Chef Jeff Baker, who has cooked for the late-Queen, has shared his top tips for cooking the perfect bacon – and you might need to change your ways for the ultimate crispy rashers
Bacon lovers, listen up!
Whether you’re a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan, everyone adores a good bacon roll, and with countless alternatives available, no one has to feel left out. But let’s face it, when Sunday brunch time rolls around, the temptation to rush through cooking is real – all in the name of kicking back with a brew and giving your feet a well-deserved rest.
However, if you’ve been striving for that perfect crispy bacon but keep falling short, there’s an expert you’ll want to pay attention to – especially since he’s whipped up meals for royalty.
Jeff Baker, the executive development chef at Farmison & Co, who has had the honour of cooking for the late-Queen Elizabeth II herself, shared his sizzling secrets. If you’ve been taking the slow and steady approach with your bacon, Jeff suggests that might be exactly why you’re not achieving that desired crunch.
His top tip? Heat up that pan until it’s sizzling hot, then sear your rashers on both sides to get that mouth-watering caramelisation, which not only makes the bacon irresistibly crispy but also amps up the flavour, reports Glasgow Live.
Jeff explained: “I find that the best way to cook bacon is on a medium to high heat pan with a small amount of natural fat, searing it on each side for a minute or so.
“If the bacon is properly dry cured and cut to a nice thickness, it should caramelise on the edges.” And for the pièce de résistance, Jeff adds: “The fat will then render without dissolving, resulting in delicious flavour.”
So next time you’re prepping for brunch, remember these Royal tips for bacon fit for a king or queen. A chef has sparked debate by claiming that if you cook bacon his way, there’s no need for any condiments: “In my opinion, if cooked this way the bacon won’t need any sauce to enhance the taste – it’ll be perfect as it is.”
