Easy Way to Cook Bacon

I have tried cooking bacon just about every way imaginable.

Do you have an easy way to cook bacon?

Here is what I found:

While I feel that using a skillet is the fastest way to cook bacon, I was looking for some other way to cook the bacon.



I see where folks say that the best way to cook bacon is in the oven. I use a toaster oven rather than heating the big oven.  My toaster oven just smokes when broiling.

A few years ago, I replace my George Foreman Grill (which I loved) with a new fancy model.  It was still a George Foreman.  I am not happy with this new grill.  It just would not cook stuff right though now by trying to cook bacon, I found what is wrong.



The first morning, it took me an hour to cook the bacon.

I learned a lot about the grill that morning.  The problem with it is that it appears it is not cooking at the temperature I set it at.

I now have gotten the actual cooking time down to 20 min.  This may seem much longer than cooking in a skillet though this frees me to be able to do other things.



Here is what I do:

I plug the unit in and set it at the highest temperature which is 425' then I set the time for the maximum time setting which is 20 minutes.

I let the grill heat for 10 minutes before putting the bacon on the grill.  Then I let the bacon cook for 10 minutes and flip the bacon over.  Another 10 minutes and I have perfect bacon!

What I like best is the grease drains into the drip tray and is easy to dispose of.




Here are some threads that are all about bacon for you to enjoy:

https://permies.com/t/12218/kitchen/Cooking-bacon-cast-iron-skillet
https://permies.com/t/32737/kitchen/Bacon-Wrapped-Meat-Loaf-Brown
https://permies.com/t/12436/kitchen/Meaty-cinnamon-rolls-bacon
https://permies.com/t/13813/kitchen/Bacon-Canning-walk

It takes me about 12 mins total to cook bacon.
Bacon - and eggs, and fish - are all part of the original "fast food". You can do fish, or eggs, or bacon, and have the entire meal, including side dishes, cooked in less than 20 minutes. Many times in less than 15 if you're fast (which I'm not).

Heat up a pan for 2 mins (med-high), lay the bacon in it (keep pan on med-low), flip after 5 mins, done. 12 mins from turning on pan. If you're having eggs, they can cook in the same pan at the same time, unless you have to much grease in the pan from too much bacon.

Here are two things I do differently from you, that are a matter of personal preference:

First, you are *way* overcooking the bacon. I like my bacon much softer. If you prefer it crunchy, fine! But if you are cooking it like that because you think it's neccessary for food safety or because it's the "right way" you were taught, just know you're cooking it alot crispier than many others do.

Second, you're dumping out the grease?! That stuff is gold, man! Yes, you want to drain it, but I keep mason jars of bacon grease near the stove for use instead of cooking oils when greasing pans for eggs, potatoes, and etc...

I actually freeze jars of bacon fat, duck fat, chicken fat, turkey fat, etc... for use in cooking. Small amounts of it can really add a great amount of flavor for food, and is potentially healthier than vegetable oils (though I use oils if I don't have fat).

I have to once again plug the Emeril pressure cooker/air fryer. It is perfect for bacon. No cleaning grease off of the entire range because it is self-contained. It cooks in 8-9 minutes for standard thickness bacon. I hate blubbery fat, so I like it crispy. And it amazed me how it is crispy and soft at the same time, if that makes sense. If you like it blubbery, it would only take 5-6 minutes to cook. Before this, I found the best way was on my wood-fired grill. My parents have a press-style cooker like you have and they like it as well.

They also make a tray for a microwave that cooks bacon fast.  Anyway you cook it, bacon is wonderful.
Bacon is a food group.
Bacon is like duct tape for the kitchen, (it will fix anything).

Guess I'm set in my ways, but I cook my bacon in the oven on a sheet pan.  It goes in first while I finish the other breakfast items on the stove or in the oven at the same time.  Takes about 20 mins to cook bacon to my preferred crispness.  I cooked in a commercial kitchen for 14 years cooking up to 15 pounds of bacon at a time and in the oven is the only way to go, at least for me.  I cook it this way at home too.  Usually cook enough at once for several mornings.  I certainly agree with saving your bacon grease.  Wonderful stuff.

Jordan Holland wrote:I have to once again plug the Emeril pressure cooker/air fryer. It is perfect for bacon. No cleaning grease off of the entire range because it is self-contained. It cooks in 8-9 minutes for standard thickness bacon. .

Sam's Club had Emeril's air fryer on sale a few weeks back. And I wanted one so bad.

Maybe one of these days our daughter will show up with the air fryer she wanted to get me for Mother's Day.

That is why I started using the George Foreman grill!