Fold Bacon To Get The Best Ratio Of Chewy-To-Crispy Bites

Everyone has a different preference when it comes to bacon, with some liking it chewier and others liking it crispier. For fans of chewy bacon, it might be worth experimenting with folded strips to give them more of that particular texture. TikTok user @hollyatkinson1 demonstrates how to make tri-folded bacon, also known as "purse bacon" on social media.

@hollyatkinson1

Not my usual content but I wanted to share my bacon hack.🤗 #bacon #keto #ketohack #carnivore #DejaTuHuella #foryou #StrikeAPosay #pursebacon

♬ Steven Universe – L.Dre

This method is as simple as folding the bacon twice, then moving it to the oven to ensure even cooking, as the strips could unravel if you flip them in a skillet. Line the folded bacon up on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper to contain the mess. Because the bacon pieces are now smaller, you should be able to fit up to two pounds on a single tray, making this method great when cooking for a crowd. 

Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about 40 minutes. At the 20-minute mark, be sure to flip each piece of bacon so the outer surface can get crispy. The middle layer should stay nice and chewy, offering a delicious textural contrast to the exterior. All in all, you get three layers of bacon in every bite — which is already a win — but you've also made a ton of it with less maintenance and in the fraction of the time, compared to cooking strips in a pan.

If you're worried about tri-folded bacon not cooking all the way through, one alternative is to simply fold each strip of bacon in half. This creates a similar thick-cut effect, with the outer surfaces getting crispy while the inner surfaces fuse together in one chewy bite. The single-fold also works well with ovens, skillets, and griddles because it's easier to flip, and if the fold comes undone, it's easy to redo on the fly.

If you're feeling more adventurous in your bacon endeavors, take your presentation up a notch with bacon roses. Just roll each strip of bacon into a tight rosette, securing with a toothpick. If you choose to follow our spicy candied bacon recipe or enjoy an extra maple syrup glaze, add any condiments to the bacon before rolling. You can use any cooking method, but the oven might be best for cooking the rosettes all the way through.

Another fun way to cook bacon is in a weave pattern. Although this method takes more effort, it's the best way to drape bacon on top of other foods in an even layer. On a sandwich or burger, the flat bacon weave won't add structural instability like curled, uneven strips can. You can even layer the woven bacon on top of meatloaf or pork loin and cook it directly atop the meat, no pre-frying needed.

One of the only things that could improve bacon would be a foolproof way to get the exact texture you want. Although no prep or cooking method is perfect, there are a few tricks that will get you pretty darn close to your desired result. First of all, no one likes bacon that's burnt in some areas and rubbery in others (we think), so cook it low and slow. Cooking over medium-low heat helps the fat to render more slowly, ultimately giving the bacon a move even and crisp texture with no over- or underdone spots. 

Another way to achieve the crispiest bacon is with a flour dredge, which will speed up the browning process and create a crisp coating. As for cooking bacon that's more tender and chewy, one of the simplest tips is to add a shallow layer of water to the bottom of your skillet (or below your roasting pan, if you're using an oven). This keeps the bacon soft and moist while it cooks, creating a chewy texture. Alternatively, you can make a bacon rack by accordion-folding aluminum foil, and then baking your strips layered over the top. To be clear, the bacon won't be chewy from end to end, but it will have a satisfying ratio of tender-to-crispy.