5 Bacon Grill Press Benefits for Perfect Bacon Every Time
A bacon press keeps bacon flat, cooks evenly, reduces splatter, and speeds up cooking, offering versatility and convenience in the kitchen.
Unlike other kinds of meat, bacon can be particularly tricky to cook evenly. It likes to curl up, leaving a weird combination of crispiness and chewiness.
Instead of dealing with the guesswork of trying to cook the perfect bacon, let’s take a look at a tool that can solve the problem. That tool is the bacon grill press.
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What Is A Bacon Grill Press?
There’s no denying that bacon is delicious, but cooking it can be a bit of a hassle. The meat is sliced into pretty thin strips, often resulting in waves forming as it comes into contact with heat. On top of that, bacon grease likes to dance around in the pan. Nobody wants to be splattered by hot bacon grease, so a solution is often needed.
You could put a lid on the skillet, but that doesn’t allow for evaporation or even cooking. And smoking bacon is an entirely different process.
A bacon grill press is a tool you can use to solve multiple problems. It looks something like a clothes iron but with a lot less bulk. Instead, the bacon press is made up of a handle and a flat, cast iron plate.
That plate works to keep your bacon flat as well as reduce dangerous grease splatter and bacon smoke. Basically, that means you end up with higher-quality cooking with less hassle. Using a bacon grill press may even save you some time!
How Is A Bacon Grill Press Helpful?
When the bacon you’re cooking is allowed to curl up, you can easily end up with bacon that is overcooked in some areas and undercooked in others.
A bacon press pushes the bacon down so that it lays flat against the bottom of the skillet. Consequently, all sections can cook at the same rate.
Because both the skillet and the bacon press will get hot, the bacon will also cook more quickly. That means families on the go or those who are cooking for a larger group won’t have to spend too much time in front of the hot stove.
How Do You Cook Bacon On A Bacon Grill Press?
Cooking with the help of a bacon grill press isn’t all that different from cooking without one. To begin with, you need to start with the right tools. Many will argue that you will get the best results by using a cast-iron skillet as well as a cast-iron bacon press.
According to Michigan State University, cast iron is a great nonstick solution, it’s highly durable, and it even adds some iron to your foods. That said, you can also use a steel pan with a steel or glass bacon press if you wish.
Here are the steps to cooking with a bacon grill press:
- To begin with, make sure that both your skillet and bacon press are clean and pre-seasoned if needed.
- While the temperature is at low heat, place the press into the pan for a minute or two so that both tools can heat up.
- Remove the press from the pan and add your bacon to the pan.
- Set the bacon press on top of the bacon for about a minute for each side.
- Set aside the bacon press and allow the bacon to continue cooking until it looks ready to eat.
Pros and Cons Of The Bacon Press
Before you decide to spend money on a new kitchen tool, it’s a good idea to know how it can be helpful and what downfalls might come with the product. When it comes to bacon grill presses, convenience is the name of the game. Using one allows for easier cooking.
Although not everyone will be concerned about how flat their bacon is as it cooks, many of us are aware of how volatile bacon can get when you’re cooking it in a skillet (especially if it’s tempeh, turkey, or candied).
A bacon press can reduce that volatility and ensure your bacon cooks the same way every time. That said, bacon presses are typically made of cast iron. This material tends to need more care than your standard nonstick cookware. As a result, bacon presses do need to be pre-seasoned and washed by hand only.
Bacon Grill Press Pros
- Helps bacon to cook evenly
- Reduces grease splattering
- Produces consistent results
- Versatility
- Faster cooking
Bacon Grill Press Cons
- Heavy
- Requires pre-seasoning
- Hand wash only
What Else Can A Bacon Grill Press Be Used For?
Even the largest kitchens have limited space, so it doesn’t usually make sense to purchase a tool just to complete one small task.
Many of the tools that typically show up in the kitchen space have multiple uses. Blenders, mixers, and even coffee makers can be used in a variety of different ways.
The bacon grill press is no different. Although its primary use is in cooking bacon more efficiently, it can also be used in many other ways. Things like quesadillas, paninis, and even vegetables can benefit from this tool.
Other uses for a bacon grill press include the following:
- Burgers (instead of a George Foreman grill)
- Steak
- Sausages
- Pork chops
- Quesadillas
- Seared vegetables
- Paninis (instead of a sandwich press)
What Can You Use Instead Of A Bacon Grill Press?
Naturally, a bacon grill press is ideal because it’s specifically designed for bacon. However, if you don’t have a bacon grill press, or just want to see what kinds of results you could get from flattening your bacon, there are other tools you can use.
The following tools can be used to achieve similar results to a bacon grill press:
- Other types of grill presses. Many presses are built similarly. Those who don’t have a bacon grill press can also use a regular grill press, Chef’s press, or a hamburger press. The biggest requirement is that the press is heavy enough to keep the bacon down.
- Cold water. Before cooking, you can try dipping your bacon in cold water. This can assist in keeping the bacon flattened. Just make sure that the water is extremely cold.
- A wire rack. Wire racks are often a great choice to use in the oven. By laying out your bacon strips on top of one, you can help it to cook evenly and allow the grease to drip into the pan beneath.
Is A Grill Press Worth It?
You certainly don’t need a bacon grill press to cook and enjoy some bacon. That said, having one can make the experience better.
Not only can a bacon press create better results, it also allows your bacon to cook more quickly. On top of that, there are multiple uses available for a bacon press that make it more cost-efficient to own.
For evenly-cooked meats, perfectly crisp quesadillas, and warm panini sandwiches, it’s worthwhile to add a bacon grill press to your kitchen equipment.
