Bacon is the king of food. As a fresh, crispy yet chewy side for breakfast, a great add on and element of crunch in burgers, as a topping in pastas and even in salads, there are a hundred ways to make use of this extremely delicious food item. As popular as it is, it is a little tricky to cook bacon. Everyone has a different preference and if you know your bacon, you will know how you like your bacon. Through this article, we tell you how to cook bacon like an absolute expert on a griddle.

Tips To Cook Bacon On A Griddle

Know your bacon griddle:

If you ask barbecue experts, they will say griddle is a great way to cook bacon. The griddle can vary from anything between a griddle pan, skillet, a flat top or an electric griddle. You can cook perfectly delicious bacon goodness on any of these. Make sure you pick one that can accomodate the amount of bacon that you are about to cook. Overfilling the griddle may lead to uneven cooking.

Know how you want your bacon:

There is no one way to cook bacon perfectly. Everyone likes their bacon differently. If you ask a bunch of enthusiasts what’s the best way to cook bacon, there will immediately be an argument where half of them would say crispy, while half would disagree and go on to say how good chewy bacon is. It depends on your taste.

Customize your bacon cooking on a griddle:

If you are just trying to cook up a few crunchy bits for breakfast, frying is the best way to go. Pick up a griddle and since bacon is so fatty in itself, throw in some wood quality bacon and wait for it to turn nice reddish brown and crispy. You can also do this on a frying pan or any kind of griddle. But if you are hosting a brunch or so, and if you have to feed quite a few people, you better be prepared prepared with a flat top. You can’t probably have four pans on heat simultaneously to cook some bacon. If that’s the case, take a baking tray, cover it with a baking sheet and throw it in the oven with some bacon. Might not be as perfect as an oven top, but it still cooks pretty impressively.

How to get that crispy goodness:

There are a few things you can keep in mind while cooking your bacon crispy. Make sure that your griddle is big enough to house all the bacon you are cooking because if the entire length of bacon isn’t contained, it won’t cook evenly. Also, don’t overstuff your griddle. The bacon should breathe and dance on it. This way you can ensure its perfectly crispy.

The right temperature:

Many are confused about what’s the right temperature to cook bacon at. As per popular opinion, you need to place the griddle on a temperature slightly higher than medium. Cooking the bacon at fierce heat can escalate quickly and the fat bacon produces may split from the pan at a high temperature. Aim for temperature anywhere from 325-375F for nice, crispy rashers. Firstly, the bacon won’t cook too quickly and move on to the overcooked stage. Secondly, it gets enough, balanced heat to be cooked.

Other tips:

Another hack that you can absolutely bank on is the turning of the bacon. If you can manage to quickly turn the bacon inside the griddle, it will get a much even crispness on all sides. However, you don’t have to go all Masterchef with the bacon and burn your hands. Use a big spoon to do it. Another important element is the fat from the bacon. So, unless you are cooking at an outdoor griddle where the fat gets dried away fast, remove at least half of the bacon fat right away. Cooking the bacon in all of its fat may lead to non-crispy, fat-soaked bacon. Make sure you drain away at least half of the fat halfway into cooking. Another pro tip would be not to pour the fat down the sink. It cools down and solidifies, thus causing a blockage.

Also Read:- How to Cook Steak on a Griddle?

Oiling the griddle:

You don’t have to apply any extra oil or fat on the griddle to cook bacon. Bacon is the best fatty cut meat out there and it’s meant to produce fat for it to cook as the griddle heats up. Putting oil on the griddle may actually backfire, since the over-fat can stop bacon from crisping up nicely. In fact, many a times, you don’t even require all of the fat produced by the bacon.

How long does it take to cook:

In medium heat, you need to allow the bacon to be cooked for 10 minutes if it’s a thin rashers. As the thickness of the rashers increases, you need to give more and more time for the bacon. Turn your bacon frequently to get an even crispness all over. Certain griddles may take longer to heat up, depending the look of the bacon and the aroma spreading in the kitchen, keep cooking.

To know when the bacon is ready:

In a black and white world, using a food thermometer and inserting that into the meat to check if it’s a 160 Fahrenheit or more is the right way to check if the meat is cooked. That isn’t very practical with thin cuts of bacon. You have to trust your instincts and visual understanding to determine the readiness of the bacon. If it’s becoming crispy and brown quickly, it’s ready to be taken off the heat.

• How To Clean an Electric Griddle

Best bacon griddle:

There are plenty of options in the market, but any griddle that’s capable of heating up enough to cook bacon can be your bacon griddle. However, a stainless steel electric griddle that can soak up the extra fat as you cook your bacon can save you a lot of troubles. This way, you can cook your bacon effortlessly.

You can check these posts:-

• Top 15 Best Electric Griddles
• Top 5 Best Outdoor Electric Grills

Cooking the perfect steak is all about paying respect to the meat and cooking it to perfection. This article guides you in choosing your equipment, cut of meat and oil; all of which contribute to a perfectly cooked steak. Always respecting the produce is the key for a juicy, tender steak.

What is a Griddle?

Cooking on a griddle is an excellent option when you are looking to cook healthy steaks with less oil or butter. As a matter of fact, you can cook all kinds of food on a griddle with very less oil or no oil. Unlike a barbeque, you have fewer chances of burning your meat.

• Top 15 Best Electric Griddles in the World
• Top 3 Best Presto Electric Griddles

Choosing your griddle

Choosing a griddle is as important as choosing the cut of meat which is discussed further below. Depending on your requirements you can go for a traditional griddle or an electric griddle.

• A traditional griddle is a single plate of cast iron which you can put on your gas stove. Smaller models use one burner and larger griddles use two burners. The size of the griddle usually depends on your requirements. Larger griddles are perfect to cook meat and fish that doesn’t fit in any other pan like a salmon or a skirt steak or a feather steak.
• An electric griddle is cast iron or cast aluminum plates which are heated by an electrical source from under the griddle. You have the option to remove the griddle for easy cleaning. Electric griddles also come with adjustable thermostats.
• The materials your traditional griddle is made of is very important when it comes to cooking a steak. An ideal choice would be cast iron or stainless steel since they allow for even heat distribution and are corrosion resistant. If you opt for enameled versions, you get the added advantage of being easy maintenance.

Choosing your cut

Now that you have chosen your griddle, you need to choose the perfect cut that is tender and flavourful. There are dozens of different cuts which are used for cooking a steak. The flavor profile depends on different factors like grass-fed or farmed beef and if the muscle is well used or rarely used.

The famous steak cuts are sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, tenderloin and New York strip. The cuts chosen for steak depends on the marbling in the beef. Marbling is the presence of intramuscular fat present in the meat.

Butter or olive oil or groundnut oil

While butter or olive oil seems to the famous options among chefs to cook the steak in, groundnut oil has also entered the race recently. Chefs like Gordon Ramsay highly recommend groundnut oil due to its tendency to withstand high temperature. But some more traditional chefs like Jamie Oliver still go for butter. You can replace butter with olive oil and you can enjoy the best of the healthy fats present in olive oil.

>>  How To Clean an Electric Griddle

How to Cook Steak on a Griddle?

Things you need to Cook steak:

• Griddle
• Marinade or dry seasoning
• Pepper
• Garlic
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Tongs
• Meat Thermometer
• Aluminum Foil

Before you start:

• If your steak is refrigerated, you need to bring it to room temperature. Set it on the counter for a minimum of 20 minutes. The meat should be brought down approximately 70-degree Fahrenheit.
• Heat a griddle pan on medium-high until it is evenly hot and smoking. Don’t apply oil on the griddle.

Steps to Cook Steak:

1.  Dry the steak with a paper towel to remove the excess moisture. Lightly apply olive oil on both the sides of the steak and rub the marinade on the steak.

A. The marinade can be a dry seasoning mix.

B. If you are not a fan of marinades, you can use freshly ground pepper and salt on the steak.

2. Carefully place the steak on the griddle and cook it for 2 – 3 minutes on one side. Resist the temptation to lift and check the steak.

3. Once the steak lifts off the griddle, use tongs to flip it over. If desired, brush the steak with more olive oil.

4. The timings depend on the cut of the meat and also thickness. Standard timings for each side are as below:

A. Rare – 90 minutes each side and 140°F

B. Medium Rare – 2 minutes each side and 150°F

C. Medium – 2 ½ minutes each side and 160°F

D. Well done – 3 minutes each side

5. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak.

6. Once the desired level of doneness is achieved, remove the steak from the griddle pan with tongs. Your steak should be tender with grill marks seared on both sides.

7. Wrap the steak lightly with aluminum foil and set it aside to rest for 10 minutes. The juices settle down in the steak making it juicy and tender. The temperature rises a few degrees when resting.

8. After the resting time, pull out the steak and season it.

9. Your steak is ready to be served.

Tips for Perfect Steak Cooking:

Here are a few pro-tips to achieve the perfect juicy steak which just melts in your mouth.

1. The steak should be brought to room temperature or cold meat will contract and get tough during the cooking process.
2. You can check if the griddle is hot enough by placing a drop of water on the pan. If the water sizzles and rolls away, your griddle is ready.
3. If you are using just ground pepper, add garlic silvers and apply oil with a herb brush for a depth of flavor.
4. If you are using a sugar-based marinade don’t forget to wipe off the excess marinade before cooking.
5. Try to plan ahead of time and marinate the steak overnight in your refrigerator.
6. Always apply oil on the meat and not on the griddle. If your griddle has raised grids, the oil stays in the grooves just smoking and not contributing to the cooking process.
7. Don’t cook more than two steaks at a time. This reduces the temperature of the griddle considerably which is not ideal for a perfect steak.
8. Always use tongs to turn the meat not your fork.
9. Always set the meat to rest before slicing the meat.

Related:-

• Top 5 Best Electric Grills for Steaks
• Top 5 Best Electric Griddles for Camping

Electric Griddle is fast becoming one of the most sought-after appliances for the kitchen. The reason being the versatility and the compatibility. It is lightweight and portable which makes it a perfect camping accessory too. You can fry, make pancakes and cook the perfect juicy steak with your electric griddle. The material used in the electric griddle can be either aluminum or stainless steel. Most of the latest releases come with non-stick coating and are dishwasher safe.

Read >> Top 15 Best Electric Griddles in the World

However electric griddles can be finicky to clean and this is a pet peeve for many. In reality with some careful handling, it is easy to clean. Don’t let it stop you from enjoying some outdoor grilling.

Methods To Clean an Electric Griddle

Follow the steps listed for you and you can make an easy work of cleaning even those burnt out food stuck to the griddle.

Method 1: Sponge and Soapy Water

Things needed:

• Hot water
• Dishwashing liquid
• Sponge
• Paper towels
• Few clean clothes

How to clean

1. Make sure your griddle is disconnected from power and cool to touch before you clean. Griddles can get very hot and can harm you badly if handled improperly.
2. Remove the oily substances from the surface of the griddle with the help of a paper towel. Clear away as much as possible by lightly rubbing it.
3. Gently pour hot water on the griddle and add some dishwashing liquid.
4. Take a sponge and rub the griddle surface to clean the burnt food particles and gunk stuck to the plate.
5. Dry the griddle as much as possible and clean the sponge.
6. Pour more hot water onto the griddle and add dishwashing liquid.
7. Use a clean sponge to clean the surface gently. This will remove the leftover burnt food particles.
8. Once the gunk is all removed, rinse the griddle plate to remove any traces of the dishwashing liquid. You are left with a shiny looking griddle that looks like brand new.
9. Use a dry cloth or a paper towel and wipe down the griddle.
10. Dry out the electric griddle completely before plugging it in.

Method 2: Spatula Method For hardened grease

Things needed:

• Warm Soap solution
• Sponge
• Clean Clothes
• Metal Spatula
• Heat resistant gloves

How to Clean

1. Turn your griddle on low heat and watch the grease heat up.
2. Once the grease is hot and loosened up, use a flat headed spatula and gently scrape off the grease. Wear a heat resistant gloves is this step. You can cause serious harm to yourself if you handle your griddle improperly.
3. Make sure you stand at a distance from your electric griddle when you are using the spatula.
4. Once the excess grease is removed, switch off the electric griddle.
5. Unplug the electric griddle from the power source and let it cool.
6. If your griddle still contains hard grease, fill the griddle with warm soap solution and let it sit for 30 minutes.
7. Use a sponge dipped in a warm soap solution to clean any grease left.
8. Wipe the entire griddle with a clean cloth to remove the watermarks.
9. Use a clean cloth soaked in cold water and go over the griddle gently. This removes the air marks from your griddle.
10. Repeat the previous step for three or four times. And your electric griddle shines brand new.

Method 3: Vinegar and Baking Soda

Things Needed

• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Sponge
• Soap Solution

How to Clean

1. Unplug the unit and let it cool. Electric Griddle can get really hot, so the unit should be let to cool down completely before touching it.
2. If your griddle has a removable griddle surface, remove the griddle plate from the unit for easy cleaning.
3. Soak the griddle plate in warm soapy water for 15 minutes.
4. Use a sponge to clean the griddle surface. Use some pressure to wipe the stubborn bits.
5. If your electric griddle doesn’t have a removable plate, dip the sponge in a solution made of one part white vinegar and two parts of water and wring it completely.
6. Use the sponge to wipe the grease off the griddle plate. Exposing any electrical components to the cleaning agent can damage the unit.
7. If you encounter any stubborn grease, apply a paste made of baking soda and warm water. Use a paper towel or a sponge to gently wipe the baking soda and the grease from the griddle surface.
8. Clean the sponge clean of any trace of vinegar or baking soda.
9. Use the clean sponge to wipe any vinegar and baking soda left on the griddle.
10. Don’t forget to clean the drips from the electric component and let the unit air dry off any excess moisture.

Method 4: Grease Cutting Soap + Soak

Things Needed

• Warm Water
• Grease Cutting Soap
• Nylon Scrubber
• Paper Towel

How to Clean

1. Unplug your equipment and let it cool slightly. Also, remove the plug from the connector port.
2. Fill a sink with hot water and grease cutting soap.
3. Submerge the griddle so that the connector port is outside the water. Let it soak for 20 minutes.
4. Use a nylon scrubber or a dishcloth to wipe the surface. After the soak, you can see even the stubborn bits falling off.
5. Turn over the electric griddle and clean the outside for any drips.
6. Use a clean towel to dry off the griddle and set it to air dry for any water that has entered the connector port to drip off.
7. During the entire process, make sure the water doesn’t enter the connector port.

Tips for an effective use of the electric griddle

Electric Griddle may be easy to use and clean in the best of the circumstances but there are certain things which you need to avoid.

• Don’t use steel wool or abrasive scrubber.
• Don’t use dishwasher unless otherwise mentioned.
• Don’t expose any electrical connections to the water.
• If you are using a non-stick skillet make sure you use a nylon scrubber, nonabrasive sponge, a dish towel or a paper towel to clean.

Though cleaning stubborn bits need patience, Electric Griddle is relatively easy to clean. For a long-lasting griddle, clean right after cooking before the grease has time to settle down. The grease is always to easier clean right after the cooking.

Related:-

• Top 5 Best Electric Griddles for Camping
• Top 5 Best Indoor Electric Grills