Holiday Candied Bacon Brittle (VIDEO Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Holiday Candied Bacon Brittle (VIDEO Recipe)? ›

Can candied bacon be left out? Candied bacon is perishable, so it should be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours of making the recipe.

Can candied bacon be left out? Candied bacon is perishable, so it should be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours of making the recipe.

Store the bacon: Candied bacon can be kept in the fridge for a few days and reheats well in a skillet over low heat. I don't think candied bacon is worth freezing, although if you made a huge batch you absolutely could. You could just want to make sure to freeze the strips individually so they didn't stick together.

When ready to eat, reheat individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds until warm or crisp, or briefly in the oven at 350°F (175°C) on a baking sheet. This is like candy – we love it! I use a thick sliced pepper bacon and it is so good!

Cooked bacon, however, only lasts four to five days in the fridge. If you can't eat it up that quickly, the USDA says you can freeze it for up to a month. (If you're looking for recipes for your leftover bacon, try our Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole, Classic Southern BLT, or Spring Salad With Berries And Bacon.)

The general rule of food safety is to not let raw meat or cooked food sit out for more than 2 hours, and that rule applies to uncooked or cooked bacon. It's wise to be careful with uncooked pork products since they can harbor and grow bacterial pathogens like salmonella and trichinosis.

When four days just won't cut it, freezing your candied bacon is an effective way to extend its shelf life to three months or longer. Immediately after cooling, wrap portions in plastic wrap and then in foil, ensuring a tight seal.

The best practice for storing candied bacon is to keep it in the refrigerator. Before storing, let the caramelized bacon cool to room temperature. This helps keep condensation at bay when the meat is stored in the fridge, ensuring your delectable bacon stays crisp and delicious.

Bake the bacon in a 400°F oven until well-browned and crisp, this should take between 15 and 18 minutes depending on the thickness of your bacon. To follow Martha's method to a T, you'll need to rotate the sheet pan halfway through.

To cook bacon on the stove:

In a cold skillet, arrange bacon in a single layer (don't let it overlap too much). Turn the skillet to medium heat and cook, flipping the pieces often to promote even browning, until they reach your desired doneness (8 to 15 minutes).

Why is my candied bacon not crispy? ›

If it is not golden brown and fairly crispy, resist the temptation to turn up the oven temperature, and cook it for 10 to 15 minutes longer. Check it again. Keep in mind that when you remove the tray and transfer the bacon to a serving platter or individual plates, the bacon will "crisp" up a little more. Be patient!

Storing candied bacon properly will help to stave off spoilage, but not forever. It is important to be able to check your bacon and identify signs that it has gone bad in order to keep yourself from ingesting harmful pathogens. First, inspect the bacon visually to see if the texture or color has changed significantly.

The best practice for storing candied bacon is to keep it in the refrigerator. Before storing, let the caramelized bacon cool to room temperature. This helps keep condensation at bay when the meat is stored in the fridge, ensuring your delectable bacon stays crisp and delicious.

Much like traditional bacon, it is best to store candied bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator. While regular cooked bacon lasts only four to five days when stored in the fridge, candied bacon will last a little bit longer — up to three weeks.

Though previous generations of home chefs kept bacon grease on the counter, experts recommend storing yours in the refrigerator or the freezer. "It's best to not keep the bacon grease at room temperature because any microparticles of the bacon can cause the grease to go rancid," says Abbott.

HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^® fully cooked bacon needs to be refrigerated after opening.