Bacon is among the favorite foods among Americans. According to Statista, 268.04 million Americans consumed bacon in 2020. That’s quite a huge number!
But do you know that you can cook your bacon on your griddle? In this article, I bring to you all you need to know about cooking bacon on a griddle.
Bacon on a Griddle – All You Need to Know
When cooking bacon on a griddle, always start cold, then keep increasing the temperature to 350 degrees F. Controlling the temperature ensures that your bacon cooks evenly. You also don’t need to heat the griddle before adding the bacon.
The Ideal Temperature for Cooking Bacon on a Griddle
Having the right temperature is crucial when cooking bacon on a griddle. I bet you don’t want to end up with an undercooked or burnt mess.
Unlike other foods, you don’t need to preheat your flat-top grill when cooking bacon. Always start cold!
Place your bacon on a cold griddle cooktop and then turn it on. This way, the fat will begin to render slowly, and the bacon will not stick.
The ideal temperature for cooking bacon on a griddle is 325 degrees Fahrenheit (medium to medium-high). Your bacon will cook evenly at this temperature without burning on one side.
Many people have the notion that higher heat equals crispier bacon. But that is not true! Bacon cooked on high heat is floppy, cooks unevenly, and is likely to burn.
It would be good to have an infrared thermometer to measure and monitor your griddle top temperatures accurately.
The Ideal Time for Cooking Bacon on a Griddle
A thin rasher should cook perfectly in 10 minutes. If your rashers are thicker, increase the time to 15 minutes. The first side may take longer to get ready than the second side. It is recommendable only to flip your bacon once.
Also, make sure that the excess grease is dripping off.
How to Cook Bacon on a Griddle
Cooking bacon on a flat-top grill is straightforward.
What You Will Need
- Bacon
- Paper towels
- A pair of tongs
- A plate
- Bacon press (optional)
Recipe
Step 1
Remove your bacon from the fridge 20 or 30 minutes prior to cooking. It will warm up to room temperature and cook better.
Place your bacon strips on the cold cooktop, leaving some space between them.
Heat your griddle to medium temperature, aiming for 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are using a bacon press, place it on the cooktop to heat up.
Step 2
Cook your bacon for 5 to 8 minutes on one side, depending on its thickness.
You will notice that grease begins to accumulate on the cooktop. Use a scraper or spatula to push the excess oil into a trap.
Carefully flip your pieces with a pair of tongs and cook the other side for 5 to 8 minutes.
Note that you only need to flip each bacon strip once. If you want to know whether the underneath is ready, lift the piece a bit with tongs. If it is brown, you can flip it.
The second side does not take as much time as the first to get ready. Therefore, keep your eye on it to prevent burning.
If you are using a bacon press, position it on the bacon top immediately after placing it on the flat-top grill.
When using a press, the bacon gets ready in about 4 to 6 minutes, and you don’t need to flip it.
Step 3
When the bacon strips attain your desired level of crispiness, remove them from the griddle with a pair of tongs. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Place more paper towels on top of the bacon to absorb excess grease.
Using a Griddle Press in Cooking Bacon
A griddle press is a must-have tool in the kitchen. It’s also called a bacon press, and it has several uses when cooking bacon.
In most cases, bacon curls up when you cook it on a griddle. A griddle press comes in handy to help you prevent this.
All you need to do is place the bacon press on top of the bacon. This keeps the bacon flat, allowing its entire surface to be in contact with the cooking surface. Consequently, your bacon will cook evenly.
A bacon press will also hasten the cooking process of the bacon. Place it on the griddle and allow it some time to heat up.
Once the griddle press is hot enough, you can place it on top of your bacon. It helps to cook the bacon from the top, hastening the process.
It’s not a must to have a griddle press when cooking bacon. However, this tool is essential if you want to have nice flat bacon strips.
This equipment is readily available in many kitchen supply stores. However, you can still get a griddle press from Blackstone.
How to Know When Bacon is Cooked
It is unsafe to eat raw bacon, for it can lead to foodborne diseases and cancer. Moreover, raw bacon is rubbery, unpleasant, and can harbor bacteria.
So, how do you tell that your bacon is ready?
Here are several ways that can help you know.
Look at the Texture
Properly cooked bacon should have a certain degree of crispness.
You can quickly test the texture by using the back of a spoon. If you find it too soft, it’s a sign that it requires some more time.
However, keep checking it from time to time to avoid overcooking.
But again,
Do not wait until the bacon becomes overly stiff. Ensure that it only gets the necessary crispy texture.
Look at the Shape
The natural moisture in bacon begins to evaporate once the cooking process starts. Consequently, the bacon starts to shrink as the fat melts away.
This shrinkage causes the edges of the bacon to start curling away from the edge of the pan.
Curling is a normal process. It’s also one of the indicators that your bacon is cooking correctly.
Please wait until all the edges have curled and the meat is brown. It shows your bacon is almost ready.
Observe the Color Change
While raw, bacon is pink, and through it, you will notice strips of creamy white fat.
However, a darkening of the meat occurs as the cooking begins and progresses. Finally, the meat turns reddish-brown.
Start testing your bacon for the desired texture immediately after it begins to turn brown. Do not let it turn too dark, for it might become bitter.
Moisture
Raw bacon, in most cases, will leave a slimy residue on your hands. However, when fully cooked, bacon is almost entirely dry.
After draining the slices on paper towels, your bacon should be perfectly crispy and light.
Pay Attention to the Grease
The amount of grease the bacon has released can also tell you whether it’s ready or not.
If your bacon is adequately cooked, it will be soaked in grease. The grease is mainly from the fat of the bacon slices.
At this point, your bacon also tastes nice, having cooked in its own fat.
You will also know it’s time to flip over the bacon when a white foamy grease covers every side.
Immediately the grease begins to disappear, it’s a signal that you need to remove your bacon from the griddle.
Essential Tips for Cooking Bacon on a Griddle
Use a high-quality tong that won’t scratch your bacon. Scratches can cause excess grease to drain back into the bacon as it cooks.
If your griddle has enough cooking surface, you can cut your bacon into halves. Doing so allows them to cook faster while maximizing the available griddle space.
Ensure that your griddle can accommodate the whole length of your bacon. Also, do not add more rashers than the cooktop can take to prevent overlapping. Overcrowding and overlapping prevent proper crisping.
Properly-cooked bacon should have a 160 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature. Use a food thermometer to check the temperatures when your bacon begins to turn crispy and reddish-brown.
It isn’t easy to achieve crispiness when bacon cooks on too much fat. Ensure that your flat-top grill effectively drains the excess bacon grease.
Do not use oil when cooking bacon. It has enough fat, which melts as it gets hot.
When cooking bacon, take proper safety precautions to prevent burns. Bacon releases a lot of fat which can spatter when exposed to high heat. It is recommendable to use protective gloves and remove excess grease from the cooktop.
You can save your used bacon grease to cook or add flavor to other dishes.
It is preferable to reheat your bacon on a griddle rather than a microwave. A griddle helps preserve the texture and taste of your rashers.
The optimal temperature for cooking bacon on a griddle is 325 degrees Fahrenheit. And the maximum is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It should never go beyond that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a griddle suitable for cooking bacon?
A griddle is the best for cooking bacon, especially when you want to cook for the whole family. The large cooking surface allows you to cook many portions of bacon at once. However, if you only intend to cook a piece of single bacon, you can still use a frying pan.
How long do you cook bacon on a griddle?
For bacon to cook perfectly, it takes around 10 minutes. This time is if you are cooking a thin rasher. However, you may need to increase the time to 15 minutes for thicker rashers.
What temp does bacon cook at on a griddle?
For your bacon to cook perfectly, use a temperature of about 325 degrees F. However, don’t forget to start slow and then gradually increase.
How do you know when is Bacon cooked?
The color will change from pink to brown for fully-cooked bacon. The grease will also have evaporated away for that crispy texture. However, you can still remove it when it’s chewy if you so desire.
Wrapping it Up
Cooking bacon on a griddle produces one of the most crispy delicacies. The good thing is that a griddle allows you to cook many batches at once.
Remember to pay much attention to the temperature as you cook to avoid overcooking your bacon. It’s essential that you begin low and gradually increase the temperature to medium.
Remember also that bacon on a griddle cooks pretty fast. In 10 minutes, you should have your bacon ready.