Real Simple staffers pigged out on 58 versions of the best food on earth, bacon. These winning strips truly sizzled.
1. How to Cook Bacon for a Crowd
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(iStock)
No need to slave over a skillet. Instead, heat oven to 425° F. Set a cooling rack inside a rimmed baking sheet (to let the fat drip off), spread out the bacon, and cook until crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Best Original
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(Oscar Mayer)
Oscar Mayer Naturally Hardwood Smoked
Eggs, meet your perfect mate: This quintessential bacon cooks up thin and crispy, with just the right balance of fat and salt.
To buy: $5 for 16 ounces.
3. Best Reduced-Sodium
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(Farmland)
Farmland Lower Sodium
Skimping on salt doesn’t mean forgoing flavor: Even with about 30 percent less sodium than standard cured bacon, this savory pick is just as smoky and succulent.
To buy: $6 for 16 ounces.
4. Best Maple
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(Niman Ranch)
Niman Ranch Maple Uncured
A sweet, country-style glaze contrasts nicely with the smokiness beneath. Wrap around dates and broil for an easy hors d’oeuvre.
To buy: $8 for 12 ounces. Nitrate-free.
5. Best Turkey
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(Applegate)
Applegate Uncured Turkey
Don’t count turkey out. With a flavor that’s a cross between Canadian bacon and conventional strips, this healthy alternative boasts about 50 percent less fat than pork has.
To buy: $5 for 8 ounces.
See more tasty bacons at Real Simple
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