8 Essential Bacon Hacks

Today is International Bacon Day and to celebrate here are 8 of our favorite bacon hacks covered at Lifehacker over the years.

1. Make High Quality Bacon by Curing Your Own

To hack bacon you must first have bacon. You can always buy it, but why not try making it yourself one day. All you need is a 5lb section of pork belly, spices, and around a week to cure the bacon before eating.

2. Ditch the Skillet; Fire Up Your Oven to Cook Perfect Bacon

Microwaves and frying pans can make cooking bacon unpredictable. If you want perfectly and evenly prepared bacon every time, use our method of cooking bacon in your oven.

3. A Strip of Bacon Saves Meatloaf from Sticking to the Pan

Next time you make a meatloaf place a strip of uncooked bacon on the bottom of your pan before adding other meatloaf ingredients. The fat from one slice of bacon creates enough lubricant to prevent sticky or burned meatloaf.

4. Bacon Sandwiches Speed Up Hangover Recovery

Newcastle University researchers suggest that the protein in bacon and other meats is quickly broken down into amino acids, which rejuvenate neurotransmitters damaged by too many drinks the night before.

5. Make Better, Less Messy Bacon in a Waffle Iron

Another alternative way of making bacon is using a waffle iron. Cooking show host Alton Brown recommends this method as waffle irons make it easy to control the bacon by pulling away the grease from the cooking surface. You can use this grease for making waffles or for other DIY projects, such as....

6. Use Leftover Bacon Drippings to Make an Oil Lamp

This is a great project for those who make so much bacon they have difficulty using the leftover bacon drippings. Place the bacon grease in an empty soup can, add a cloth wick, and light to produce an oil lamp that will provide light and make your whole house smell like bacon.

7. How to Make Popcorn with Bacon Fat

This tip won't work with microwavable popcorn, but if you have a popcorn popper substitute 3 tbl of bacon fat in place of your usual popcorn oil to produce a smoky bacon-inspired flavor.

8. Make Drool-Worthy Bacon Cups for Your Holiday Party

Weave a few pieces of bacon together, place in a foil-lined muffin tin, and bake in an oven to produce insanely good snack holder cups you can eat.

Now go forth and celebrate International Bacon Day! Photo by Shawn Zamechek