There are many ways to defrost bacon, from very quick to slow. Some of the quick methods include using a microwave, air fryer, oven, or frying pan. Slower methods involve using cold water or refrigeration.
While the best and safest way to thaw bacon is by placing the bacon in a refrigerator, this way is the longest possible method and requires planning in advance.
How To Defrost Bacon Quickly
Defrosting bacon can be very easy and take as little as five minutes. But the quickest ways to defrost bacon come with additional difficulties, like requiring certain equipment. Bacon that’s been defrosted quickly should also be cooked immediately, which requires carefully planning the amount of bacon to be used.
Fastest Way To Thaw Bacon in the Microwave
Defrosting bacon in the microwave is one of the fastest methods available. Thawing bacon with the help of a microwave requires less than five minutes and doesn’t require the bacon to be flipped.
To defrost bacon in a microwave, first place several paper towels on a dish. Put the frozen bacon on top of the paper towels, which are necessary to absorb the excess moisture that results from defrosting.
Place the dish in the microwave and set the microwave to defrosting mode for one minute. Repeat for up to five microwaving sessions. Check on the progress every minute and don’t leave the bacon unattended in the microwave. If the bacon is in a block, use a knife or a fork to gently separate slices as they defrost. Defrosting an entire pound of bacon in the microwave will require no longer than five one-minute sessions.
If your microwave doesn’t have a defrosting mode, set the microwave to low heat — no higher than 30% power.
How To Defrost Bacon in an Oven
Using an oven is another quick way to defrost bacon in a short amount of time — this method takes about five minutes. However, the oven needs to preheat to 300°F for 15 to 20 minutes beforehand.
After the oven is heated, place the frozen bacon on a tray covered with a sheet of baking paper. Put the tray inside the preheated oven for five minutes. Flip the bacon after three minutes. Take the bacon out after five minutes of defrosting and cook immediately.
How To Defrost Bacon in an Air Fryer
Using an air fryer is another quick way to thaw bacon. Defrosting bacon in an air fryer takes around five minutes plus preheating time.
Heat the air fryer to 375°F, which takes five to six minutes. Place the frozen bacon in the air fryer basket and start defrosting. As the meat defrosts, use tongs to separate pieces while still in the air fryer. After five minutes, remove the basket and cook the thawed bacon immediately.
The Best Ways To Thaw Bacon Slowly
Defrosting bacon slowly is a safer way to defrost bacon. Defrosting slowly allows you to refreeze the meat and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, which appear when the frozen bacon is subjected to high heat.
How To Thaw Bacon in the Refrigerator
Defrosting bacon in a refrigerator is a good way to defrost bacon slowly. Though this method takes up to 24 hours and requires planning ahead, defrosting in the fridge ensures the bacon defrosts gradually and does not develop potentially dangerous bacteria.
To defrost bacon in a fridge, simply put the frozen bacon on a dish in the bacon’s original packaging and leave it in the refrigerator. The bacon will defrost in 24 hours and can be kept in the fridge afterward for up to five days. The bacon should be consumed by day five or frozen again.
How To Defrost Bacon in Cold Water
Using cold water to thaw bacon is another safe way to get frozen bacon ready for cooking. This method takes around 30 minutes.
Fill the kitchen sink with cold water. Immerse the frozen bacon, in its original packaging, in cold water for 30 minutes. After half an hour, take the bacon out of the cold water, remove the packaging, and use a knife or a fork to separate the slices for cooking.
Fastest Ways To Thaw Bacon by Cooking
Bacon can also be defrosted easily by cooking, which involves frying the bacon in a skillet or frying pan. These effective and quick methods usually take 15 to 20 minutes but are not suitable for large bricks of frozen bacon.
Defrosting Bacon Using a Skillet
Thawing bacon in a skillet is a relatively quick method of defrosting bacon, taking between 15 and 20 minutes.
Place the bacon on a large skillet on medium heat on the stovetop, and cover the skillet with a lid to keep the heat in and speed up the process of defrosting.
As the bacon starts thawing, use tongs to separate slices. Flip the slices over every few minutes to make sure the bacon has thawed equally on both sides.
After 15 to 20 minutes, the bacon will be cooked and crispy, ready to consume.
Defrosting Bacon Using a Frying Pan
To defrost bacon in a frying pan, use a stainless steel or a cast iron pan. This method also takes between 15 and 20 minutes to fully cook the bacon.
Place the frozen bacon on a frying pan and cover with a lid. Switch on the stove to low or medium heat. As with the previous method, separate slices using tongs as the bacon heats up and can be separated from the brick. Flip the slices every few minutes to make sure they heat up evenly.
Tips To Defrost Bacon Effectively And Safely
To defrost bacon safely, always make sure to avoid defrosting at room temperature, which can lead to dangerous bacterial growth. Use one of the methods outlined above instead of simply leaving bacon to defrost on the kitchen counter.
It’s only safe to refreeze bacon that was defrosted without heat, like in a fridge or in cold water. Refreezing bacon that was thawed in a microwave or an oven is unsafe. Bacon that was defrosted using heat should be cooked and consumed immediately.
Identify spoiled bacon by looking at the color of the meat after thawing. Spoiled bacon will be darker, and the red of the meat will start looking brown or even have a green shade, which means the bacon has gone bad. Spoiled bacon also has an odor of rotting meat or a sour smell, which means the bacon should be thrown away and not consumed.
