Frying bacon is a culinary delight that many people enjoy. The aroma and sound of sizzling bacon are enough to make anyone’s mouth water. Follow these 13 simple steps to fry bacon like a pro.

1. Choose the right bacon: Select quality, thick-cut bacon with a nice balance of meat and fat for optimum flavor.

2. Assemble tools and ingredients: Gather a non-stick skillet or a cast iron pan, bacon, tongs, paper towels, and a plate for serving.

3. Prepare the pan: Place your frying pan on the stovetop over medium-low heat and let it warm up.

4. Lay out your bacon: While the pan heats up, arrange your bacon slices on a plate in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

5. Test the pan’s temperature: Flick some water droplets into the pan — if they sizzle, your pan is ready for frying. Otherwise, wait another minute or two before testing again.

6. Add your bacon: Use tongs to lay each piece of bacon in the skillet, making sure that they don’t overlap. Overlapping can result in uneven cooking.

7. Cook slowly: Fry the bacon at medium-low heat for an even cook and lower likelihood of burning.

8. Flip and rotate: As the first side of your bacon starts to brown and crisp up, use tongs to carefully flip each slice and rotate it around in the pan to ensure even cooking.

9. Monitor carefully: Keep an eye on your cooking progress to avoid overcooking or burning the bacon. Cooking times will vary based on thickness and personal preference.

10. Remove cooked slices: Once both sides have reached their desired crispness, use tongs to remove each slice from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease.

11. Continue cooking batches: If you have more bacon to cook, continue frying in batches until all the slices have been prepared.

12. Drain the grease: Once all your bacon is cooked, let it rest on paper towels for a few minutes to drain any leftover grease and achieve maximum crispness.

13. Serve and enjoy: Transfer your perfectly fried bacon to a serving plate and enjoy on its own, as a side dish, or as an ingredient in a delicious recipe.

By following these 13 steps, you’re sure to impress friends and family with your bacon-frying skills. Happy cooking!