How to blanch bacon?

In this brief study, we will answer the question, “how to blanch bacon? by explaining the secret behind blanching, rendering of bacon, and the method of cooking it in water.

How to blanch bacon?

To blanch, the bacon immerses bacon in a half-filled pan with cold water that is cold. Bring the water to a moderate boil in a small saucepan.

After removing any scum or froth from the surface of the water, bring the pot to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the fire after 5 minutes and place in a bowl of ice water to cool for 1 hour. Place two baking sheets between two baking pans after removing the bacon from the water. Refrigerate the bacon once it has been pressed for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.

Refrigerate the bacon and toss out the rind once it has been cooked (skin). Using a sharp knife, cut the bacon into lardons to serve. Heat the oil in a nonstick frying pan over high heat until it simmers. When the oil is hot, add the lardons and cook them until they are golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes. Use just as required after draining thoroughly.

Secret Behind blanching

  • Blanching the meat first eliminates any contaminants that may be present in bacon or pancetta that may cause it to burn if fried in its natural state. Blood, salts, and sugars that remain after curing may be found in the meat. It is possible to cook your bacon at a higher temperature without obtaining black bacon if you remove the skins before cooking.
  • Blanching the bacon also helps to reduce the amount of time it takes to cook. The rendered fat is obtained via the rendering of the blanched meat. This allows the bacon to be cooked at a higher temperature and for a shorter amount of time without the risk of undercooking.
  • The process of blanching your bacon has extra benefits. Bacon has a smoky, salty flavor that is best enjoyed fresh; but, when cooked, the salt and smoke may overpower the rest of the dish. When you want to incorporate bacon in a meal but don’t want it to take over, this is a great trick to use. 
  • If you’re looking to add a subtle touch of bacon flavor to a dish, blanched bacon is the way to go. Bacon that has been blanched and crisped is excellent in recipes such as coq au vin and beef bourguignon.

How to Render Bacon?

  • Using a simple technique such as rendering, you may remove fat from cut meat.
  • Rendering is a simple technique for eliminating fat from diced meat that is used in many recipes (usually pork or bacon). Lardons [LAHR-don] are produced as a result of this process. In addition to seasoning soups, salads, and eggs, lardons are also used in baking. It is also possible to sauté vegetables in the grease.
  • Lardons are said to have originated in French kitchens, and they are often made using slab bacon, which is uncut smoked bacon. Make lardons at home by slicing thick slices of bacon together. Fortunately, because of their thickness, the strips just need dicing. Blanching the pieces in hot water before rendering will result in a softer flavor.
  • Render the bacon in a skillet over low heat until it is crispy. To completely remove fat from meat without charring it (10–15 minutes), this is the only technique available.
  • Remove the rendered bacon pieces from the pan with a slotted spoon and place them on a dish lined with paper towels to drain.

What is the purpose of cooking bacon in water?

To fry the bacon strips, put them in a skillet and heat them over medium heat (or, if desired, chop the strips into pieces rather than leaving them whole). Stir in just enough water to completely cover all of the strips. Then lower the heat to a moderate setting. While the bacon is cooking, the water will evaporate naturally.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for another 15 minutes. At this stage, the fat has been rendered by the cooking process, reducing the likelihood of the meat burning as you attempt to cook the fat out of the flesh. Because most people dislike mushy bacon, you’ll want to cook your bacon without adding any water to ensure that the meat is crisp and delicious. This last step allows you to brown the bacon to your liking.

Other FAQs about Bacon which you may be interested in.

How long can you keep bacon grease?

How long is bacon good for?

How to store bacon grease?

Conclusion

In this brief study, we answered the question, “how to blanch bacon? by explaining the secret behind blanching, rendering of bacon, and the method of cooking it in water.

Reference

https://www.mashed.com/163293/the-real-reason-you-should-start-cooking-bacon-in-water/
https://www.cuisineathome.com/tips/rendering-bacon/
https://albrady.co.uk/how-to-cook-the-crispiest-bacon
https://lifehacker.com/blanch-bacon-to-tame-its-smoky-salty-flavor-when-using-5987732

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