Homemade Fresh Bacon Bits

Karen From Colorado's Note:

Fresh is just so much nicer then the pre-packaged kind that uses picnic bacon and tastes like cardboard. These fry quickly and you don't have to crumble the slices after frying them. There is no need to separate the pieces. They will separate during cooking. Use these in any recipe calling for crumbled bacon or bacon bits. Perfect for salads and baked potato toppings or twice baked potatoes.

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb bacon
• 1⁄8; teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Partially freeze your package of bacon so that it holds together easier while slicing.
2. Use a sharp knife and cut the frozen bacon into long strips about 1/4 inch wide.
3. Turn the bacon and cut the strips into pieces also about 1/4 in wide.
4. Sprinkle with pepper.
5. Fry over a medium high heat until crisp.
6. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
7. You can freeze this for later use by placing the bacon bits in a single layer on a cooking sheet. Once they are frozen, place them in a zip lock bag for use in recipes, salads or baked potatoes. Freezing this way allows you to be able to take out just what you need without thawing the entire bag of frozen solid bacon bits.

Reviews

[Abby Girl]

What a unique idea!!! I never use the processed bacon bits as I find they have too much salt in them. I had a lb of bacon sitting in the fridge that I needed to do something with. I cooked them up then put them on a cookie tray and put my timer on for 20 minutes until they were partially frozen, then bagged them! They won't stay there long as I plan on using part of them for Dave's Killer Baked Beans (56969) tomorrow!! Kudos on a great idea!!!

[Tara_hearts]

Awesome tip, you have made my life easier.

[Likkel]

Thanks Karen, this worked out very well and it made a lot of good quality bacon bits, saving me time in the evenings (when I don't really have any nor the extra energy while getting dinner on the table). I froze them as you suggested and can easily pour out just what we need, which helps to stretch that pound of bacon even further. My family loves them and it really perks up baked potatoes, pasta salads, soups or even sprinkled over our green salads. Thanks for the idea!