Bacon isn't the healthiest of foods but it's an undeniably tasty indulgence that is hard to resist.

Not only is it delicious, it's versatile as well and can be whipped up for a tasty breakfast, lunch or evening meal with very little effort and cooking time. There are generally two camps when it comes to bacon preference - those who favour lightly cooked, slightly chewy bacon, and those who like their bacon to be crispy. If your preference is the latter then there are several ways you can go about achieving that deliciously crisp texture, including grilling, frying or baking in the oven.

But there is one sure fire way to guarantee perfectly crispy bacon every single time you cook it - and all it takes is one added ingredient. According to experts, cooking bacon in water is the key to achieving that desired crispy texture, without burning the meat and turning it brittle.

To achieve the crispy texture, you simply need to add enough water to cover the bottom of your frying pan and then add your strips of bacon to it. The water will not only prevent the bacon from sticking to the frying pan, but as it heats up and circulates, it ensures an even cook and helps stop it burning. It also keeps the cooking temperature low which helps the bacon retain its moisture and stay tender as the fat renders evenly.

America’s Test Kitchen explains: “Sometimes the best techniques are the counterintuitive ones, and our simple stovetop method of cooking bacon in water is just that. It may sound weird, but it will produce crispy and tender bacon every time.

“The addition of water keeps the initial cooking temperature low and gentle, so the meat retains its moisture and stays tender as the fat renders. Plus, since the water helps render the fat, there will be significantly less splatter as your bacon finishes in the pan.

“Also, by the time the water reaches its boiling point, the bacon fat is almost completely rendered. This will help keep the meat bacon from burning, since you now don’t have to wait for the fat to cook off like you would if you cooked it the traditional way, instead of in water. Now your bacon is tender and crisp, not dry and brittle.”

Not only does adding water make your bacon crispier, but it can give it a more balanced taste which is less salty.

BENSA Bacon Lovers Society adds: “This method is a total game-changer. What you’ll get are beautifully crispy bacon strips that practically melt in your mouth.

“Cooking bacon with water helps render the fat gently and evenly, which means more tender bacon with no overcooked bits or burnt edges. Adding a little water to the pan also tones down the saltiness just a bit, so the bacon flavor really shines through.