How to Defrost Bacon: 5 Easy & Quick Methods

Defrost Bacon

If you like bacon a lot, you probably have it in your freezer as well. You will also find frozen bacon in supermarkets and you will have to defrost it yourself. What is the best way to do that? If you are wondering how to defrost bacon, you came to the right place.

The fastest way to defrost bacon is by using the microwave. You can also defrost it in the oven with only cold water. Keep reading to find out more about these ways to defrost bacon as well as other useful ways.

5 Easy Methods to Defrost Bacon 

Bacon

Anyone will be able to defrost bacon by using the following 5 easy ways. You don’t have to be a chef to get your bacon at the temperature that you want it to be in order to cook it. 

Method 1: Defrost bacon in the sink

One of the easiest and most natural ways to defrost bacon is by putting it in the sink and run tap, cold water over it. Just put the bacon in its original wrapping on a grill and allow cold water to run over it.

You will need the grill underneath the bacon so that the water gets all around the bacon package. If you don’t have a small grill you can use a cooling rack or a grate and it will work just fine as well.

Your bacon should be defrosted and ready to cook in half an hour or even less. The time it takes to defrost your bacon with this method depends on the size of your bacon as well. Small bacon packages will defrost faster than bigger ones.

Avoid soaking the bacon in cold water. The pressure of running water should fall on the surface of the bacon to get it to defrost faster and separate the slices in case your bacon is sliced.

Method 2: Use the microwave

This was probably one of the first options you considered. And as long as you do it right, this can be a fast and easy method to get your bacon to the temperature you need it to be.

The time you will need to leave the bacon in the microwave to defrost depends on its size as well as the settings of your microwave.

Use the “meat defrosting” feature on your microwave and set it for the amount of time is recommended according to the device you use. The general time for defrosting bacon should be anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes if you use the microwave.

If your bacon is wrapped in plastic you need to remove it, unless it is the type of plastic that can be put in the microwave. If the wrapping of your bacon is not microwave friendly, you will have to remove it and place your bacon into a bowl that is safe to put in the microwave.

resting_Bacon

Method 3: Let the bacon defrost naturally

If you are not pressured by time, you can also allow your bacon to defrost naturally at room temperature. In order to do that simply place your bacon in its original wrapping inside a large bowl and let it sit on a table or your kitchen counter.

You will need a large bowl because there will be water coming from your frozen bacon as it defrosts. Defrosting bacon at room temperature will take about 30 minutes. However, it may vary depending on the temperature you have in your room. 

Method 4: Defrost bacon in the oven 

If you want to defrost your bacon fast but you don’t have a microwave, you can use your regular oven. Many will advise you against this method because you can accidentally cook the bacon instead of defrosting it but if you do it right you will not take such a risk.

The trick is to preheat the oven at its minimum temperature. This will vary from one oven to another. But you want a low temperature to start with.

Place your bacon into an oven-friendly bowl and leave it inside your oven for up to 10 minutes. In order to avoid overcooking your bacon make sure to check on it regularly. Cook your bacon right away once it is defrosted because it is not recommended to freeze it again.

Method 5: Refrigerate the bacon  

If you are not in a hurry, defrosting your bacon in the fridge is also a great option. It will take up to 24 hours tho so don’t expect any fast results.

Place your bacon in a bowl that is large enough to get the water that will come from your frozen bacon and put it in the fridge.

This method works great if you need to cook bacon the next day. However, you can leave the bacon in the fridge for up to 5 days according to its expiration date. If you defrost your bacon in the fridge you don’t have to cook it immediately.

How Long Does it Take Bacon to Defrost?

Depending on the method you choose to defrost your bacon, it might take less or more time. The fastest way is definitely the microwave which takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. The longest way is defrosting bacon in the fridge which can take up to 24 hours. Choose your method according to your free time and cooking needs.

Can You Defrost Frozen Bacon?

You can defrost frozen bacon just like you can defrost any type of frozen meat. Just make sure that you don’t overcook it when you intend to defrost it in the microwave or oven.

Otherwise, you can apply any of the 5 methods in this guide to get your bacon defrosted as you need in order to cook it.

All recipes that include bacon in their ingredients will call for defrosted bacon. So it is important to know how to get the bacon at the temperature you want.

Can You Cook Bacon From Frozen?

If you are thinking to cook bacon from frozen, the manner of cooking it will matter a lot. The best way to cook frozen bacon is by frying it.

Start with a higher flame and decrease it as the slices separate. Reducing the intensity of the flame will allow each piece of bacon to cook individually without getting burned.

Don’t cook bacon from frozen in the oven because you will not be able to separate the slices. If you do that you might end up with a bulk of bacon that is burned at the edges yet not cooked enough in the middle.

If you have a recipe that calls for baked bacon, you can defrost it by using one of the methods above. Then, continue to cook it according to the instructions.

Who’s Up for a Crispy Bacon?

Bacon is one of the most popular meats and it is not complicated to cook at all as long as you defrost it the right way.

Keep in mind that the best form to defrost bacon is in the sink under cold water or in the microwave. Any method you choose from the list of five we picked for you will work just fine as well.

Pay attention to the time it takes your bacon to defrost so you can select the method that matches your plans. If you are in a hurry, going for the microwave method might be your best choice.

However, if you just want to have bacon ready to cook for the next day, you can easily allow it to defrost in the fridge.

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