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 17) 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: 653 Comments:
crispy
carusoc at 12:08PM on 12/16/07
crispy!
kdjmom3 at 12:08PM on 12/16/07
Crisp.
doglover at 12:09PM on 12/16/07
Crisp but not burned.
nokrapt at 12:20PM on 12/16/07
Very crisp - almost crumbly.
cdsamford at 12:24PM on 12/16/07
Guess I'm in the minority--I fall on the "pliant" end of the bacon spectrum (unless I'm using it as a garnish or in a salad, in which case I like it crispy and crumbled).
bettyjoan at 12:28PM on 12/16/07
Pliant, I like it chewy.
drala625 at 12:29PM on 12/16/07
very very crisp
linda at 12:30PM on 12/16/07
crispy–but I'm not picky.
absorber at 12:32PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, crispy, crispy!
rethwyll at 12:32PM on 12/16/07
Mmm, pliant. Lots of fat with a little crispness, perhaps, but definitely not crunchy.
calamityjake at 12:33PM on 12/16/07
Just a smidgen less than crisp.
n5rat at 12:36PM on 12/16/07
crispy
david_cash at 12:36PM on 12/16/07
Mostly crispy
SredniV at 12:37PM on 12/16/07
my hubby is the bacon-eater in our house and he loves it super crispy!
ebarrett at 12:37PM on 12/16/07
Pliant.
Krusty0922 at 12:38PM on 12/16/07
no question--crispy, please
Teri at 12:39PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, baby.
gratefulted at 12:39PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, crispy, crispy!
jadeadelle at 12:41PM on 12/16/07
crisp but not burnt
wisekaren at 12:42PM on 12/16/07
Pliant on the cusp of crisp. (unless it's going into a sandwich of some kind, and then i want it more pliant than crisp.)
swifty at 12:44PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!
PattyCho at 12:44PM on 12/16/07
I wish I could make a meal out of crispy bacon.
GarrettL at 12:45PM on 12/16/07
That mythical point between pliant and crisp...
marty mccabe at 12:51PM on 12/16/07
mostly crispy with a bit of chewy
tracker at 12:51PM on 12/16/07
crispy
awtane at 12:52PM on 12/16/07
a little bit crispy and a little bit pliant
msecondo at 12:53PM on 12/16/07
somewhere in between, but if it's overdone i'll eat it anyway.
cybercita at 12:57PM on 12/16/07
crispy ridges-pliant valleys
kathyvegas at 1:06PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, right on the verge of being burnt.
gooseman at 1:11PM on 12/16/07
Crispy.
rffoodie at 1:13PM on 12/16/07
bacon??? are you kidding??? if they cook it, i will come eat it!
soher at 1:14PM on 12/16/07
Mmmms. Bacon. Crispy like a french fry.
WickedGoodDinner at 1:15PM on 12/16/07
pliant, with a little crisp around the edges
mara26 at 1:18PM on 12/16/07
Definitely crispy.
danwalk at 1:19PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, always started in a cold cast iron skillet over low heat.
headcook at 1:22PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!
EmmaC at 1:23PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
billygoat at 1:23PM on 12/16/07
crispy
erinh at 1:24PM on 12/16/07
Crispy and crunchy, almost to the point of being burnt (and if it is burnt, that's perfectly okay as well).
kfarrel3 at 1:24PM on 12/16/07
crisp, but not dry or burnt.
amber at 1:25PM on 12/16/07
yes
tenpointfarmer at 1:29PM on 12/16/07
Just beyond pliant beginning to crisp.
ride&cook at 1:30PM on 12/16/07
Crisp
cher48603 at 1:32PM on 12/16/07
crisp and pliant!
smorgen at 1:34PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!
glutton at 1:36PM on 12/16/07
chewy - with crispy bits
vixita at 1:39PM on 12/16/07
crispy
cam00023 at 1:40PM on 12/16/07
PLIANT!
gage3 at 1:40PM on 12/16/07
crisp
intheyearofthepig at 1:43PM on 12/16/07
Both, but they have to be very decidedly one or the other.
tacroy80 at 1:43PM on 12/16/07
Bacon has to be just crisp... actually, bacon has to be just served!
Dogstar at 1:44PM on 12/16/07
Crisp!!!!
Mizbee at 1:45PM on 12/16/07
I like it somewhere in-between. Not too crispy and not too pliant. It takes the right cook to pull that one off.
Mike13241 at 1:47PM on 12/16/07
extra crispy.
miriamo at 1:49PM on 12/16/07
Pliant by itself, crispy on/in things.
foodiegirl71 at 1:50PM on 12/16/07
There is no bad bacon, but my preference is about 75% crispy.
jennews at 1:52PM on 12/16/07
crispy but not black
NomNomNom at 1:54PM on 12/16/07
Pliant
cornellfoodie at 1:54PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, but not to the point of crumbly.
Lyds1 at 1:54PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, not crumbly.
ajr1111 at 1:58PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, not leathery, minimum of fat, but not too carbonized.
Mmmmmmmm...... bacon.
klg19 at 1:58PM on 12/16/07
70% crispy, 30% pliant
Mike5534 at 1:58PM on 12/16/07
Crispy crisp.
dimsumfan at 2:03PM on 12/16/07
pliant
bessfour at 2:09PM on 12/16/07
plispy
Kenzo at 2:13PM on 12/16/07
pliant to the point of hearing a crunch when you bite into your BLT, for example, but not crumbly
ceebeedubya at 2:16PM on 12/16/07
crispy!
rockstop at 2:17PM on 12/16/07
chewy when separate from other ingredients, crisp when used more as a condiment or in things
0bs01337 at 2:17PM on 12/16/07
Crispy.
dikaryon at 2:18PM on 12/16/07
crispy-pliant
Mike Sula at 2:18PM on 12/16/07
Crispy. No floppy bacon for this girl!
torrig at 2:19PM on 12/16/07
any way it comes :-)
hobnob at 2:20PM on 12/16/07
Very crisp.
cjbark at 2:21PM on 12/16/07
Slightly crispy, but never burned.
etyper333 at 2:23PM on 12/16/07
Pliant!
mamadiva at 2:28PM on 12/16/07
most def crispy.
secreteater at 2:28PM on 12/16/07
Thick and crispy.
janjan at 2:32PM on 12/16/07
crisp from the oven or broiler :) key is letting the grease drip off while cooking..
YUM!
tomriddle at 2:33PM on 12/16/07
crispy or pliant, just good quality
winslow at 2:42PM on 12/16/07
Crisp always crisp
mkfadem at 2:46PM on 12/16/07
crispy crisp!
asherandeva at 2:49PM on 12/16/07
crispy
deedleweedle at 2:49PM on 12/16/07
half crisp, half pliant
miamia at 2:49PM on 12/16/07
Crisp
phoney2 at 2:50PM on 12/16/07
Crunchy pliant!
drsam at 2:52PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, but my daughter likes it pliant.
rubyneko at 2:52PM on 12/16/07
I like my bacon crisp, always crsipy.
Scoggdog at 2:53PM on 12/16/07
crisp, but not crackly
wizzy at 2:53PM on 12/16/07
I like my bacon bacon
damnlamb at 2:55PM on 12/16/07
A little bit of both - crispy but just on the edge of still being a bit pliant.
Jeana at 2:56PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, without question. Mmmmmmm!
rjoskow at 2:56PM on 12/16/07
definitely crispy!
joanne117 at 2:57PM on 12/16/07
I like mine pliant, although if it's slightly crispy (not burned!), I'm ok with that too.
dbaxgirl51 at 2:59PM on 12/16/07
Crispy :)
Sarahrm at 3:00PM on 12/16/07
Semi-crispy - with some tooth, but not brittle.
HeyCarl at 3:00PM on 12/16/07
crisp!
platecleaner at 3:04PM on 12/16/07
crispy all the way
mverno at 3:04PM on 12/16/07
Gotta be crispy!
pinkyga at 3:06PM on 12/16/07
Thick, pliant and chewy! Crisp is for potato chips
petebia at 3:06PM on 12/16/07
that magic texture exactly between pliant and crispy.
hermanb at 3:06PM on 12/16/07
Chewy with an edge of crisp
brooklynchower at 3:07PM on 12/16/07
Mostly crispy.
Bebemiqui at 3:08PM on 12/16/07
I like it crispy.
pmagnus at 3:08PM on 12/16/07
Crisp!
Yum!
Yum!
Thanks! :)
fluegas5 at 3:09PM on 12/16/07
very pliant
crashers525 at 3:09PM on 12/16/07
Crisp!!
MikeR99 at 3:09PM on 12/16/07
Crisp enough that it's not limp but not crumbly.
Traumajunky at 3:10PM on 12/16/07
Bacon to me is good ANYWAY! I'll even eat it burnt. Bacon adds that special something to any dish... soup, hamburgers, casseroles, waffles... I could go on and on. Bacon and onions sauteed together.... is there a better aroma than that combination sauteed together? Makes everyone hungry! Even a little bacon grease to rice makes it taste 100 times better. Can you tell I love bacon?!
Charlene1234 at 3:10PM on 12/16/07
crispy, anything less makes me gag.
eyzofblu63 at 3:12PM on 12/16/07
crispy please!
maialisa at 3:13PM on 12/16/07
Gotta be crispy.
sweepster49 at 3:15PM on 12/16/07
There's different bacon for different uses. For crumbling into an Alsatian Onion Tart I like it crisp. For a classic American BLT, I like it pliable.
BeauRivage at 3:15PM on 12/16/07
I like it Crispy. However, given a year's worth of bacon, it would give me plenty of opportunity to see if I 'd like to become a member of the Pliant Camp! Hope I win.
cdziuba at 3:17PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
kktwins at 3:18PM on 12/16/07
Crispier the better....love my bacon
mcshellb at 3:18PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, though not burnt!
sweetscove at 3:19PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
alexb at 3:21PM on 12/16/07
crisp
tsegada at 3:22PM on 12/16/07
VERY CRISPY!! :-)
ginny71 at 3:22PM on 12/16/07
Seriously crispy, please!
cranepuffin at 3:24PM on 12/16/07
I agree with kfarrel3 and couldn't have said it better.
"Crispy and crunchy, almost to the point of being burnt (and if it is burnt, that's perfectly okay as well)."
azggma at 3:27PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
utahups at 3:28PM on 12/16/07
I like my bacon pliable but my boyfriend likes his crispy. YUM
tinkerbell5676 at 3:28PM on 12/16/07
crispy
cairech at 3:30PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!!!!
freecyclefool at 3:30PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
kj415 at 3:33PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, very crispy.
writerkathy1 at 3:33PM on 12/16/07
YUMMY CRIPSY!!!
tiffginn21 at 3:36PM on 12/16/07
Pliant and chewy.
skullaria at 3:37PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!!!!
suemayer at 3:39PM on 12/16/07
crisp but with a hint of chew
coconutlime at 3:41PM on 12/16/07
My husband loves it crispy :)
zoehunter at 3:42PM on 12/16/07
crisp beside some eggs sunny side up cooked i butter and siracha.
bigjay at 3:44PM on 12/16/07
Pliant but crisp around the edges.
jhoefl88 at 3:45PM on 12/16/07
pliant and juicy
zekks at 3:45PM on 12/16/07
chewy bacon people are a plague upon the earth
spiegelb at 3:46PM on 12/16/07
crispy just as it turns from pliant
pkpicque at 3:47PM on 12/16/07
So crispy that it's almost burnt!
maddgiggler at 3:47PM on 12/16/07
Pliant! don't burn it please!
anaheim at 3:47PM on 12/16/07
crispy, baby
film_score at 3:47PM on 12/16/07
Depends on how I'm eating it but crispy and pliant but more cripsy than pliant!
numbertwopencil at 3:51PM on 12/16/07
crisp, please
toastworthy at 3:53PM on 12/16/07
I LIKE LEAN BACON, SO IT COULD GO EITHER WAY, BUT , I'LL GO WITH CRISPY.
Mur6950 at 3:53PM on 12/16/07
crisp, please
Purrkins at 3:55PM on 12/16/07
With crispy bits and egdes and pliant chewy surprises.
potchkepix at 3:57PM on 12/16/07
the thicker, the crispier
binlu at 3:57PM on 12/16/07
Yummy Crisp!
I can smell it now.
Thank you
tmim123 at 3:57PM on 12/16/07
I guess I'm in between...I like mostly a little fatty, but there needs to be some crispy edges to compliment it. Thanks!
skalobster11 at 3:59PM on 12/16/07
Pliant!
cpom01 at 3:59PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
myfflyn at 4:01PM on 12/16/07
Crisp!
capricornpig at 4:02PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, please.
1twinkie at 4:02PM on 12/16/07
Yummy I Love Bacon especially hot out of the frying pan!
wmm792 at 4:03PM on 12/16/07
Pliant.
jkuebler at 4:08PM on 12/16/07
crispy!
jedimtb at 4:08PM on 12/16/07
Crisp
Connie at 4:09PM on 12/16/07
crisp
mrsbao at 4:12PM on 12/16/07
there's no bad way to eat bacon!
alphabeta at 4:12PM on 12/16/07
I LOVE IT CRISPY BUT NOT BURNT THEN PLACED ON PAPER TOWELS TO ABSORB GREASE, IT IS GOOD HOT OR COLD
licata at 4:12PM on 12/16/07
oooh, I would LOVE to win this one. I love my bacon crisp! :)
Happyhusky at 4:13PM on 12/16/07
Crisp
bhjustice at 4:14PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, almost burnt.
coneslayer at 4:15PM on 12/16/07
Thick-cut but crisp.
Actually, thin-cut and crisp is good too.
It's bacon!
Nezrite at 4:16PM on 12/16/07
Slightly chewy!
jasonmolinari at 4:17PM on 12/16/07
It depends on the type of bacon. Thinly cut bacon should be crispy. Thickly cut bacon should be crunch but not crackling crisp. Large chunks of bacon should be deeply braised with a little bit of a crispy crust but otherwise tender. Pepper bacon should be at that perfect intersection of crisp and yet still pliant - the fat needs to be a bit more tender in order to stand up to the heat of the pepper. When adding any style of bacon as a topping it most certainly should be crispy and when wrapping something in bacon to cook, precook the bacon if necessary. For example, pork loin does not need the bacon precooked because it will be roasting for some time and the bacon will get properly cooked. Wrapping scallops in bacon required the bacon to be pre-cooked just enough to render some fat but still keep the bacon flexible. Wrap the scallop and finish cooking so that you end up with a lovely crisp-ish bacon around a tender and sweet scallop. Finally, the recipe for thickly-cut bacon pieces baked in brown sugar and ground pepper must definately be cooked to medium crispy then allowed to air cool. Who would think that flavors of essentially carmel, black pepper, and bacon would taste so good?!
iainswife at 4:20PM on 12/16/07
Like the do for couples in hollywood like Brangalina. I like my bacon PLIACRISP. I straddle the fence on this one. Donny and Marie song "I'm A Little Bit Fatty, I'm a Little Bit Crispy, Yoh"
pcbdolphins at 4:21PM on 12/16/07
Bacon is mucho deliciouso when it's crispy! Oooh now that is what I call FOOD lol!
lethereBEfood at 4:21PM on 12/16/07
I don't care as long as it's fatty pork goodness.
lardarium at 4:27PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, but closer to pliant than burnt.
Eliz. at 4:28PM on 12/16/07
Crispy. Bacon is delicious this way.
annemarie56 at 4:28PM on 12/16/07
crispy, like my brain on pork.
lardarium at 4:28PM on 12/16/07
Very, very crispy!
ndbrit at 4:32PM on 12/16/07
Crispy!- as a matter of fact- I had crispy bacon pieces for breakfast this morning!
jeanie at 4:32PM on 12/16/07
crispy!
jlouise210 at 4:33PM on 12/16/07
crispy!
cgreggo at 4:33PM on 12/16/07
YES - BACON- MEDIUM CRISP
annajankiv at 4:37PM on 12/16/07
crispy, of course
betty at 4:38PM on 12/16/07
There is no wrong way to cook bacon, except, perhaps, burnt.
cjstephens at 4:38PM on 12/16/07
Crispy enough that the piece doesn't bend, but pliant enough that my teeth slide through it with having to crunch anything.
Baking at 275 for an hour seems to work pretty well. I haven't yet found the time to try lower temperatures.
nfrisby at 4:40PM on 12/16/07
Pliant please
gratton at 4:40PM on 12/16/07
Crispy...beside the eggs and crispy on top of the tomatoes, lettuce, mayo and bread....yummmmmmm. Bacon is the perfect food.
ruthing73 at 4:41PM on 12/16/07
Crisp, crisp, crisp.
kangatron at 4:44PM on 12/16/07
pliant
galietti05 at 4:44PM on 12/16/07
Crispy, but still chewy
MerMade07 at 4:44PM on 12/16/07
Pliant. I think it has more flavor than when bacon is crispy
abfantom at 4:44PM on 12/16/07
Crispy --- and preferred served with lettuce and home grown tomato on wheat bread with mayo.
Mmmmmmm good.
dolphinlady706 at 4:47PM on 12/16/07
A bit crispy, but it should still have some give so that it doesn't shatter. NOT limp!!!
lisaray at 4:49PM on 12/16/07
I like my bacon slightly chewy and ever so slightly crispy. No fatty spots!
royncharis at 4:51PM on 12/16/07
pliant but completely cooked
bmcairns at 4:52PM on 12/16/07
Cirsp!
veryplainjane at 4:56PM on 12/16/07
Pliant!
josiern at 4:57PM on 12/16/07
shaken, not stirred.....oh, sorry....I meant crisp, as eaten on Her Majesty's Secret Service.
ncrespi at 4:58PM on 12/16/07
extra crispy, please
caroleanne at 5:03PM on 12/16/07
pliant.
pfibiger at 5:03PM on 12/16/07
crisp, but not crunchy
amylou61 at 5:04PM on 12/16/07
Slightly crispy.
RebeccaV at 5:06PM on 12/16/07
I love crisp bacon that melts in my mouth - YUM!
berwyn at 5:08PM on 12/16/07
It has to be crisp!
SeahorseLady at 5:09PM on 12/16/07
super pliant
ceforrester at 5:09PM on 12/16/07
crispy and a tad chewy
adonica at 5:09PM on 12/16/07
Crispy on the edges, but with some fatty bits still soft and juicy.
Tactful_Cactus at 5:10PM on 12/16/07
crispy ridges of fat!
CambridgeFoodie at 5:11PM on 12/16/07
I learned to love it not crisp when I was a breakfast cook. Crisp bacon is for crumbling on salads or adding to deviled eggs or putting into a quiche or tart. Pliant bacon is for relishing all of its porkiness when there is something to chew to go with that 3 minute soft boiled egg in the morning and the cheese grits on the side. Burnt bacon is a perfect waste of perfect food.
joiei at 5:20PM on 12/16/07
I can has crisp?
tenke at 5:20PM on 12/16/07
Thick Sliced, medium crisp
CarolHarrity at 5:20PM on 12/16/07
I like my pliant!
xoeskie at 5:23PM on 12/16/07
very, very crispy
raelong at 5:25PM on 12/16/07
Thick sliced bacon with a bit of chew to it and a little dash of pepper.
lace1 at 5:25PM on 12/16/07
Pliant
emm321 at 5:25PM on 12/16/07
extra crispy for me!
wendymeows at 5:27PM on 12/16/07
crispy
MajaMeza79 at 5:30PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
Catherine at 5:31PM on 12/16/07
flaccid bacon is a travesty and a culinary sin. It needs to be crispy!
Ravara at 5:40PM on 12/16/07
Extra Crispy ... like the just before it's burnt type of crispy
nikki57 at 5:41PM on 12/16/07
crispy, almost to the point of burnt,yummy!
wildflower00 at 5:42PM on 12/16/07
Crispy crispy crispy!
jessie at 5:43PM on 12/16/07
Pliant, flaccid, limp, chewy!
anyang at 5:43PM on 12/16/07
Please make it crisp, smoked, thick-sliced, peppered, maple-sugar-dipped, and I'll follow you anywhere.
maningrida at 5:44PM on 12/16/07
Crispy.......
cocas at 5:47PM on 12/16/07
crisp
llinda29 at 5:51PM on 12/16/07
Crispy to the point of charring!
shel704 at 5:53PM on 12/16/07
Crispy
NSW at 5:53PM on 12/16/07
Tasty niblets!
saturdaynightfever at 5:54PM on 12/16/07
pliant
launate at 5:55PM on 12/16/07
any way as long as it is not crunchy
idahodad7 at 6:02PM on 12/16/07
I REALLY enjoy bacon. It's NOT just for breakfast anymore, LOL!!!!!
1LuckyLady at 6:03PM on 12/16/07
nice and pliant with some rose red crunch around the edges.
tirinstar at 6:03PM on 12/16/07
crisp!
jkershen at 6:03PM on 12/16/07
crispy
brandonphx at 6:04PM on 12/16/07
CRISP
ghinson at 6:05PM on 12/16/07
Crispy-of course!
HARLEYMGR at 6:05PM on 12/16/07
very very crisp
hillearyo at 6:07PM on 12/16/07
crispy
agordon10 at 6:07PM on 12/16/07
pliant.
DaveFaris at 6:08PM on 12/16/07
Pliant, crispy is for the weak
mincerray at 6:09PM on 12/16/07
I vote for crispy bacon, thank you very much
aburke at 6:09PM on 12/16/07
Crispy but not burnt.....Egg, bacon & tomato sandwich on toast....yum!
muchcat at 6:10PM on 12/16/07