If you’re exploring the world of healthy eating, you might be on the hunt for new and delicious foods to try that are all-natural, nutrient dense, or lower in fat. Whole-cut turkey bacon is a nutritious leaner protein option, and when it’s real-wood smoked, it tastes incredibly similar to pork bacon. But does it cook the same? You can use a variety of simple and familiar cooking methods to cook turkey bacon, and there’s no trick to it. Here are some instructions for getting your bacon just right.

How to Cook Turkey Bacon on the Stove

Can you cook turkey bacon in a pan on the stove like pork bacon? Yes, sautéing turkey bacon with oil gives you crispy, flavorful results in a few short steps:

1. Pre-heat skillet to medium high.
2. Heat slices while turning them every minute to ensure uniform browning.
3. When the bacon is halfway done, turn to medium heat.
4. Remove from heat to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess cooking oil.

Sautéed turkey bacon shines in classic sandwich recipes like the BLT, and you can prepare it quickly. The delicious taste and crisp texture of our real wood-smoked bacon gives the Ultimate TBLT a nutritious punch.

How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven

Sautéing is quick, but if you’re hands-off in the kitchen, you might prefer baking turkey bacon in the oven. There are benefits to baking turkey bacon in the oven.  One is that you can prep other parts of your meal while the bacon cooks. Another is batch size: a lot of bacon can fit on a baking sheet, which is useful when you’re cooking for a crowd.

Follow these steps for crispy, oven-baked turkey bacon without added oil:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set a baking rack on top (if you have one). Arrange your turkey bacon in a single layer on the rack or parchment, making sure the strips don’t overlap.
3. Bake for 12 minutes on the middle rack of the oven.
4. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any oil drawn out by heat, keeping the turkey bacon more crisp until you serve.

Quick tip:

Not cooking for a crowd? If you only want a few slices, you can make turkey bacon in the toaster oven. Follow the same steps as above.

Turkey bacon tastes great from the oven, but you don’t always have to bake it on its own. For something simple that feels luxurious, wrap a slice of bacon around your favorite fresh vegetable before baking. Or try sprinkling some pepper on top before baking in the oven to elevate your turkey bacon. 

How to Air Fry Turkey Bacon

Air fryers are all the rage at the moment, and with good reason—they can make food super crispy without the added fat or mess of deep frying. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you might need to repeat these steps over a few batches.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place turkey bacon strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer. 
3. Cook for five minutes, then flip the strips over.
4. Cook for another five minutes or until the bacon is crisp.

Crumble air fried turkey bacon into recipes that need a protein boost or a satisfying crunch. Adding turkey bacon is a great way to make your lunchtime salad a little heartier.

How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Microwave

Microwaving your turkey bacon is absolutely an option. But since microwaves vary, it could take anywhere from two to ten minutes to cook a slice if you’re starting from scratch. For best results, sandwich a few strips between paper towels on a plate. Start with a cooking time of two to four minutes on high, then continue in one-minute increments until fully cooked.

If that sounds a bit tricky, you can buy pre-cooked turkey bacon, like Godshall’s Fully Cooked Uncured Turkey Bacon and use the microwave to heat it up.

1. Place the turkey bacon slices in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate, and cover with a paper towel. 
2. Microwave on high power until hot and crisp, extending the cooking time for larger batches. Machines vary, but these are general guidelines:
   • For 2 slices, microwave for 2 ½ minutes.
   • For 4 slices, microwave for 4 ½  minutes

Warming up a slice of pre-cooked bacon is also a quick and easy way for kids to prepare their own satisfying snack that’s ready to eat in seconds.

When you’re shopping for the healthiest turkey bacon, look for a variety that is real-wood smoked and made from whole cuts of meat. With no artificial chemical flavors, 80% less fat than pork bacon, and six grams of protein per serving, Godshall’s Turkey Bacon is a nutritious option you can feel good about eating.