How to Dice Bacon: 9 Steps
Bacon, a beloved breakfast staple around the world, has more uses than just being the star of your morning meal. Dicing bacon is a great way to add flavor and texture to various dishes, from hearty salads to creamy pasta and savory stews. With these nine easy steps, you’ll be able to dice bacon like a pro in no time.
1. Prepare the cutting board
Choose a cutting board that is big enough for your bacon slices and easy to clean when you’re finished. Place a damp paper towel or cloth under the cutting board to keep it from slipping around while you work.
2. Choose your knife
Select a sharp chef’s knife or similar large blade for precise and efficient cutting. Make sure it is sharp enough to cut through raw bacon without shredding it.
3. Partially freeze the bacon
Place your bacon in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes before dicing. This will help firm up the fat, making it easier and less messy to cut evenly.
4. Remove the bacon from packaging
Carefully remove the bacon slices from their packaging and lay them out on a clean plate or directly onto your cutting board.
5. Stack the bacon slices
For efficient dicing, stack 3-4 slices on top of each other, depending on the thickness of your bacon. This will allow you to cut multiple pieces at once, ensuring even sizing throughout.
6. Slice the bacon lengthwise
Hold the stacked slices together with one hand and begin cutting lengthwise with smooth downward motions using your knife in the other hand. Aim for roughly 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) wide strips or adjust according to your recipe requirements.
7. Rotate the bacon strips
When you’ve completed slicing all of your stacked slices lengthwise, rearrange them so they are perpendicular to where you started.
8. Cut across to create dices
Holding the bacon strips together, cut across them with your knife in the same downward motion, aiming for 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) wide square pieces to create evenly sized dices.
9. Use or store your diced bacon
Now that you have your diced bacon, you can use it in your desired recipe or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.
With these easy steps, you can incorporate diced bacon as a versatile ingredient in countless recipes and bring an extra layer of deliciousness to your dishes. Whether you’re a novice cook or a professional chef, mastering the art of dicing bacon is a skill that will enhance your culinary repertoire.