I’ll admit it, there are few foods I love more than a few strips of delicious cooked bacon.
Not only does it taste fantastic on its own, but it works perfectly as part of many great meals.
Want to enhance your burger? Add bacon.
Want to add some crunch to your salad? Add bacon.
Want to round-off a cooked breakfast? You’ve got it – add bacon!
When it comes to cooking bacon, the most common way to do it is by using a frying pan on the stovetop.
However, in my opinion, a better way to cook bacon is by using a griddle.
If you normally use a frying pan, you may be wondering how to cook bacon on a griddle.
Well, it’s pretty easy and there are only a few steps. It’s not so different from using a frying pan either!
Can You Cook Bacon on a Griddle?
Given the title of this guide, it should go without saying that, yup, you can certainly cook bacon on a griddle. And, to make it an even better choice, it’s safer and less messy than using a frying pan.
This is because the high-fat content of bacon promotes a lot of grease splatter when it’s cooking in a frying pan.
Since the bacon grease has nowhere else to go, the meat cooking in the grease puddles can cause it to pop and splatter. Hence the funny phrase “never cook bacon naked”.
But, this splattering can cause burns, so while it can be funny, serious oil burns are not.
On the other hand, many griddles are sloped so that bacon grease pools in an oil resevoir, making splattering less of a problem.
Not only does this design make cooking bacon in a griddle safer, but the bacon can be crispier too since it’s not soaked in so much grease. This is great if you’re a fan of extra crispy bacon.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Bacon on a Griddle?
The time it takes for the bacon to cook depends on a few things like how thick the bacon is, what temperature you’re cooking the bacon at, and your personal preference on the crispiness of the bacon.
I recommend keeping the temperature between 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit if possible, however.
This means that it should take anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes for the bacon to be cooked on a griddle. Ideally, it should be cooked until the temperature of the bacon reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. But you can also just eyeball it and cook it until it reaches your desired state. Just make sure it’s not still pink.
Let’s say though, you have extra-thick bacon and you like it extra-crispy, it may take 15 minutes or even longer, depending on just how thick and crispy you like your bacon.
However, if the bacon isn’t thick at all and you don’t like it crispy at all, then it could take only 10 minutes. These are just some things to keep in mind when planning your meal.
How to Cook Bacon on a Griddle
Now let’s get into the real stuff, how to cook bacon on a griddle. All you’re gonna need is a pair of tongs, your bacon, a griddle (and maybe a spatula). If you’re on the cautious side, you can also take out a meat thermometer if you’re worried about that.
Step 1
To start, you’re first going to want to preheat the griddle to between 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit. A good test of this is to see if the water sizzles when you sprinkle it on the griddle’s surface.
If you’re going to be cooking other things for the meal (scrambled eggs, toast, burgers, salad, etc.) then you should also get them ready too.
This is because bacon cooks pretty quickly.
While you may think that 10-15 minutes isn’t too quick, remember it takes time to add each piece of bacon to the griddle and you should be actively cooking the bacon – flipping the bacon over frequently.
Step 2
Once you’re ready to rumble, using a pair of tongs, carefully lay each bacon strip on the griddle. Using tongs versus another makeshift tool like a fork will make it much easier and protect your hands.
When you place the strips of bacon, make sure the griddle isn’t crowded and there is space between each bacon piece.
If it’s too crowded then the bacon won’t cook evenly. Some pieces may be undercooked while some are too crispy or even burnt.
Also, make sure that the bacon isn’t hanging over the edge of the griddle either.
Step 3
Now, allow the bacon to cook.
Whilst it’s cooking, use the tongs to frequently flip over the pieces so they are evenly cooked on both sides.
If you see that the fat is pooling, use the spatula to scrape it away from the bacon and into the oil reservoir/drip tray. You don’t need to scrape away all of it, just the excess grease.
Step 4
Cook the bacon until it’s reached the desired crispiness or it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, whatever you prefer. I just tend to eyeball it myself. I like it just until the white lines of fat are translucent and just before it starts to get too crispy. But if it’s still pink, it may be undercooked, which should be avoided.
After the bacon’s been cooked, place all of the pieces on a plat that has a paper towel on it. The paper towel does a good job of absorbing any excess grease. There will be a lot of residual fat in the drip tray.
While the easiest thing to do is to pour it down the drain, don’t do it! This could have a very bad effect on your plumbing. When the fat cools it will solidify and can block up your sink.
You should either throw it away by first putting it into a disposable vessel and then into the trash. Or, alternatively, you can keep it for future cooking. It’s a great way to add some interesting flavor in some dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Temperature to Cook Bacon on a Griddle?
Generally, the best temperature to cook bacon on a griddle is medium heat or just above medium heat. In terms of temperature, this is between 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Tell When Bacon is Properly Cooked
This depends on how worried you are about undercooking your bacon.
It seems that many people, myself included, just eyeball it and stop cooking it when it reaches the desired crispiness.
But, a good rule of thumb if you don’t have a meat thermometer is to cook it until the white lines of fat turn translucent. If you do have a thermometer, then the bacon should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is Cooking Bacon on a Griddle Better Than a Frying Pan?
It generally comes down to personal preference.
But, when cooking bacon on a griddle, you can help prevent one of the most annoying things about cooking bacon: splattering.
Since most griddles have a reservoir that the fat can drain into, it reduces the amount of grease splattering.
What Should You Do With Leftover Bacon Fat?
If you happen to have a non-plastic container that can safely hold hot fat, then it can be ideal to save the bacon fat. It can be a great cooking oil that adds a lot of extra flavors.
A glass jar can work great for this. Then store it in the fridge and scoop out some later when you want to use it.