Put Some Bacon On It To See Who Could Be A Master Chef
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Just because someone has a slew of cooking shows worked into their nightly TV schedule, it doesn't necessarily mean they know how to cook. Sure, they may have watched hours upon hours of some of the best chefs in the world do what they do best. But the only real way to sharpen one's kitchen skills is to actually get in the kitchen and get their hands dirty.
While baking is often considered more of a science, cooking can be seen as more of an art form. In other words, recipes need not be set in stone, and the process really lends itself to improvisation so long as the cook nows which flavors pair better with others. And when it comes to one of the greatest tasting foods of all time, bacon definitely sits toward the top of that list.
Sure, it might be horrible for one's health, but like a lot of foods, bacon can still be enjoyed in moderation. However, if someone doesn't have the most impressive cooking skills, they may find themselves often turning to bacon to add some much-needed flavor to a dish. But surely, bacon shouldn't be added to everything. Or should it?
Let's find out!
Does bacon belong inside an omelet?
An omelet need not be anything more than a few whipped eggs brought together in a pan with a dollop of butter. This is how many French chefs make an omelet at least. But western chefs have taken to filling their omelets with pretty much anything they can get their hands on.
How about on top of a pizza?
Pretty much everyone loves pizza, even if they know they shouldn’t eat it that often. But there is a wide variety of pizza preference — from the greasy, sheet pizza one can pick up at a pizzeria, to the thin-crust restaurant style that is served at more high end restaurants. So would any of these pair well with bacon?
How does crumbled bacon on top of a salad sound?
When someone is on a diet and they find themselves out at a restaurant, the thing that they may likely order would be a salad. But with everything that they put on a salad these days, especially the dressing — which is often packed with sugar and fat — and one might just be better off getting the chicken after all.
Do bacon-wrapped peaches sound appetizing?
Believe it or not, this is a real thing. And on second thought, the dish actually seems to make more sense. After all, peaches and bacon have a lot of opposing qualities that might actually work well together: the sweet vs. the salty, the soft vs. the crispy. Starting to sound good yet?
What about a bacon wrapped steak?
Anyone who’s ever looked at the amount of saturated fat inside of a steak will likely think that this duo is too much of a good thing. But then again, if someone is already going to splurge on a steak, why not just go for the gusto? They can always run it off tomorrow, right?
Does bacon belong inside of a grilled cheese sandwich?
Bacon. Melted cheese. Crispy bread. We’re not the only ones who’s mouths are watering right now, are we? This dish just seems to make sense. While it may still be unhealthy, a grilled cheese sandwich isn’t like taking on a steak. So a few strips of bacon shouldn’t leave someone feeling too guilty afterward.
How about crumbled on top of some popcorn?
Believe it or not, popcorn is actually a healthy snack without all the additives. But people love to put stuff on their popcorn, and while melted butter and salt might be the most famous topping, there are those who love to dump a whole box of candy into the mix as well. So why not bacon?
Does bacon belong in spaghetti carbonara?
Most recipes for spaghetti carbonara call for pancetta — which is very similar to bacon. But there are some subtle differences. It’s not smoked for one, and it often is cut thinner than most kinds of bacon. If someone can’t get their hands on pancetta, they say bacon is a good substitute. Unless they’re a purest.
How about on top of a burger?
Same deal with bacon-wrapped steak, this might just be too much meat for some people. After all, if a burger is cooked right, it just already have plenty of flavor and saltiness. So adding bacon might not be bringing a whole lot of diversity to the dish, unless someone really knows what they're doing.
How does bacon-infused butter sound?
These days, a lot of fancier restaurants will offer their own flavor of butter to help shake things up. These butters will often come with the bread before the meal or can be put on top of a served steak to really take the meal to the next level. So how does butter-infused bacon sound?
What about a bacon, peanut butter, and banana sandwich?
It was Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich, so do we really need to say anymore? Many people already love to mix peanut butter and bananas, but throwing bacon into the mix can really take this pairing to a new level. Maybe just don’t make them a daily habit like Elvis did.
Or bacon-wrapped meatballs?
Some people already have an aversion to meatballs, and they’d rather just enjoy the pasta dish as is without the inclusion of any red meats that will infringe on the healthiness of the meal. But if someone is already a fan of meatballs, wouldn’t it just make sense to wrap them up in some salty, crispy bacon?
Does bacon sound good on top of a baked potato?
Here’s another pairing that just seems to make sense. After all, a baked potato is pretty hard to get through without some enticing toppings. But once again, if someone is eating a potato, it might be because their health is of the utmost importance to them. And adding bacon might be against the point.
How about wrapped around a piece of salmon?
Bacon and meat might be too much of the same for people. But bacon and fish might be just different enough for some people to be enticed. A well-cooked piece of salmon is already a pretty outstanding meal, but could lacing some bacon around it take it to a new level of tasty?
Does bacon belong inside a taco?
People but all kinds of fillings and meats inside of a taco — including pork, chicken, beef, and fish. But one never really hears about bacon inside of one? It might not be capable of being the star of the show, but some bacon bits could certainly help elevate the flavor of one of these types of tacos. Couldn’t it?
How about inside a quesadillas?
Bacon might now sound too appetizing in tacos for some people. But it doesn’t sound all that odd in quesadillas for some reason. That simply might be because bacon pairs so well with melted cheese, as well as cooked peppers and onions, making it an ideal filling for something like quesadillas.
Does bacon sound good in oatmeal?
We’ve covered some pretty common ground when it comes to bacon food pairings. Now it’s time to step into the realm of the unknown. Oatmeal is largely considered one of the most boring and bland breakfast foods. So might the addition of some bacon bits make it slightly more appealing?
How about in cereal?
Of course, no one wants hot bacon in their cereal. That’s madness. But what about some cooled off bacon bits? This is a common topping of most salads, so might it work on top of certain cereals. Bacon is often paired with peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate flavored foods after all.
How does bacon inside a chocolate bar sound?
Speaking of bacon and chocolate, how about a good old fashioned chocolate bar with some pieces of crispy bacon thrown into the mix. While that might not sound very appealing to those who prefer their chocolate extra sweet, some people actually like their chocolate a bit on the salty side.
Now what about on chocolate cake?
If someone is going to get on board with bacon in their chocolate bar, it’s not too big of a step to include it in a chocolate cake. We already know that the flavors could pair nicely together, though the addition of bacon bits might ruin the texture. So why not utilize some bacon-infused butter into the mix?
Now what about in chocolate ice cream?
This might be pushing things a bit too far, but there’s already no shortage of toppings that are mixed into chocolate ice creams. So would adding bacon really be all the ridiculous? It’s crunchy texture and salty taste could be the perfect pairing to something that is smooth and sweet.
How about a bacon-wrapped turkey leg?
Turkey legs look appetizing when they’re being eaten on a show like Game of Thrones. But for anyone who’s actually had an entire turkey leg will quickly discover that it’s an awfully big meal for something that really only has one flavor. But wrapping the whole thing in bacon will certainly add some diversity to the meal.
Do bacon and doughnuts sound like a good mix?
When it comes to breakfast foods, bacon and doughnuts are probably the biggest guilty pleasures of most people. Of course, it never a good idea to start the day with one of these foods. But if being healthy is already off the table for one meal, why not just go all the way and bring these two luxuries together?
How about bacon in baked beans?
Let’s take a brief respite from all these ridiculous pairings and revisit common ground for another question. Bacon and baked beans are already a popular dish at most outdoor barbecues. But some people leave whole strips on top of the beans instead of dicing up the bacon, which might not be appetizing after its been sitting out in the sun.
Could bacon ever be worked into a pie?
For some people, a well-made pie is the greatest meal in existence. Of course, there are many different types of pies and many different toppings and sides to enjoy a piece of pie with. So is there any one type pie that might actually work with the addition of bacon?
How about a banana split?
There’s already so much going on in a banana split, that someone might not even think twice if some bacon was sprinkled on top of one. After all, banana split’s are traditionally split between a couple different people, so the more flavor and additives the more enjoyable the experience may be, right?
Do bacon-infused pancakes sound like a good idea?
Since bacon is traditionally a breakfast food, many people have taken a liking to dipping their bacon in maple syrup. But couldn’t one just save a step by infusing the bacon into the pancake — or even a waffle — that they’re going to eat? Or would that ruin the crispness and take away from the experience?
How about bacon-wrapped dates?
Although dates are already packed with sugar, something about the look of this dried fruit isn’t appealing to many people — especially younger people. But if their appearance is ultimately the problem, that problem could easily be solved with some bacon wrapped around it. Again, it's hard to beat a perfect mix of sweet and savory.
Does bacon ever belong paired with shrimp?
Some people absolutely love shrimp, while others would rather have something a little heartier like crab or lobster. One of the appeals of crab and lobster, after all, is that the meat is often dipped in butter. But a possible way to give shrimp an equally rich taste might just be to wrap the little creatures up in some bacon strips.
And finally, would bacon-wrapped pork belly be too much of a good thing?
We’ve combined bacon with a lot on this quiz, but never with another form of pork. Most bacon comes from a pig after all, and most forms of pork are already fatty and flavorsome enough on their own. But might the crispiness add another layer of deliciousness to a pork belly, which is a lot softer in texture?
