How to make bacon tastier and crispier without oil

Bacon is something many enjoy as part of their breakfast, along with some eggs and perhaps avocado. For those after the better tasting and crispier results, there is a certain way to cook it, and surprisingly, it’s not to use oil.

Oil is the last thing you should be adding to the pan, as the fat from the bacon will render and help the bacon release from the pan as it cooks. Instead, the chef behind the YouTube channel The West Country Kitchen claims that you “need” to use water. He captioned the video: “How to cook perfect Bacon using Water. Learn this amazing hack to make the best-ever bacon. My recipe in this video is very easy, quick and foolproof to prepare and cook [bacon].”

For cooking the “most perfectly crispy bacon”, start by popping a frying pan on the hob and putting the heat on low.

You can use any bacon you wish for this method, but streaky back works better, according to the chef.

Lay the bacon on the pan, making sure it’s not too crowded. Then grab some water and “add a little splash” to the pan and swirl it around.

Leave the bacon to cook for five minutes on a low heat before turning it over. At this point, all the water will be pretty much reduced.

The chef said: “This method works really well because the water helps to render out all the fat and will cook the bacon nicely, gently and evenly.”

Once the water is reduced, you can then turn up the heat to achieve a “beautiful caramelisation” on the bacon.

Keep turning the bacon over for even colour and just at the point that it’s almost as you want it, just go in with one last splash of water.

Give the pan a good shake and swirl the water around. This last addition of water is “really important” to deglaze the pan.

Then reduce the water away and give the bacon a last little blast for two to three minutes, and you’ll have the “most amazing perfectly cooked crispy bacon”.