How To Make Turkey Bacon Crispy

Turkey bacon is fast-replacing regular traditional pork bacon. We aren’t exactly sure why because turkey bacon really isn’t as healthy as people claim. But, personally, we welcome the change in flavor as compared to pork.

So, how can you get turkey bacon as crispy as regular bacon? The best techniques to use are pan-frying, oven baking, and air-frying. These techniques all use higher temperatures that will not only cook the bacon slices but crisp them up too.

In this article, we will look at the many different ways that you can both cook and crisp up turkey bacon. All of our methods are very easy and suited for any type of kitchen. So, what are you waiting for? The perfect piece of turkey bacon awaits!

What Is Turkey Bacon?

Turkey bacon is not a new type of cured meat on the shelf, but it has only recently gained more traction. This type of bacon follows the same production process as pork-based bacon. The main difference is only the type of meat it comes from.

But, turkey bacon has a completely different flavor and even nutritional profile than pork bacon. 

Now, this article isn’t really about the pros and cons of turkey bacon, but the thought that it is still crucial to compare the two types.

Turkey bacon is not healthier than pork bacon. Despite having slightly less fat and calories, it still has added sugars and preservatives that may be harmful.

How To Cook Turkey Bacon

Despite coming from a completely different animal, turkey bacon needs to be cooked in virtually the same way as regular pork bacon is.

The method stays the same, the cooking times are virtually the same, and the tricks for getting crispy bacon are the same.

But still, people cannot seem to get it right. So, we will have a look not only at how to cook turkey bacon but first at how to properly cook it from scratch.

In A Pan

Cooking turkey bacon in a pan is possibly the easiest and quickest way to prepare this tasty treat. This method can also give you crispy bacon without any additional steps. You just need to do it right from the start.

If you don’t necessarily want crispy turkey bacon, you can always just cook it over medium-high heat. This will help cook it completely while giving it a slightly crisped outside.

This is also a great method to use for reheating turkey bacon. And, depending on which pan you are using, you don’t even have to add oil or butter!

Oven Roasting

This method of cooking turkey bacon is a hand-free technique, but it takes a little longer. First, you need to preheat the oven, then prepare the bacon. Place it on a lined baking tray or over a roasting rack.

Then, bake the bacon for roughly 15 minutes or until it has reached the correct texture. This method is great for adjusting the consistency of the bacon (the doneness) while preparing the rest of your meal.

Furthermore, it is a great reheating technique to use and will help you catch any pan-drippings for later use.

Air-Frying

The last technique we will discuss briefly is air-frying. This appliance is now known by most people and is definitively a healthier cooking method as compared to deep-frying.

However, as we have mentioned, turkey bacon itself isn’t healthy. So, this technique certainly won’t change that.

Air-frying is a fat-free way to cook your bacon. And, just like a fan and oven, it can easily cook bacon to different textures.

All you need to do is place the bacon inside the chamber basket, set the timer and temperature, and let it cook.

It is also a much faster cooking method thanks to the amazing air-circulating technology.

How To Get Turkey Bacon Crispy

Now that you kind of has an idea of how to generally cook turkey bacon, let’s have a look at specifically how to get it crispy! Cooking turkey bacon is very easy, but getting that uber crispy crackled texture is the real challenge!

Luckily, we have assembled 4 easy techniques you can use that are all guaranteed to work. And the best part is, they use regular turkey cooking methods, just in a different way.

By following our methods, we can guarantee that you will get perfectly crisp turkey bacon each time you make it! So, let’s take a look.

1. Pan-Fry

This method is easy and requires the least amount of specialized equipment. You just need a good heavy-bottomed pan. It doesn’t have to be non-stick, but that never hurt anybody!

And before you worry too much, the non-stick pan won’t be heated to temperatures that will cause it to release toxic fumes or start chipping.

1. Add about 2 tablespoons of oil into your large pan. Then, preheat it over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, remove the bacon from its packet and separate the slices.
2. Then, add the bacon into the pan next to each over. They shouldn’t overlap. Then, allow them to cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Turn them every couple of minutes. Repeat this process until the turkey bacon becomes crispy.
3. Just because we like crispy turkey bacon doesn’t mean we like it oily. So, after they have crisped up, drain them on a paper towel over a plate. Make sure to turn them on the paper towel as well so all sides are cleaned.

2. Oven Bake

If you have access to an oven, we highly recommend using this method instead. Making turkey bacon crispy in the oven is hand-free and extremely effective. Even more so if you have a convection oven (thermo-fan or fan oven). 

Then, we also recommend placing the bacon on an oven-proof wire rack. This will help the air circulate over all sides of the slice, crisping it up more evenly, effectively, and quickly.

If you don’t, then simply place the turkey bacon slices on a non-stick baking pan or piece of non-stick paper. Silicone mats also work great!

1. If you have a convection oven (with a fan), preheat it to 320ºF. If you have a regular oven, you can heat it to 360ºF.
2. Line a baking pan or roasting tray with non-stick baking paper or a silicone sheet. Then, place the bacon pieces on the paper, not touching each other.
3. If you have a roasting rack, place it over a roasting tray to catch the drippings. Place the bacon on the wire rack.
4. Brush the bacon slices with some oil, but not too much. Otherwise, they may just burn and not crisp up quickly.
5. Only roast the bacon pieces for about 10 minutes. You can go longer depending on the thickness of your slices and the temperature of your oven. Turn the bacon every 5 minutes until it becomes as crispy as you like it.

3. Air Fry

Last, but again, not least, air frying the turkey bacon pieces is a fantastic way to get them crispy without any oil!

You can place the pieces in the air fryer and let them crisp up. The technology used for this appliance allows hot air to quickly and effectively circulate throughout the cooking chamber.

So, this technique will give you arguably the crispiest turkey bacon with the least amount of effort in the shortest period of time!

1. Set the temperature to 320ºF and set the timer to 8 minutes. If you want to you can line the chamber with foil to catch the drippings.
2. Place the bacon inside the chamber basket and secure it in the air fryer. Then, cook the bacon for roughly 8 minutes. You don’t have to turn the bacon at all, but you can check its progress after 4 minutes.
3. After the bacon has been crisped, drain it again on a paper towel. Even though you haven’t added any oil, the turkey bacon still made its own. For healthier pieces, drain them on a paper towel.

Tips And Tricks

• Never overfill your cooking vessel. This will lower the temperature and make it much harder to get crispy bacon.
• To make crispy bacon, you should never overlap the turkey bacon slices. In fact, try to avoid them touching at all!
• The thicker the slices of bacon are, the longer they will take to become crispy. Very thin slices will also take less than the average amount of time to cook the pieces.
• Always drain your turkey bacon on a paper towel. Even if you didn’t add a lot of oil to cook it, the bacon itself also produces oil (melted fat). So, to help cut back on unhealthy fats, remove any excess amounts.
• You can also flavor your turkey bacon with ground spices and basting sauces (or syrups) when baking or air-frying them. It is a great way to add complexity to otherwise only salty savory meat pieces.

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