PrintSeriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
On Sunday a person's thoughts turn to bacon. At least mine do. I don't have to rush to the office, so I can take the time to cook my bacon properly, slowly over low heat. Of course my thoughts are never very far from bacon, no matter what day of the week it is.
That's why I'm particularly excited about today's Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway, a year-long membership in the Bacon of the Month Club, courtesy of the good folks at the Grateful Palate. Every month for a whole year the lucky Serious Eater who wins this most desirable club membership will receive a pound of fantastic small producer, artisanally made bacon personally selected by "Captain Bacon" himself, Grateful Palate founder Dan Philips.
This is my kind of club. In fact, someone gave me a membership in this club a few years ago for my birthday, and I can tell you it provided me with a year's worth of absolute eating pleasure.
To win this coveted membership just leave a comment on this post telling us how you like your bacon, crisp or pliant.
You have until noon ET tomorrow (Monday, December 10) to enter. One winner will be chosen at random from among the commenters. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply. Contest winners are limited to residents of the continental U.S.
And if you don't happen to win I heartily endorse joining the Bacon of the Month Club anyway. You can sign up
Comments are closed: 296 Comments:
Love undercooked bacon.
whippingwater at 12:57PM on 12/09/07
it depends on how i'm eating it. in a BLT, i love crispy bacon. when i'm eating it by itself, i like with with a bit of chew.
laciscott at 1:06PM on 12/09/07
I love crisp, but not shatteringly so, bacon. I love bacon at all times, every where. I love to leave a copy of Everything Tastes Better With Bacon on the counter to drive the food police up the wall. So much fun to be had with bacon!!
islandexile at 1:07PM on 12/09/07
Crisp and a little melt-in-your-mouthish. As Bourdain says, the pig is a noble beast.
nokrapt at 1:11PM on 12/09/07
slightly under crip
rhino876 at 1:14PM on 12/09/07
Crispy on the edges, juicy in the middle. Bacon.
jayfallon at 1:14PM on 12/09/07
thick and slightly underdone is my favorite -- but i like it any way it comes!!!
cybercita at 1:16PM on 12/09/07
Gotta be crisp, but thick enough not to shatter.
TheJTrain at 1:17PM on 12/09/07
Just under crisp
jdestes at 1:18PM on 12/09/07
I agree with laciscott, especially when it comes to breakfast sandwiches. The chewy bacon ends up being pulled off the sandwich, whereas the crunchy bacon breaks easier.
I use the mini George Foreman grill to cook the bacon. It lets the fat drip off and has a way of getting that crunchy, but still chewy consistency I really love!
fujii13 at 1:19PM on 12/09/07
somewhere in the middle.
JP001 at 1:23PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, though not burnt! On a BLT, maybe a little softer.
sarahinnewyork at 1:27PM on 12/09/07
I like it more pliant, but my wife won't eat anything short of crisp and deep mahogany brown.
DaveFaris at 1:29PM on 12/09/07
Just beyond pliant, beginning to crisp. Baked in the oven. Love it any time any way.
ride&cook at 1:31PM on 12/09/07
Crisp just in between being nice crisp and burnt.
Shels01 at 1:32PM on 12/09/07
Just prior to becoming crisp.
digitalfish at 1:33PM on 12/09/07
crisp for me
PattiA at 1:36PM on 12/09/07
It's somewhere in between. It needs to be crisp, but also a bit pliant.
SredniV at 1:38PM on 12/09/07
Crisp not burnt.
eatorama at 1:39PM on 12/09/07
Thin & crisp.
billygoat at 1:40PM on 12/09/07
More pliant than crisp. I do like little bits of crunchies, though.
looloopoopie at 1:41PM on 12/09/07
just starting to get crisp out of the oven
thotfulspot at 1:41PM on 12/09/07
chewy if it's sliced on it's own crispy if it's being used more as a condiment
0bs01337 at 1:48PM on 12/09/07
I think crisp bacon is by far the tastiest kind.
rffoodie at 1:48PM on 12/09/07
Crisp but not burnt.
jamiephoto at 1:51PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but not too crisp.
cannatar at 1:55PM on 12/09/07
The key is to have thick bacon so it is almost crispy and chewy at the same time.
craigpress at 1:57PM on 12/09/07
crisp enough to shatter
lovetoeat at 1:58PM on 12/09/07
mostly crisp with a little bit of chewy left
tracker at 2:01PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but not crunchy.
amylou61 at 2:01PM on 12/09/07
Pliant. Too much "crisp" bacon is just burnt bacon in disguise.
Michelle Jones at 2:05PM on 12/09/07
chewy
the_o at 2:05PM on 12/09/07
Just crisp on a peanut butter sandwich.
bigjay at 2:06PM on 12/09/07
"Crisp Bacon".. preferably just thrown in the oven so the fat renders out... mmm
tomriddle at 2:07PM on 12/09/07
Thick and slightly chewy.
MerMade07 at 2:12PM on 12/09/07
Entirely depends on the application: crisp as condiment or in a BLT; slightly pliant as egg accompaniment, in order to provide some chew to contrast with eggs' smooshiness.
cookbot at 2:12PM on 12/09/07
Why choose? I love bacon in every form - pliant and crisp!
DaleCruse at 2:14PM on 12/09/07
As crispy as possible!
bobcatsteph3 at 2:18PM on 12/09/07
Vegan. Oh wait, I hate meat analogs. So scratch that.
KarynMC at 2:19PM on 12/09/07
crisp!
TodayIsTomorrow at 2:19PM on 12/09/07
Somewhere in between.
fredmurphy at 2:19PM on 12/09/07
crispy.. skin on crispy thick cut is even better...
LIRC at 2:21PM on 12/09/07
Bacon, is, of course, perfect, when the edges acquire the texture of a withered treasure map, the center still nearly molten with a promise of chin-dribbling joy and artery-clogging ecstasy. It should be as profound an experience as the Assumption of Mary, when heaven clasped her to its breast as one clasps a slab of uncured thick cut.
altonbrownstalker99 at 2:23PM on 12/09/07
Crisp as food in and of itself.
Crisp when crumbled into pancake batter, garnishing soups, tossed back into a skillet of Brussels sprouts or Dutch oven as lardons in a braise.
Pliant yet crisped on top of meatloaf.
Beyond pliant to the state of shredded mush when the collards are done.
Eliz. at 2:24PM on 12/09/07
Pliant
Chagrined at 2:27PM on 12/09/07
Pliant
dadekian at 2:28PM on 12/09/07
Crisp.
Cynikell at 2:29PM on 12/09/07
Crisp
karen r at 2:33PM on 12/09/07
Crisp!
zobber at 2:34PM on 12/09/07
Pliant but not rubbery
msecondo at 2:35PM on 12/09/07
It will always depend on the application!
graphxgrrl at 2:37PM on 12/09/07
it's bacon--i'll eat it any way it's served!
mkd216 at 2:39PM on 12/09/07
crisp & chewy
kevlney at 2:40PM on 12/09/07
crisp but not burnt
mrsbao at 2:40PM on 12/09/07
I love it both ways. The perfect piece of bacon is crisp in part, and pliant in another. Mmmmm bacon.
rebeccablood at 2:42PM on 12/09/07
Crispy and a little charred on the edges, chewy in the middle.
Greyhoundgrrl at 2:42PM on 12/09/07
crisply pliant
clconway at 2:42PM on 12/09/07
both, i just like bacon
tenpointfarmer at 2:44PM on 12/09/07
thick sliced, and crispy
katalia at 2:46PM on 12/09/07
Just less than crisp
brandonphx at 2:46PM on 12/09/07
Bacon baked for hours in low heat! Chewy but well cooked.
Hawke at 2:51PM on 12/09/07
crisp, but not cracker-crisp
eater at 2:52PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but thick cut so that it has just a tiny bit of chew to it.
janjan at 2:57PM on 12/09/07
I love crispy, almost burnt, bacon. I love the crunch in your mouth-whether it be on BLT's, on top of salads, or on the side of a fried egg. Yumm!!!
skinneybones at 2:58PM on 12/09/07
Crispy
Nicholas H at 3:00PM on 12/09/07
Crisp but not burnt.
alsek at 3:03PM on 12/09/07
Crisp please.
Nezrite at 3:06PM on 12/09/07
Both--it is a thing of beauty.
SelimaCat at 3:08PM on 12/09/07
pliant and juicy
zekks at 3:09PM on 12/09/07
Crisp and diced with veggies, pliant when wrapped over meat.
babpul at 3:09PM on 12/09/07
Chewy all the way!
katalyst23 at 3:12PM on 12/09/07
crispypliant
Mike Sula at 3:14PM on 12/09/07
crispy!
cgreggo at 3:18PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, because I usually end up eating it in some sort of sandwich (even a pancake sandwich). As someone else mentioned, chewy bacon just doesn't work; I end up with a strip of bacon hanging down my chin.
jessie at 3:19PM on 12/09/07
Chewy, not crispy. Chewy, not pliant. Chewy, salty, meaty, sweet. I'd rather have bacon than chocolate, and I adore chocolate. But it has to be GOOD bacon...
dksbook at 3:25PM on 12/09/07
Crispy
jpark107 at 3:28PM on 12/09/07
Depends on the usage.... for some things I need crispy (spinach salad) for some I like pliant (BLT)
Jennalynn at 3:29PM on 12/09/07
Definitely pliant for me, especially after having moved to North Carolina from the UK and having to eat nothing but totally overcooked crispy bacon.
partiallyblind at 3:29PM on 12/09/07
pliant, wrapped around a dry pack dayboat scallop
noygb at 3:32PM on 12/09/07
I like it pliant.
Frances Magbual at 3:33PM on 12/09/07
Crrrrrispy.
Or not. Because, you know, it's bacon. Yummy!
coffeecake at 3:34PM on 12/09/07
crispy
intheyearofthepig at 3:34PM on 12/09/07
the perfect and elusive middle-ground between crisp and pliant
nfeldl at 3:36PM on 12/09/07
crisp but a little chewy
jedimtb at 3:39PM on 12/09/07
Crispy all the way...
Scoggdog at 3:43PM on 12/09/07
definitely crisp
woodenspoon at 3:44PM on 12/09/07
crisp please.
skim at 3:44PM on 12/09/07
crisp but still chewy
ohnofullmoon at 3:48PM on 12/09/07
mostly crisp, with a little bit of pliant
iWander at 3:54PM on 12/09/07
crisp around the edges, pliant in the middle...
laganam at 3:57PM on 12/09/07
had some this morning and got it a little crispier than I like it...best is with crispy outsides and pliant interior, if you can manage it. so, a little of both. :)
harlem_panadera at 4:04PM on 12/09/07
Crispity crisp!
meredith at 4:05PM on 12/09/07
crisp and clean
awtane at 4:07PM on 12/09/07
Pliant, thanks
thebasilqueen at 4:10PM on 12/09/07
Just barely crisp, preferably with lettuce, tomato, and mayo on sourdough.
sobriquet at 4:16PM on 12/09/07
barely crisp
tuzenbakh at 4:19PM on 12/09/07
Somewhere between the two--crisp enough that it seems "done", pliant enough that it doesn't seem burnt.
nasus at 4:22PM on 12/09/07
pliant
robotbill at 4:25PM on 12/09/07
Crisp. Are you actually eligible to win the prize if you answer "pliant?" Seriously, I assume the management have some language in the rules to address that unfortunate eventuality.
stu_spivac at 4:27PM on 12/09/07
Crunchy, half burnt.
hillearyo at 4:29PM on 12/09/07
Pliant - After a hard evening of celebration and having the will power to get out of bed and cook it myself - bare-chested - with the splatter of bacon grease on my belly to draw me from my slumber.
charshiu at 4:32PM on 12/09/07
Crisp! And not too greasy, but not dry either.
Kimberly at 4:32PM on 12/09/07
crispy, but not so much it crumbles
wizzy at 4:34PM on 12/09/07
crispy but not overdone
tsegada at 4:37PM on 12/09/07
I like mine crispy!
christianne at 4:38PM on 12/09/07
Just crisp - with just about anything! This is bacon after all.
Dogstar at 4:41PM on 12/09/07
I like crispy but not burnt. Actually, a little chewy is kinda nice, too.
tmdonahue at 4:43PM on 12/09/07
crispy definitely
myink at 4:47PM on 12/09/07
Crispy
NSW at 4:53PM on 12/09/07
pliant
beanish at 4:54PM on 12/09/07
Crisp
kj415 at 4:56PM on 12/09/07
Somewhere in between, but it doesn't really matter how it is cooked. It's bacon. I'll eat it.
Allan at 4:59PM on 12/09/07
crispy on the edges and chewy in between
izzy's mama at 5:02PM on 12/09/07
a little crispy... a little chewy... the best.
pumpkinspice at 5:07PM on 12/09/07
fatty, dripping grease!
BarracudaRon007 at 5:16PM on 12/09/07
Slightly under crisp with a lot fat!
mikenmolly at 5:16PM on 12/09/07
Pliant please
jhoefl88 at 5:20PM on 12/09/07
Definitely crisp!
brooke29 at 5:26PM on 12/09/07
crispy, but not at all burnt
wisekaren at 5:35PM on 12/09/07
Crisp!
dimsumfan at 5:35PM on 12/09/07
I'm going to have to say that I like it pliant when I'm eating it by itself, but one something, like a BLT or a Bacon Cheeseburger, I prefer it crispy as I hate pulling out a whole slice of bacon with a bite. I want a bite of bacon in every bite when I'm eating it on something.
foodiegirl71 at 5:36PM on 12/09/07
Make mine pliant, please! (I always order it "wiggly" - perhaps I've been misusing the bacon terminology.)
anncv at 5:37PM on 12/09/07
Crisp!
MikeR99 at 5:38PM on 12/09/07
definitely crispy!
mozart23 at 5:41PM on 12/09/07
crispy
JaceNYC at 5:46PM on 12/09/07
Crisp.
Catherine at 5:46PM on 12/09/07
I like my bacon a little crisp, a little pliant, and in large quantities.
googy at 5:48PM on 12/09/07
Thick enough so it's crispy on the outside with a pliant middle!
LindaY at 5:53PM on 12/09/07
Crisp please.
alexb at 5:55PM on 12/09/07
Crisp. Mmm...bacon.
jlouise210 at 6:01PM on 12/09/07
Pliant and thick.
chefuu at 6:06PM on 12/09/07
Mmmmmmm the ends crisp and the middle chewy.
eschoenfeld at 6:08PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but with some nice soft fatty bits still left in there.
This is the best contest you have had yet!
Tactful_Cactus at 6:10PM on 12/09/07
mmmm. bacon. crisp.
n5rat at 6:11PM on 12/09/07
half crisp, half pliant
miamia at 6:13PM on 12/09/07
Crisp. Yum!
jadeadelle at 6:15PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but not burnt!
jenberger at 6:20PM on 12/09/07
Crispy on the plate. Pliant in my BLTs
Sigma_Greg at 6:21PM on 12/09/07
very pliant
ceforrester at 6:32PM on 12/09/07
crispy, crispy, crispy!
piepie at 6:35PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, but not crunchy or burnt. It should lightly fall apart and almost melt in the mouth. Mmmm, bacon.
ladyfunk25 at 6:44PM on 12/09/07
crispy on the edges, moist right where it is against the meat, and the meat is still tender and not dry.
fsmchang at 6:45PM on 12/09/07
Thin, pliantly crisp. No chew.
SunnysideUp at 6:45PM on 12/09/07
as long as it's not burnt, I'll eat it
darronvigs24 at 6:48PM on 12/09/07
Crisp.
peggysu at 6:52PM on 12/09/07
Right in between.
rugbyspartan at 6:54PM on 12/09/07
chewy, with crispy bits
vixita at 6:55PM on 12/09/07
crispy edges, slightly chewy fat ...
colson at 6:56PM on 12/09/07
crisp
cupcup at 6:58PM on 12/09/07
crispy, not burnt
allkindsoffood at 7:00PM on 12/09/07
crisp
Anomaly at 7:02PM on 12/09/07
Crispy
cairech at 7:05PM on 12/09/07
CRISPY!
adrockuw at 7:07PM on 12/09/07
Crisp.
doglover at 7:08PM on 12/09/07
crisp, so there's a crunch in the bite.
kthread at 7:12PM on 12/09/07
Crispy is the way to go.
PattyCho at 7:22PM on 12/09/07
a little bit of both..."plisp" if you will. :)
cheekychalky at 7:24PM on 12/09/07
Crispy.
kdjmom3 at 7:33PM on 12/09/07
Crisp.
madball911 at 7:34PM on 12/09/07
Crispy for snacking, pliant for eating on a sandwich or dipped in maple syrup!
jenjen at 7:35PM on 12/09/07
pliant...I like to cook it myself not too keen on restaurant bacon because I prefer to choose the best quality.
elaine nan at 7:43PM on 12/09/07
crispy! i grew up on deep-fried bacon.
platecleaner at 7:50PM on 12/09/07
crispy and almost burnt...there is something about the taste of almost burnt bacon that I love.
jhodge123 at 7:56PM on 12/09/07
Thick cut and wiggly, please. I hate when it shatters (although overcooked bacon is better than no bacon at all!)
faegood at 8:03PM on 12/09/07
Crispy, with thick cut I like it a little chewy as well.
bpolglaze at 8:06PM on 12/09/07
Thick-cut, crispy, but not burnt
feelgood at 8:07PM on 12/09/07
Pliant
EatingInNYC at 8:08PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, with center pliancy :)
Littlebluesiren at 8:13PM on 12/09/07
crispy edges and chewy valleys
kathyvegas at 8:16PM on 12/09/07
I like crispy bacon just like I had this morning!
twood at 8:22PM on 12/09/07
crisp and slightly pliant
cupbaker at 8:29PM on 12/09/07
crisp
Freyacat at 8:37PM on 12/09/07
crisp AND pliant
superdlux at 8:42PM on 12/09/07
Both! When it's crisp on the edges, but still has some toothsome chewy bits in between the crispy waves... mmmmmmm. When it's too crispy, it shatters immediately and the life of all that beautiful bacony flavor gets cut short, but take it out of the pan a tad underdone, and the slight chewiness makes the bacon experience last that much longer. It's all about the flavor with bacon.
em at 8:45PM on 12/09/07
Crisp and fragrant.
JacktheCat at 8:46PM on 12/09/07
Crispy!
GoldenEel at 8:46PM on 12/09/07
Crsip, except the fat, which has to be melt in your mouth
jasmall at 8:52PM on 12/09/07
Pliant, please! A little crispy on the edges is okay, but I'm definitely not one of those people who wants their bacon to crackle and crumble when they bite into it. Must be somewhat floppy.
poulet at 8:58PM on 12/09/07
I like it thick cut and just this side of burnt. Super crispy!
aprilg at 8:59PM on 12/09/07
Crisp, pliant, and not too dark
saluki at 9:00PM on 12/09/07
crisp n crunchy
briguy2001 at 9:13PM on 12/09/07
I like it crispy and actually, I do them in the microwave and comes out so right (and almost guilt free)
aa1158 at 9:14PM on 12/09/07
See, I don't eat bacon- but my partner and parents do. My parents like it crispy, almost burnt. My partner likes it somewhat pliant but still not floppy.
I was going to give my partner the bacon of the month club membership for the holidays, but it's EXPENSIVE! Unfortunately I don't have that money to drop on something we both can't enjoy (the whole being jewish thing in my case, and I just don't care for the taste).
I did give a bacon bar to my cousins this year for the holidays though- and they loved it!
EtherMaiden at 9:16PM on 12/09/07
crisp but with a bit of a bite
katief at 9:29PM on 12/09/07
crisp!
andshewas at 9:33PM on 12/09/07
pliant!
mara26 at 9:36PM on 12/09/07
Chewy and crispy.
robnolen at 9:37PM on 12/09/07
I like mine soft and still greasy.
drala625 at 9:42PM on 12/09/07
Crispy!
pmagnus at 9:43PM on 12/09/07
crispy, but most more importantly hot. any temperature other than just off the griddle hot is no fun at all.
anado at 9:49PM on 12/09/07
Crisp around the edges, but pliant and still with a good amount of chewy fat.
FoodBully at 9:49PM on 12/09/07
I like it crispy, but not to the point of shattering.
asummerbeachbum at 10:03PM on 12/09/07
pliant
Krusty0922 at 10:07PM on 12/09/07
pliant
aklectic at 10:10PM on 12/09/07
crisp around the edges! but pliant everywhere else
gkang at 10:10PM on 12/09/07
We like our bacon crispy-what a wonderful gift!
blufordgill at 10:12PM on 12/09/07
Oh it was to be crispy
blahthequah at 10:18PM on 12/09/07
a little crispy, but not dried out and crunchy
jd7979 at 10:30PM on 12/09/07
Any kind of bacon is good...but if I had to pick...crispy over chewy :)
runningwithtweezers at 10:41PM on 12/09/07
crsip.
pineapplespatula at 10:41PM on 12/09/07
crispy
kylad at 10:43PM on 12/09/07
I eat bacon any way I can, once in my hurry to enjoy my favorite breakfast with my students I set the home economics stove on fire. True story:)
chinadolls1021 at 10:45PM on 12/09/07
I like bacon both ways, and every way in between. I've even eaten it "raw"
seyo at 10:48PM on 12/09/07
super crispy!
ebarrett at 10:50PM on 12/09/07
Crispy with a slight chewiness.
justjoan at 11:18PM on 12/09/07
It has gotta be both!
bobfole at 11:19PM on 12/09/07
Pliant is an excellent word. Pliant.
AHR at 11:21PM on 12/09/07
crisp
tracyd at 11:27PM on 12/09/07
Crisp! Carbonization in spots a plus, with minor streaks of molten stuff for indulgency's sake.
flattrack at 11:29PM on 12/09/07
crisp but not dry or burned ....
bobbiejquick at 11:44PM on 12/09/07
under rated is bacon cooked in the oven...
Kbear919 at 11:52PM on 12/09/07
Homemade bacon sliced impossibly thin, layered 'raw' on a piece of toasted crostini so the fat melts to translucency like a good lardo does.
lardarium at 11:55PM on 12/09/07
Pliant!
architeuthis at 12:18AM on 12/10/07
Bacon needs to be just thick enough to be cooked crispy on the outside, yet moist and tender on the inside.
dansays at 12:19AM on 12/10/07
Crisp on edges, chewy in the middle.
Urbanaus at 12:21AM on 12/10/07
Never limp and listless. Always crisp, but not quite crunchy. Mmm--now I'm hungry for a great BLT.
abagail at 12:49AM on 12/10/07
Crispy edges, but with a streak of real chewy bacon fat in the center that melts when hot.
mekuno at 12:50AM on 12/10/07
crispily pliant...is that cheating?
MissFive at 1:00AM on 12/10/07
crispy!
binlu at 1:13AM on 12/10/07
Can't I have both!? If I have to choose, I choose crispy (& I'll cheat with pliant on the side hehe)
drunkykitty at 1:38AM on 12/10/07
I looove crispy!
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angelaandmelos at 1:42AM on 12/10/07
crispy bacon, inside a grilled PB sandwich.
pliant bacon, on burgers with swiss
mlcottingham at 1:43AM on 12/10/07
crisp
purpleceline at 1:47AM on 12/10/07
crisp...cut thick, browned until it's lean parts will shatter on the tooth.
cv
coastalvicar at 1:55AM on 12/10/07
Pliant
Erinay77 at 3:31AM on 12/10/07
crispy
joshtims at 3:36AM on 12/10/07
pliant- i like the chewy-ness
tennesseegirlie at 3:37AM on 12/10/07
mmmmm very cripsy and use the drippins to make a wilted green salad yummmmmm !
pamelakrest at 4:36AM on 12/10/07
Just crisp.
schnitzel at 6:10AM on 12/10/07
crispy
carusoc at 6:33AM on 12/10/07
70 % crisp, 30% pliant.
Mike5534 at 7:33AM on 12/10/07
Crispy.
dikaryon at 7:35AM on 12/10/07
I love it meaty .............cooked till no more fatty bits .............but not until nearly burnt .
NewEnglandBites at 7:51AM on 12/10/07