There are a number of different ways to cook bacon, depending on how the bacon is to be used, and the tastes of the cook. Many cooks have a personal taste for a particular style of bacon, such as crispy or chewy bacon, and others are concerned about health issues, so they may adopt cooking practices which are designed to drain as much fat from the bacon as possible. Cooks can also choose from traditional bacon made with pork and products such as turkey bacon, which tend to be lower in fat, with a lighter flavor.

One of the most common ways to cook bacon is in a frying pan on the stove. The stove can be set to medium heat to allow the pan to warm up before adding the strips of bacon. No oil or lubrication is needed, because the fat in the bacon will render out as it cooks, keeping the bacon from sticking to the pan. Cooks can choose to drain the fat from the pan partway through the cooking process to reduce the amount of fat which ends up in the finished product, or they can leave the bacon in the pan. The texture can be adjusted with changes to the cooking time, to yield crispy, crumbly bacon or more chewy bacon. Typically, the bacon is drained on a towel after cooking so that it will not taste greasy.

Some cooks like to use a bacon press, a kitchen implement which is used to push the bacon up against the bottom of the pan, when they cook bacon. Bacon presses encourage the bacon to stay flat and cook evenly, and they tend to yield a crispy product, which can be desirable. If a bacon press is not available, the flat end of a heat-proof spatula can be used.

It is also possible to grill bacon. Grilled bacon tends to be crisper, because as it cooks, the fat drains away and sears the outside. Grill presses can be utilized to cook bacon as well, for people who lack access to a conventional grill. Bacon may also be baked in a 400 degree Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) oven until done, a process which usually takes around 10 minutes if the oven is at full temperature when the bacon is inserted. Baked bacon should be prepared on a rack to allow it to drain as it cooks.

Cooks may also opt to cook bacon in the microwave. To microwave bacon, strips should be wrapped in a paper towel heated on high for three to four minutes, or until done. Microwaved bacon can tend to be a bit soggy and chewy, but for people who enjoy this texture, the microwave can be a great cooking tool.