My attempt at a 5 dollar 'fancy' pasta ended with a smoke alarm concert

I was in my tiny apartment kitchen trying to make a cheap carbonara with just eggs, cheap bacon, and a block of parmesan. The bacon fat got way too hot and the whole pan just burst into flames, like a mini volcano. I panicked and threw a box of baking soda on it, which worked but covered my whole stove in white powder. Now my dinner looked like a snowy disaster zone. Anyone have a better way to handle bacon grease without setting the kitchen on fire?

3 comments

3 Comments

rose_cooper1d ago

My old stove in college had the same hot spot. Start the bacon in a cold pan with a splash of water, it helps render the fat slowly so it doesn't burn. Keep the heat at medium once it's sizzling, and have a lid ready to smother any flare-ups. It's a slower cook, but it beats a baking soda blizzard.

adam_thompson5322h ago

Totally stealing that water trick from @rose_cooper. My usual method is just accepting the smoke alarm as my dinner bell.

abby_wilson5122h ago

Ever feel like you're fighting your stove more than cooking? I had a burner that would scorch anything on the left side, no matter what. Rose's water trick is a total game changer for that.