start melting and crisping.
4. If the bacon is getting too dark, turn down the heat slightly.
5. When the bacon is partially browned but not fully cooked, flip it over using chopsticks or a spatula.
6. Once both sides are cooked to your liking, use a wok spatula to stir-fry the bacon on high heat for an even crispiness.
7. If you prefer your bacon uniformly crispy, flip it a third time and let it fry a little longer over lower heat.
8. When the bacon is done, push it to the sides of the wok to let gravity drain the grease.
9. Once drained, transfer the bacon to a plate and lay bread slices around the perimeter of the wok.
10. For an extra crispy sandwich, drizzle some of the bacon drippings over the bread using a spatula.
By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to cook perfect wok-cooked bacon every time!
Serving Suggestions And Recipe Ideas
Now that you’ve mastered cooking bacon in a wok, it’s time to get creative with serving suggestions and recipe ideas. Here are some delicious options to try:
1. Bacon Sandwiches: Use your perfectly cooked wok bacon as the star ingredient in a classic bacon sandwich. Toast some bread, add your favorite condiments, and enjoy!
2. Egg Fried Rice: Use the wok you cooked your bacon in to make a delicious egg fried rice. Sauté onions, garlic, and bacon in the wok before adding diced vegetables and scrambled eggs. Toss it all together with a savory fried rice sauce for a filling and flavorful meal.
3. Bacon-Wrapped Vegetables: Wrap your favorite vegetables like asparagus or green beans with strips of cooked bacon and roast them in the oven for a delicious side dish.
4. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken: Wrap chicken breasts or thighs with cooked bacon before baking or grilling for a tasty and juicy main dish.
5. Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Stuff pitted dates with goat cheese or blue cheese, wrap them with cooked bacon, and bake them in the oven for an irresistible appetizer.
6. Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp: Wrap jumbo shrimp with cooked bacon and grill or broil them for a delicious surf-and-turf dish.
7. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers: Stuff jalapeño peppers with cream cheese, wrap them with cooked bacon, and bake them in the oven for a spicy and savory appetizer.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to using wok-cooked bacon in your favorite dishes. So go ahead and experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create your own unique recipes!
