34 Bacon Recipes for BLTs, Burgers, and Beyond (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook bacon ahead of time for BLTS? ›

Yes, when you have a lot to make, cooking bacon in advance is a good idea. I would cook the bacon just until it starts to get crisp. That way when it comes time to reheat it you can reheat it until it's just crisp. Or you can reheat to your liking.

Think about it: Bacon can be served for breakfast with your favorite egg recipes, but it's also delicious as a topping for burgers, twice-baked potatoes, and Ree Drummond's Best Baked Beans Ever. Bacon can even be added to chocolate desserts for a sweet and savory recipe you never knew you needed.

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on 2 aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheets, or, for extracrispy bacon, arrange on 2 wire racks set over 2 foil-lined rimmed baking sheets. Bake until the bacon is browned and starts to ripple, or to desired doneness, 10 to 20 minutes.

Bacon can be baked 3 to 4 days ahead of time. When ready to use, wrap a few bacon slices in a fresh paper towel and re-warm bacon in microwave for approximately 10 seconds just before serving.

My Strategy For A Make-Ahead BLT

Toast the bread, cook the bacon and prep the lettuce at home. Put these prepped sandwich elements in separate containers. Store the bacon and lettuce in your cooler, of course. When it's time for dinner, simply slice your tomato and smear a little mayo on your pre-toasted bread.

Can you use butter to cook bacon? No, because the bacon already has some fat in it, which will help grease the pan. Not to mention, you need to start bacon in a cold pan; if you add butter to it, it won't melt fast enough.

Crowding the Pan

Crowding creates steam and prevents the bacon from cooking evenly, giving you limp bacon instead of crispy strips. Cook in batches if needed.

Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove from the pan, and set on paper towels to drain. Crack the eggs into the pan with the bacon grease so that they are about 1 inch apart. Season with salt and pepper.

Make-Ahead and Storage

You can grill it, place it in a pan and cook over low heat until hot or place back in the oven at 350° for 2 to 3 minutes or until hot. Make-Ahead: You can make bacon up to 1 day ahead of time. Reheat and drain before serving.

How do you reheat bacon for BLT? ›

In the oven: If you have the time, preheat your oven to 375ºF and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the bacon on the foil in a single layer and cook for about 5 minutes. If you didn't overcook your bacon before putting it in the fridge or freezer, it won't overcook now but be hot and crispy.

Don't fret! Instead, turn to the oven to keep those tantalizing strips crunchy and warm. Whether you prefer to microwave, pan-fry, or bake your bacon, the oven will allow you to keep your bacon crispy for up to a few hours. Set the temperature to 200ºF and center a baking rack.

Cooked bacon, however, only lasts four to five days in the fridge. If you can't eat it up that quickly, the USDA says you can freeze it for up to a month.