Bacon is much crispier if you ditch frying in oil for 1 simple ingredient - no splatter

When it comes to cooking bacon, there are usually two distinct groups of people - those who like it lightly cooked and a little chewy, and those who like it deliciously crisp. If you fall into the latter category then there is a very easy way to ensure you achieve that perfectly crisp texture every single time - and you don't need cooking oil to do it.

Frying bacon in a pan is one of the easiest and quickest ways to cook it, and chances are you'll drizzle a dash of cooking oil in the pan before throwing your rashers in. But according to cooking experts, you should ditch the oil for a simpler, healthier ingredient instead - and that's water. Yes, cooking bacon in water might sound a bit strange but it is surprisingly effective, and will ensure you achieve those desired crispy results without burning the meat.

Water helps bacon to stay tender on the inside as it cooks as it keeps the meat moist, and once it heats up and starts to evaporate, this allows the outside to crisp up evenly, so you avoid that nasty dry, brittle texture.

Plus, cooking with water also helps to trap much of the fat released from the bacon which means less mess and grease splatters as you cook, making the clean-up much easier.

Recipe creator Donna Urso explains: "This method is quick, and easy, and produces perfectly cooked bacon every time. The water helps to keep the bacon from burning and creates a consistent, crispy texture. You do need to watch it and flip the bacon, so the time it takes seems to be the same as the traditional method.

"The water prevents the bacon from sticking to the pan, which can be a common issue when pan-frying. As the water heats and circulates throughout the pan, it prevents hot spots and uneven cooking.

"It is also much cleaner and seems less messy than traditional pan-frying methods. The water helps to keep the grease from splattering all over your stove."

To fry bacon in water, simply add enough to cover the bottom of your pan and then add your strips of bacon. The water will not only prevent the bacon from sticking to the pan, but as it heats up and circulates, it will cook evenly and shouldn't burn. The result will be perfectly crispy bacon, which should taste less salty than normal and leave you with less mess to clear up after.

Experts at Cookers and Overs add: "This might seem insane but trust us, the best way to cook bacon in a frying pan is with water! The water renders the fat so that you don't get it spitting at you while you try and cook it. It also produces tender and chewy bacon that's still crisp.

"Just use enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, wait five minutes until all the water has evaporated and then cook until crisp."