Latest news with #Smithfield
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
We Tested 7 Ways to Make Bacon — One Was the Clear Winner
From frying to grilling and baking, we put bacon cooking methods to the test. Here's what came out on top. As far as I'm concerned, bacon goes with just about everything. From melty egg sandwiches and grilled burgers to crisp salads and even sweet ice creams, that combination of salty, savory, and slightly smoky flavor is the perfect complement to any meal of the day. When it comes to how bacon is prepared, however, there are really two camps — one for those who like an evenly crispy, well-rendered strip of bacon, and another for those who like it a bit chewier. I happen to fit in the evenly crispy, well-rendered strip of bacon camp, but how I achieve that perfectly cooked bacon is incredibly inconsistent. Sometimes I layer bacon strips in a cold cast-iron skillet and slowly cook them over a low heat, carefully flipping every so often to ensure even cooking. Other times I'm in a hurry or focused on another element of a meal and I simply lay them on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake them until crispy. With that in mind, we tested seven different methods for cooking bacon to determine which produced the best results. Read on to find out which method we liked best. A word about our method Before getting into the results, it's important to note these cooking methods were all conducted in our professional test kitchen, though all of our equipment and tools are the same used in a home kitchen. In addition, all tests used Smithfield Applewood Smoked Bacon for consistency purposes. The tests did not use center-cut or thick-cut varieties of bacon, which may produce different results. All of the methods we tested (oven, cold start in a skillet, hot skillet, air fryer, grill pan, sous vide, and microwave) technically worked, but their effectiveness at producing evenly crisp, well-rendered, and slightly chewy bacon varied greatly. A quick spin in the microwave Cook Time: 5 minutesTotal Time: 5 minutesRating: 5/10 Method: The fastest and most convenient way to cook bacon is in the microwave. Start by placing slices of bacon on a plate lined with two layers of paper towels. Cover the bacon with two more layers of paper towels then microwave on high for 1 minute per slice of bacon. For crispier bacon, continue microwaving on high in 30-second intervals. Results: Our testers found cooking bacon in the microwave produced the worst results. The bacon was overly tough, chewy, and lacked everything that makes bacon so delicious (there was no browning or rendered fat). At best, one tester said it could be used for bacon bits, but another said this was the one method they would never consider using under any circumstance. Pros: Using a microwave to cook bacon is super-simple, but that's about the only good thing to say about it. Cons: The results of cooking bacon in a microwave were simply not good. The bacon turned out unpleasant, chewy, and tough. A long sous vide soak Cook Time: 12 hoursTotal Time: 12 hours, 5 minutesRating: 6/10 Method: This method requires an immersion circulator to slowly cook the bacon at a consistent temperature for a very long time, until the bacon is ultra-tender. Prepare an immersion circulator in a water bath according to the manufacturer's directions and set it to 145°F. Then place an unopened package of bacon in the bath and cook it for at least 12 hours or up to 48 hours. When you are ready to serve, remove the bacon from the bath, carefully open, and cook on a cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Results: What makes sous vide cooking so ideal is the controlled, even cooking for larger proteins. It ensures delicate proteins aren't overcooked and makes for an incredibly tender final product. But that doesn't mean it's an ideal kitchen gadget for all applications, and it happens to be a bit overkill for preparing slices of bacon. It actually produced fine results, similar to some of our other favorite methods, but it simply takes too long for only decent outcomes for us to recommend hauling out an immersion circulator. Pros: The bacon turned out quite good but certainly not better than other methods. Cons: Using an immersion circulator to cook slices of bacon is overkill, to say the least. It takes at least 12 hours and the payoff is just not worth it. Of course, you also need to have an immersion circulator to use this method. Starting in a hot skillet Cook Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 10 minutesRating: 7/10 Method: This is the method you may be most familiar with as it simply calls for cooking slices of bacon in a preheated skillet. For this method use a 12-inch cast-iron skillet heated over medium, then arrange bacon strips in a single layer. You can likely only fit 4 slices comfortably. Cook the bacon until crispy, about 7 minutes. Flip the bacon often and adjust the temperature as needed to avoid burning. Results: If you prefer your bacon more chewy than crispy, then this is the method for you. Because the skillet is already hot by the time the bacon hits the pan, the bacon tends to seize a bit. That means you'll experience noticeable shrinkage and overall uneven cooking. It also takes some time to cook a full package of bacon since you can really only fit 4 slices in the skillet without overcrowding the pan. Pros: This is one of the easiest ways to cook bacon as you only need a large skillet. It's also relatively fast compared to other methods and produces decent results. Cons: The bacon will seize in a hot skillet and shrink, actually creating uneven cooking. The final product is quite inconsistent, too, with some parts of the bacon crispy, while others are chewy. Grilling in a pan Cook Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 10 minutesRating: 8/10 Method: Similar to the hot skillet method, simply heat a large grill pan over medium, arrange slices of bacon in an even layer, and cook until crispy, about 8 minutes. Be sure to adjust the heat and flip frequently to prevent burning. Results: The grill pan method ranks just a bit higher than the hot skillet method simply because you may be able to cook more bacon in a grill pan compared to a round skillet. But the end results are nearly identical to cooking in a hot skillet. This method requires your complete attention as you'll need to control the heat and flip often to avoid burning. Bacon cooked in a grill pan has chewy bits and crispy areas, which is how some people like their bacon. This method is recommended by testers if you don't have the countertop appliance in the next method. Pros: Similar to the hot skillet method, using a grill pan is easy and relatively convenient. It slightly edges out the hot skillet method simply because you may be able to fit more slices of bacon on a grill pan rather than a round skillet. Cons: This also produces inconsistent results, with chewy and crispy bits of bacon throughout the testing process. You also need to give the bacon your full attention as it cooks to avoid burning. Air-frying Cook Time: 25 minutesTotal Time: 30 minutesRating: 9/10 Method: Using an air fryer to cook bacon has the advantage of hands-free cooking, but it comes with some compromises. Start by preheating an air fryer to 350°F for 10 minutes, then arrange 4 bacon slices flat on the bottom of the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave at least 1/2-inch space between each slice for even air flow. Cook until the bacon is crispy, about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Results: This is the test kitchen's go-to method for anyone who prefers bacon with contrasting textures. Some parts of the bacon will be pleasantly chewy while others will be thoroughly rendered and crispy. Yes, this is hands-off cooking, but you can only fit about 4 slices in an average-size air fryer basket. While this is a solid option, our top two methods really outshine every other on this list so far. Pros: The air fryer is hands-free cooking, producing pleasantly chewy bacon, albeit a bit inconsistent compared to other methods. Cons: You can only fit about 4 slices of bacon in an average-size air fryer basket, plus it's difficult to achieve uniformly crispy strips of bacon. Starting in a cold skillet Cook Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 10 minutesRating: 9/10 Method: Instead of preheating a 12-inch cast iron skillet, simply layer in slices of bacon to the cold skillet then turn the heat to medium. Cook until crispy, about 8 minutes, flipping often and reducing heat to prevent burning. Results: This was the test kitchen's recommended method if you are only planning to cook 1 to 4 slices of bacon, as it produces consistently crispy, well-rendered bacon. Also, starting bacon in a cold skillet means it won't shrink as much and instead will lay fairly flat. If you want to make a BLT or club sandwich and need just a few crispy slices of bacon, this is the ideal method for that. But if you want to cook more bacon with similar crispy, flat results, our final entry is the method for you. Pros: This is one of the best methods for achieving consistently crispy slices of bacon. The bacon will also stay relatively flat as it cooks, meaning minimal shrinkage. It's perfect anytime you want to cook just a few slices of bacon at one time. Cons: You will need to give the bacon some attention as it cooks, adjusting heat to avoid burning. You can only cook 4 slices of bacon at one time. Winner: Baking bacon in the oven Cook Time: 25 minutesTotal Time: 30 minutesRating: 10/10 Method: To cook lots of bacon at once, start by preheating the oven to 400°F with a rack in center position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange 10 bacon slices in a single layer. Bake until crispy, about 22 minutes, rotating the pan from front to back halfway through cooking. Results: The absolute best way to cook evenly crispy and consistent bacon, and a lot of it at once, is in the oven. This was the test kitchen's favorite method as it struck all the important factors: hands-off cooking, perfectly crispy bacon, up to 10 slices at once, and consistent results over multiple tests. This is also one of the simplest methods, which goes to show that sometimes the easiest, fuss-free methods produce the best results. Pros: You can make a lot of bacon at one time and the results are very consistent. It's the most ideal way to cook bacon if you like evenly crispy strips of bacon. This is also almost entirely hands-free, meaning it's mostly fuss-free. Cons: It takes a while to cook bacon in the oven compared to other methods. Final Takeaways While there is no wrong method when it comes to cooking bacon (aside, perhaps, from microwaving), it's clear that if you love evenly crispy bacon and want little hands-on effort, then the oven is not only the easiest method, it's also the best. Read the original article on Food & Wine Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
KS Bancorp, Inc. (KSBI) Reports 41% Year to Date Increase in Net Income and Expands Footprint into Nash County, North Carolina
SMITHFIELD, NC / ACCESS Newswire / July 23, 2025 / KS Bancorp, Inc. (the 'Company') (OTCID:KSBI), parent company of KS Bank, Inc. (the 'Bank'), announced unaudited results for the second quarter of 2025. The Company reported net income of $2.2 million or $2.02 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to net income of $1.7 million or $1.50 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2024. This signifies a 35% increase in net income. Year-to-date net income was $4.3 million or $3.89 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million, or $2.75 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2024. This signifies a 41% increase in net income year to date. Net interest income before the provision for credit losses for the three months ended June 30, 2025, increased 22.8%. It was $6.9 million, compared to $5.5 million at June 30, 2024. Non-interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $1.1 million, compared to $863,000 for the comparable period ended June 30, 2024. Non-interest expense was $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $4.1 million in the comparable period in 2024. For the six months ending June 30, 2025, net interest income before the provision for credit losses was $13.2 million, compared to $10.6 million for the six months ending June 30, 2024, which was a 28.7% increase. Non-interest income was $2.0 million for the six months ending June 30, 2025, compared to $1.7 million for the same period ended June 30, 2024. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, non-interest expenses were $9.0 million, compared to $8.1 million for the same period ending June 30, 2024. The Company's unaudited consolidated total assets increased by $36.4 million to $727.3 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $690.9 million as of December 31, 2024. Net loan balances increased by $33.4 million to $587.9 million on June 30, 2025, compared to $554.5 million on December 31, 2024. The Company's investment securities totaled $94.5 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $95.9 million as of December 31, 2024. Total deposits increased $43.5 million to $661.7 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $618.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The increase in deposits included a $34.2 million increase or 6.0% in core deposits. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, short-term borrowings decreased $11.1 million. Total stockholders' equity increased $3.4 million to $48.7 million as of June 30, 2025, from $45.3 million as of December 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2025, nonperforming assets consisted of nonaccrual loans totaling $77,000 and foreclosed real estate with a value of $500,000, representing less than 0.10% of the Company's total assets. The allowance for credit losses as of June 30, 2025, totaled $4.7 million, or 0.79% of total loans. Commenting on the second quarter results, Earl W. Worley, Jr., President and CEO of the Company, stated, 'We are pleased with our continued momentum through the first half of 2025, highlighted by a 35% increase in second quarter net income compared to the prior year. This strong performance reflects steady loan growth, disciplined expense control, and a 6% rise in core deposits, all of which reinforce the strength of our balance sheet and the dedication of our team. In addition to our financial results, we were proud to open our eleventh full-service branch in Bailey, North Carolina, our first in Nash County, North Carolina. The community's warm reception affirms the value of our relationship-driven approach to banking. As we move into the second half of the year, we remain cautiously optimistic. While our fundamentals are sound and our strategic initiatives are progressing well, we recognize that ongoing economic uncertainty and future actions by the Federal Reserve may impact both interest rate trends and customer behavior. We will continue to manage risk carefully, remain flexible in our approach, and focus on delivering long-term value to our customers, communities, and shareholders.' In addition, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share for stockholders of record as of August 1, 2025, with payment to be made on August 11, 2025. KS Bank continues to be well-capitalized according to regulatory standards, with a Community Bank Leverage Ratio of 9.22% as of June 30, 2025, compared to 9.24% as of December 31, 2024. KS Bancorp, Inc. is a Smithfield, North Carolina-based single-bank holding company. KS Bank, Inc., a state-chartered savings bank, is KS Bancorp's sole subsidiary. The Bank is a full-service community bank that has served the citizens of eastern North Carolina since 1924. The Bank offers a broad range of personal and business banking products and services, as well as mortgage and trust services. Eleven full-service branches are located in Kenly, Selma, Clayton, Garner, Goldsboro, Wilson, Wendell, Smithfield, Four Oaks, Dunn, and Bailey, North Carolina. For more information, visit This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management of the Company and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate' and 'believe,' variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. SOURCE: KS Bancorp, Inc. press release
Mint
09-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Trump administration seeks to ban China from buying US farms
The Trump administration has a message for China: Keep off the farm. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday the administration will work with state lawmakers to ban sales of U.S. farmland to buyers from China and other countries of concern, citing national-security interests. Rollins, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, said the government is ratcheting up scrutiny on existing land owned by Chinese buyers and is looking at ways to potentially claw back past purchases. 'We'll never let foreign adversaries control our land," said Rollins. State and federal lawmakers for years have warned that China and other countries could use U.S. farmland to facilitate spying or wield influence over the U.S. food supply chain. Chinese-owned entities hold nearly 300,000 acres—roughly 0.02%—of U.S. farmland, according to Agriculture Department data, an area about the size of Los Angeles. Republicans and Democrats alike have sought to curb foreign ownership of American farmland, at times seeking to increase government scrutiny of purchases and investments. Critics have raised fears that foreign owners could drive up land prices or sidestep environmental rules. China's government has played down such concerns as overblown. Representatives of China's embassy in Washington, D.C., had no immediate comment. Rollins said on Tuesday that U.S. farms are under threat from China and other countries that are trying to infiltrate American agricultural research and steal technology. 'No longer can foreign adversaries assume we aren't watching," Hegseth said. Some state and municipal lawmakers have taken steps in recent years to block China-backed investment or ownership in U.S. agriculture. The city of Grand Forks, N.D., in 2023 halted the construction of a Chinese-owned corn mill after a U.S. Air Force official said the planned $700 million facility could represent a national-security risk because of its proximity to a nearby base. Some China-based ownership of U.S. farmland involves prominent U.S. agriculture companies. Pork giant Smithfield Foods and seed and pesticide supplier Syngenta have both faced criticism from government officials and lawmakers because of their Chinese owners. Smithfield is majority-owned by Chinese pork company WH Group and Syngenta is a subsidiary of China National Chemical. The companies' American leaders have pushed back, saying their China-based owners have helped them invest in U.S. farmers and create jobs. Smithfield in the past represented roughly half of the U.S. farmland owned by Chinese entities, via its Hong Kong-based parent. Much of that had been tied up in hundreds of company-owned hog farms and processing plants, according to federal data. WH Group acquired Smithfield in 2013, aiming to harness its technology and expertise to boost WH's operations in China. Smithfield returned to the U.S. public markets earlier this year, raising roughly $500 million after listing its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market. WH Group owns about 93% of Smithfield's shares. 'We're an American company, American management team and made in America," Smithfield Chief Executive Shane Smith said in an interview earlier this year. Smithfield last year sold more than 40,000 acres of its U.S. farmland, leaving it with roughly 85,000 acres. Shares of Smithfield fell about 1% on Tuesday. Syngenta, the largest pesticide seller in the U.S., has said it owns a small amount of land for research, development and regulatory trials. The company, which employs about 4,000 people in the U.S., has previously faced calls to sell its farmland holdings. Two years ago, Arkansas ordered Syngenta to sell about 160 acres in the state, where it maintained an agricultural research facility with a few dozen employees. Syngenta at the time called the state's decision shortsighted. A Syngenta spokesman said Tuesday that the company is in the process of selling its remaining U.S. farmland and currently owns less than 1,000 acres in the country. Write to Patrick Thomas at
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
US bans China from buying farmland
The US is banning Chinese buyers from purchasing farmland amid concerns over national security. Brooke Rollins, the head of the department of agriculture, announced on Tuesday that the US government plans to prohibit sales of farmland across the country to buyers from China and other adversaries to protect US food security. Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, and Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, she also announced the administration is looking at clawing back land purchased by entities from China, Russia and Iran. 'American agriculture is not just about feeding our families, but about protecting our nation and standing up to foreign adversaries who are buying our farmland, stealing our research, and creating dangerous vulnerabilities in the very systems that sustain us,' Ms Rollins said. Chinese investors currently hold around 280,000 acres of US farmland, according to USDA data, equating to around 0.03 per cent of total agricultural land. Around half of this is tied to a single company, Smithfield Foods, a meat giant which has come under fire from lawmakers because of its Chinese owners. Smithfield is owned by WH Group, a conglomerate owned by billionaire Wang Long. Company chiefs push back The US chiefs of Smithfield and Syngenta, a pesticide supplier, have pushed back against criticism, saying overseas investment has helped create jobs. Mr Hegseth said that foreign adversaries buying farmland close to military bases was a particular cause for concern, adding that blocking these sales would help ensure supplies reach soldiers, 'especially in a contingency'. 'No longer can foreign adversaries assume we aren't watching,' he said. State lawmakers have long warned that China could use US farmland to facilitate espionage or threaten US food security. Scrutiny has stepped up in recent years following a controversial 2022 land deal in North Dakota, where Chinese-owned Fufeng Group bought hundreds of acres for a corn mill around 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force base. The purchase was ultimately blocked by local officials, who cited national security concerns. The case drew attention to a loophole in foreign investment rules that allowed foreign adversaries to buy land near military facilities not formally listed as sensitive sites.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Chinese Company Actually Owns This Staple American Hot Dog Brand
To Americans, there might not be anything more emblematic of summertime than the humble hot dog. In fact, Americans eat a staggering number of hot dogs on the Fourth of July alone. One of the most recognizable brands for Independence Day and hot dog-worthy occasions throughout the year is Nathan's Famous. In a blind taste test to determine the best hot dogs, the brand scored second. If you've spent any time on the boardwalk in Coney Island, you've probably eaten a dog or two from Nathan's and maybe even seen the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. So it may come as a surprise that this brand with a very American vibe is controlled by a Chinese company. Nathan's is owned by Smithfield, which itself is actually owned by Chinese conglomerate WH Group Limited. Yep, America's most iconic all-beef hot dog is owned by a Chinese corporation that also happens to be the largest pork processing company in the world. In 2013, it acquired Smithfield for $4.7 billion, and the company overall had nearly $26 billion in sales in 2024. That's a whole lot of sausage. Read more: The Highest And Lowest Quality Hot Dogs You'll Find At The Grocery Store Opinions about China in the U.S. can lean negative, so it makes sense that some United States officials are worried about Chinese investments in American agriculture, including pork production. However, the investment of Chinese companies overall is relatively small. According to USDA estimates from 2021, Chinese-owned companies held about 384,000 acres of American soil. Smithfield properties accounted for around 100,000 acres of that. To put it all in perspective, Canadian companies owned more than 12 million acres, and companies owned by the Netherlands held close to 5 million acres. That figure even appears to have decreased, as 2023 USDA estimates clocked Chinese company acreage at around 277,000 -- this is less than 1% of all land owned by foreign companies in the U.S. Holdings from Canadian companies, on the other hand, increased by more than 3 million, which amounts to 33%. China's economy, depending on how you slice it, is about the same size as the United States'. Most Chinese agricultural investments are actually in Russia and around Asia. It's hard to make the case that Chinese farm and agricultural investments are taking over the U.S. when they don't even compare to Canadian-held land. But whether or not you're afraid of Chinese-owned companies that make hot dogs, slapping some Nathan's Famous franks on the grill won't do you any harm. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
