Trystan Casey
Frying bacon in an electric skillet is a convenient and effective way to cook this popular breakfast food. Electric skillets offer even heating across their flat surfaces, ensuring your bacon is cooked consistently with crispy edges. They also allow you to cook in batches, reducing the number of dishes used and making cleanup easier. With adjustable temperature settings, you can easily customize your bacon, from soft to crispy, and the presence of splash guards helps prevent grease splatters. Electric skillets are a simple and efficient way to cook bacon, offering versatility and control for delicious results every time.
Frying bacon in an electric skillet
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Set between 325°F and 375°F, depending on how crispy you want your bacon |
| Bacon placement | Place bacon strips flat on the griddle, ensuring they do not overlap |
| Spatula | Use a griddle spatula to flip the bacon |
| Press | Use a press to prevent bacon from curling up, or use the flat part of your spatula to apply pressure |
| Cleaning | Clean the griddle after use if it won't be used for a few months |
| Batches | Cook bacon in batches to avoid dirtying multiple skillets |
| Equipment | Use a wide electric griddle with consistent and even heating |
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What You'll Learn
Temperature settings for crispy bacon
Electric skillets are ideal for cooking bacon because they offer even heat distribution, a large cooking surface, precise temperature control, and easy cleanup.
To cook crispy bacon in an electric skillet, preheat the skillet to a temperature between 350°F and 375°F. This temperature range will give you crispy bacon with a tender texture. If you prefer your bacon chewier, set the temperature lower, around 250°F. For crispy and crunchy bacon, opt for a higher heat setting of around 375°F.
The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon and your desired level of crispiness. Thicker bacon slices will require a longer cooking time, regardless of the temperature setting. In general, cooking bacon on an electric skillet should take between 10 and 15 minutes. To check if the bacon is done, look at its color—it should be golden brown and free of pink or raw meat.
Some electric skillets have temperature settings labelled as low, medium, and high, while others have a degree Fahrenheit temperature control setting. If your skillet has a temperature knob, adjust it to 325°F or medium heat for a balance between tenderness and crispiness.
Monitor the bacon as it cooks and adjust the temperature as needed to achieve your desired level of crispiness.
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Using a griddle spatula
First, ensure your bacon pieces fit on the griddle. Avoid overcrowding by leaving space between each strip, as this allows heat to circulate and ensures even cooking. You can cut the bacon pieces in half if needed to make them fit better and avoid overlapping. A crowded griddle will result in unevenly cooked bacon, with some pieces overcooked and others undercooked.
Next, place the bacon strips flat on the griddle. It is recommended to use a pair of tongs for this step to avoid burning your hands. Ensure the griddle is set to the desired temperature, typically between 300 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on how crispy you want your bacon. For crispy bacon, a higher temperature is preferred, while softer bacon is achieved at lower temperatures.
As the bacon cooks, use your griddle spatula to turn the pieces over frequently so they cook evenly on both sides. Be cautious to avoid burning yourself, as bacon releases a lot of grease, which can splatter. If the fat is accumulating on the griddle, use your spatula to scrape it away and into the oil reservoir. You may need to do this multiple times during the cooking process.
Finally, when the bacon is crisped to your liking, use your griddle spatula to transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels or a brown paper bag to absorb excess grease. This step ensures the bacon sheds some of its fat and doesn't end up too greasy.
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Avoiding grease splatters
To avoid grease splatters when frying bacon in an electric skillet, follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure you are using the right equipment. A splatter screen will let steam escape while catching the grease pops, so consider investing in one of these. Alternatively, use a deeper dish, such as a 4+ quart pan, and cover it with a metal screen. Some electric skillets even come with splash guards to protect you from grease splatters.
Before you start cooking, ensure your food is dry. One of the things that can cause splatter is when water or ice hits the oil, so make sure your ingredients are as dry as possible before placing them in the skillet. For example, if you are cooking frozen fries, let them sit out for 10-20 minutes before frying them. For fresh potatoes, pat them dry.
When cooking bacon, you can also reduce splatter by pouring the grease out of the skillet after frying the bacon. Store the bacon grease in the refrigerator after it has cooled for around 30 minutes to an hour. Then, when you are ready to cook your eggs, put the skillet back on the burner and add them to the pan. You don't need much grease to fry an egg, so this will help to reduce splatter.
Finally, be mindful of the temperature you are cooking at. To get a good high-temperature cook and the browning that adds flavor, some splatter is unavoidable. If you are happy to sacrifice a little browning, cook at a lower temperature.
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Cooking bacon in batches
If you're cooking a lot of bacon, it's best to cook it in batches. This way, you avoid dirtying multiple skillets or sheet trays. An electric griddle is ideal for this, as its large surface area can fit about two pounds of bacon at once.
Before you start, make sure your griddle is set to the right temperature. The ideal temperature for cooking bacon is between 325°F and 375°F. If you like your bacon crispy, set the temperature to 375°F. For softer bacon, set it to between 325°F and 350°F. You can test if the griddle is hot enough by sprinkling a few drops of water on the surface. If they sizzle, you're good to go.
Now, place your bacon strips on the griddle, ensuring they don't overlap. If your bacon starts to curl up, use the flat part of your spatula to press it down for a few seconds. When flipping your bacon after the first 4-5 minutes, you may need to move the pieces around so they cook evenly.
If you're cooking bacon in batches, it's a good idea to clean your griddle and apply a fresh coat of seasoning afterward, especially if you're not planning on using it for a few months.
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Cleaning and seasoning the griddle
Before cleaning your griddle, make sure to consult the owner's manual as different materials require different cleaning methods. It's important to clean your griddle regularly to prevent potential buildup. A light cleanse after each use is best, followed by a deep cleanse once per week or as necessary.
- While the griddle is still warm, use a flat metal spatula to scrape off excess debris. Ensure that the flat edge of the spatula is flat against the surface to avoid scratching it. Scrape back and forth, then sweep the crumbs into the catch tray.
- Pour water (or water with a drop of dish soap) over the griddle surface and let it boil. This will loosen the greasy buildup.
- Set a folded paper towel on the wet griddle and place the flat metal spatula on top of it. Scrub back and forth to remove the dirty water and debris. Repeat the previous step and this one if needed.
- Remove the catch tray and wash it in the sink.
- Dry the griddle and wipe it down with a paper towel.
If you're not planning on using your griddle for a few months, it's a good idea to apply a fresh coat of seasoning. To do this, heat up the griddle and brush a light layer of oil onto the cooking surface before wiping off any excess. Seasoning your griddle can help protect and maintain its non-stick coating and prevent food from sticking.
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Frequently asked questions
The temperature of the electric griddle should be set between 325°F and 375°F. For crispy bacon, set the temperature to 375°F, and for softer bacon, set it to 325°F–350°F.
Sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface. If they sizzle, the griddle is ready.
Use a griddle press to prevent the bacon from curling up while cooking. Alternatively, use the long flat part of your spatula to apply some pressure to the curling areas for a few seconds.
Clean the griddle with a fresh coat of seasoning using your favourite seasoning oil, such as avocado oil.
