Bacon for Photography
Shape bacon with aluminum foil and bake in stages to create undulating curves ideal for food photography.
Ingredients
Bacon (choose fresh bacon that is meaty with little fat, moderately wide and thick)
As needed
Heavy-duty aluminum foil (tear into 5-inch wide strips, crumple into rope shape)
Several strips
Instructions
1
Prepare the Aluminum Foil
Tear heavy-duty aluminum foil into 5-inch wide strips, crumple into ropes about 1/2 to 5/8 inch in diameter, and place them on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart
2
Arrange the Bacon
Make sure the bacon is cold so the slices separate easily. Select intact, undamaged bacon slices and lay them across the foil ropes, allowing the bacon to sag slightly in the middle without touching or overlapping each other
3
First Bake
Place in an oven preheated to 350°F (about 175°C). Check after 8 minutes; it may take up to double the time, so check every few minutes until the bacon is golden brown with no signs of raw meat
4
Cool and Store
Carefully remove the baking sheet and let cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Place the bacon on a paper plate without overlapping, then cover with another paper plate inverted to block wind and prevent snacking, and hold until just before shooting
5
Reheat and Plate
Pour off the grease from the baking sheet and replace the foil ropes. Return the bacon to the baking sheet before shooting, bake at 350°F for about 5 minutes, then plate
