Where did you get the idea for the Bacon Cooker, and how do you use it? Those are two of the most frequently asked questions about our Blue Sage Pottery Bacon Cooker. In today’s post, I will share how our Bacon Cooker came to be and how to use it. Several years ago, Kent and I saw a ceramic bacon cooker you could microwave. It was small, more like a mug with a flat little tray. Kent decided to play around with the idea on the pottery wheel.
Always the optimist, Kent was sure it could be awesome, so he went about making different forms and experimenting with the design. He made them a little sturdier and taller, making the tray more of a big bowl with a spout. He came up with today’s Blue Sage Bacon Cooker, and it sold me on the possibility of microwaving bacon! I rarely ate bacon in the past because it was a mess to cook. The cool thing about our Bacon Cooker is that it is easy to use and clean. Plus, it doesn’t make the entire house smelly! Now I enjoy cooking bacon occasionally.
SAVE THE BACON GREASE…IF YOU’RE INTO THAT
Two of my favorite things about the Bacon Cooker are the crispiness and the ease with which you can render the fat. The drippings run right down into the attached bowl. The bowl catches all the fat, and then you pour the grease through the spout, making rendering super easy. Our Bacon Cooker is also a great design because it is larger than most, so it holds a lot of bacon and is easy to handle when hot.
If you already have a Bacon Cooker or are considering purchasing one, I am including a “How-to” below to help you use it.
How to use the Blue Sage Bacon Cooker
Cut long strips of bacon in half with kitchen shears.
Drape the strips over the center cylinder.
Place a paper towel over the Bacon Cooker.
Microwave approximately 4-5 minutes. (The time depends on how much bacon is on there, the thickness of the bacon, and the power of your microwave. Experiment with times until you achieve your desired crispiness!)
Remove the Bacon Cooker from the microwave with an oven mitt and place it on a trivet or wooden board. (If you are cooking more, let the Bacon Cooker cool a bit before using it again.)
Try to keep your family from eating all the bacon before you get a piece:)
Render the fat. Pour the grease through a small metal kitchen sieve into a mason jar. Keep the rendered bacon fat in your refrigerator for up to six months and use it to flavor food or cook with it. (One 12 oz. package of bacon makes about ¼ to ½ cup of grease.)
Once the Bacon Cooker has cooled, wash it by hand or put it in the dishwasher. Our glazes are dishwasher-safe!