Cooking bacon in a cast iron skillet without using oil or butter is entirely possible, as bacon itself contains enough fat to render while cooking. The key is to start with a cold skillet and cook the bacon low and slow to allow the fat to render gradually. Here's how you can do it:
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Preheat the Skillet: Place the cast iron skillet on the stovetop and turn the heat to low or medium-low. Let the skillet preheat for a few minutes.
Add the Bacon: Lay the bacon slices in the cold skillet, making sure they don't overlap. You can cut the bacon strips in half to fit better if needed.
Cook Slowly: Allow the bacon to cook slowly over low to medium-low heat. As the skillet heats up, the bacon will start to release its fat. It's important to cook it slowly to prevent burning and uneven cooking.
Flip as Needed: As the bacon cooks, you may need to flip the slices occasionally to ensure even cooking on both sides. Use tongs to flip the bacon gently.
Drain Excess Fat: If you find that there is an excessive amount of rendered fat in the skillet, you can carefully drain some of it off into a heat-resistant container. Be cautious not to burn yourself while doing this.
Remove and Drain the Bacon: Once the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the skillet and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb any remaining excess fat.
Serve: Let the bacon cool for a moment, and then it's ready to be served and enjoyed!
By cooking bacon in a cast iron skillet without adding extra oil or butter, you'll still get delicious, crispy bacon with the advantage of being cooked in its natural fats. Additionally, you'll have the added benefit of using a cast iron skillet, which imparts great flavor to the bacon and is easy to clean after cooking.