Once in a while, you’ll see those foods pop up that seem a little too good to be true. While this item has been around for a few years now, there are still lots of people out there who have never tried it or even seen it.
The bacon weave is something that has served many purposes in its life. It might seem a little strange to some, but a bacon weave can actually be used in a multitude of recipes and it’s not as difficult to make as the final product makes it look. We’re here to break down all you need to know about how to make one of your very own and what you can use it for.
How To Make A Bacon Weave
Before we move into the simple steps for making one, it would probably behoove everyone to go over what it is, right? Well, it’s basically exactly what the name suggests. You layer strips of bacon together into a weave and can use it in a variety of ways (more on that later). Right now, let’s discuss how to make one.
What You’ll Need
- 8-10 strips of bacon (the amount you use depends on how large you want your weave)
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
Steps
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees (set it to 400 if you like your bacon crispier)
- Lay your strips of bacon on a baking sheet with the fatty sides all facing one direction.
- Fold every other one of your strips in half on top of themselves.
- Lay a strip of bacon horizontally over the top of the unfolded bacon strips. Lift the folded strips back up to cover the horizontal piece.
- Fold back the opposite strips from the other side. (Whichever strips you didn’t fold in half, fold those over the weave you just made.)
- Place another bacon strip horizontally over the strips lying flat on the baking sheet.
- Place the folded strips back over the top of the horizontal piece.
- Repeat the process until you reach the bottom.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven. Let it bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon reaches the desired texture.
It might sound a little confusing with just the written directions, but the good news is there are lots of YouTube tutorials that give you an added visual. Don’t worry, it gets much easier to make after you’ve done it more than once. Just like with anything, practice makes perfect.
Additional Methods
Some people don’t like to have their bacon baked without seasoning their strips first. You can sprinkle some herbs or spices on there to enhance the flavor or bring out your favorite rubs before serving. The thing about bacon weaves is that the flavor will already be more prominent than simple strips on their own, so feel free to leave things as they are.
You can also use lightly salted or low-fat bacon if you don’t want something super heavy in your meal.
What You Can Use A Bacon Weave For
As we said before, there are lots of different things you can use a bacon weave for.
For starters, you can use bacon weaves for classic dishes like tacos and sandwiches. A bacon weave can substitute a taco shell or they can be used in the middle of a sandwich or burger for an added burst of meat. There are also some people who swap out their bread with bacon weave buns. Oh, and I’m not just talking about classic sandwiches like BLTs or cheeseburgers. Bacon weaves can also be used in some pretty hefty grilled cheese sandwiches that are loaded with all the heart-clogging goodness we love.
Who said you couldn’t have pie for breakfast? Okay, doctors presumably, but there are still recipes out there for breakfast pies. This pie only takes about an hour to make and not only is it loaded with bacon but it has a hearty serving of cheese and potatoes. Don’t cook the weave separate from the pie though — follow the instructions carefully to come out with the best product!
A bacon weave is definitely one of those things people shouldn’t be making all the time, but indulging every once in a while will bring some serious flavor to your meals. There are lots of different things you can use them for and biting into a bacon weave when you’re enjoying a bacon cheeseburger or a BLT is something single slices can’t really emulate.
