How To Reheat Bacon Without Drying It Out

It takes some trial and error to figure out the best way to reheat foods to perfection. Some methods are quick, but can affect the flavor and texture of the food you're reheating. And certain foods, like leftover bacon, dry out easily. You can reheat bacon in the microwave, but its texture may turn from crispy to dry and chewy. And if you need to reheat a bunch of bacon for a crowd, you could bake it in the oven using a sheet pan, but it could become much crispier and drier than you'd like. So, what's the best way to best way to reheat bacon without drying it out?

The best way to ensure it won't dry out begins with storing it properly. Wrap the bacon tightly in aluminum foil or storing it in an airtight container before placing it in the fridge or freezer. Once you're ready to reheat it, let the bacon come to room temperature. If you put cold bacon directly on a hot pan, it will take longer to warm up than room-temperature bacon, giving it a greater chance of drying out. If you're pulling your leftover bacon out of the fridge, let it sit on a plate for a few minutes until it's up to temp. If it's from the freezer, a quick thaw on your microwave's defrost setting works well. 

Now that the bacon is at room temperature, it's time to reheat it. Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat until the air above it feels hot, then add the room-temperature bacon. You don't need to add any oil or butter to the pan, as the bacon itself has plenty of fat, which will continue to render out in the pan. Once the bacon pieces begin to sizzle, turn them over and wait one more minute, until both sides are shining with bacon fat, the edges are crisping up, and the bacon is warmed through. Then you can take the pieces off the heat and place them on a plate lined with a paper towel to help absorb any extra oil. Be mindful of the amount of time the bacon spends in the pan and don't walk away, as it should only take a minute or two to get crispy.

Once you've mastered reheating leftover bacon, you can use it in unexpected ways. Wrap slices around other ingredients like scallops, asparagus, or shrimp, for an appetizer everyone will reach for. You can also chop them up and toss them in a pan with brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and caramelized onions to make a bacon jam, which can dress up a charcuterie board or add a salty crunch to homemade sandwiches.