How to Cook Perfect Bacon on Your Cuisinart Griddler

As someone who loves a good breakfast, cooking bacon is an essential skill in my kitchen. There’s nothing quite like starting your day with a plate full of crispy, savory bacon. But cooking bacon on the stovetop can be messy and splattery. The grease pops everywhere, making a huge mess to clean up afterwards.

I discovered that using my Cuisinart griddler is the perfect way to cook bacon without all the mess and splatter. The enclosed plates keep all the grease contained while the bacon cooks to crispy perfection. I no longer have to deal with a grease-splattered stovetop after cooking up a batch of bacon.

If you have a Cuisinart griddler, you can easily cook restaurant-quality bacon at home. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to cook perfect bacon on your Cuisinart griddler every time.

Benefits of Cooking Bacon on a Cuisinart Griddler

Cooking bacon on a Cuisinart griddler has several advantages over using a frying pan on the stovetop

• No splattering grease The enclosed griddle plates prevent hot grease from splattering all over your stovetop and kitchen This keeps your cooking area cleaner and safer.

• Even cooking: The flat griddle plates cook the bacon evenly on both sides at once. No need to constantly flip and rotate the bacon.

• Consistent results The griddler cooks at a steady temperature so you get consistent results every time Stovetop cooking can lead to unevenly cooked bacon

• Better flavor: The bacon fat stays in the griddler as it cooks, infusing the bacon with more flavor. The enclosed design allows the bacon to fry in its own delicious grease.

• Multitasking: You can cook other components of your breakfast, like eggs or pancakes, on the griddler at the same time.

• Efficient: You can cook a large batch of bacon quickly on the spacious griddle plates. Much faster than cooking in a single frying pan.

• Compact design: The griddler takes up minimal counter space for such a versatile appliance. Easy to store when not in use.

Using a Cuisinart griddler just makes cooking bacon simpler, less messy, and more consistent.

How to Choose the Best Bacon for Griddling

You can cook any type of sliced bacon on a Cuisinart griddler. However, I prefer thick-cut bacon when using a griddler. Thinner bacon slices can overcook and burn quickly on the hot griddle plates.

Look for high-quality thick-cut bacon at your local grocery store or butcher shop. Bacon that is about 1/4 inch thick works perfectly. Some of my favorite varieties of thick-cut bacon include:

• Applewood smoked
• Peppered
• Maple flavored
• Honey cured
• Cherrywood smoked

Thick bacon holds up well on the griddle, crisping up nicely without burning or becoming too brittle. The meaty texture and full bacon flavor really shine through.

Avoid ultra-thin breakfast bacon, turkey bacon, or precooked bacon. These thinner and leaner bacons won’t griddle well and may overcook.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Bacon on a Cuisinart Griddler

Cooking bacon on your Cuisinart griddler is simple. Just follow these easy steps for perfect bacon every time.

1. Pre-Heat the Griddler

Turn on the griddler and allow it to preheat fully before adding the bacon. This allows the plates to heat up to the ideal cooking temperature.

Set the temperature dial to between medium and high heat. You want the griddle hot enough to crisp the bacon but not so hot that it burns.

Let the griddler preheat for 4-5 minutes until the indicator light goes off. The light indicates when it has reached set temperature.

2. Arrange the Bacon on the Plates

While the griddler preheats, arrange raw bacon slices on one or both griddle plates.

Lay the bacon slices flat in a single layer, making sure the slices don’t overlap. Overlapping can prevent even cooking.

You can arrange the bacon horizontally or vertically, whichever direction fits best. Just make sure the strips have a little space around them.

Tip: If cooking a large batch, you can use both griddle plates to speed up cooking time.

3. Cook the First Side

Once preheated, carefully slide the griddle plates onto the hot griddler. The bacon will immediately start sizzling and cooking.

Set a timer for 3-4 minutes to cook the first side. Avoid flipping the bacon too soon or it won’t crisp up.

You’ll see the bacon fat start rendering out. Once the bottom side is golden and the fat is rendered, it’s time to flip.

4. Flip and Cook Second Side

After 3-4 minutes, use tongs to flip each bacon slice over.

Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the second side is golden brown and crispy looking. Keep an eye on the bacon to avoid overcooking.

If need be, use the tongs to press down on curling edges or lift up any stuck edges. This ensures even contact with the griddle.

5. Transfer Bacon to a Plate

Once golden brown and crispy on both sides, transfer the cooked bacon from the griddle plates to a paper towel lined plate.

The paper towels will soak up any excess grease for crispier bacon.

Tip: You can pour the rendered bacon grease into a heatproof container for storage. It’s great for cooking other dishes!

6. Repeat with Remaining Bacon

If you have more raw bacon to cook, give the griddle plates a quick wipe down with a paper towel before adding the next batch.

Repeat the process – cooking each side for 3-4 minutes until crispy.

Cook as many batches as needed to feed your whole crowd!

7. Clean the Griddle Plates

After all the bacon is cooked, unplug the griddler and let it cool slightly.

Once cool enough to handle safely, remove the griddle plates. The nonstick coating prevents stuck-on food.

To clean the griddle plates, simply wipe down with paper towels, scraping off any stubborn bits. Avoid abrasive scrubbers.

If there’s a lot of built up grease, you can wash the plates with hot soapy water. Dry thoroughly before storing.

That’s it – clean up is quick since everything cooked right on the plates. No messy stovetop or frying pans to scour.

Troubleshooting Bacon Cooking Problems

Cooking bacon on a griddler is pretty foolproof. But you might run into an issue now and then. Here’s how to troubleshoot common bacon cooking problems:

• Undercooked bacon: If the bacon is still limp and pale, increase the griddler temperature slightly. Cook each side for a minute or two longer. Thinner slices may need less time than thick-cut bacon.

• Overcooked or burnt bacon: Lower the griddler temperature and cook for shorter durations next time. Watch closely near the end of cooking. Remove done slices right away to prevent burning.

• Curled bacon: Use tongs to press down on the bacon as it cooks to maximize griddle contact. Try slicing the bacon thicker next time so it holds its shape better.

• Uneven cooking: Make sure to arrange the bacon in a single layer without overlapping on the preheated griddle. Flip at the halfway point for even browning on both sides.

• Stuck bacon: Allow the griddle to fully preheat before adding bacon so the surface is properly hot. Use a thin spatula to gently lift stuck edges.

• Not crispy enough: Render the bacon fat longer before flipping. Let the second side cook until deep golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess grease.

Tips for Cooking Perfect Bacon on a Griddler

Here are some top tips to get the best results when cooking bacon on your Cuisinart griddler:

• Rub a little oil or butter on the griddle plates before adding bacon for better browning.

• Preheat the griddler fully before cooking for crisper bacon.

• Arrange the bacon neatly in a single layer without overlapping to prevent uneven cooking.

• For less greasy bacon, place a cooling rack over a baking sheet in the griddler. The rendered fat drips through the rack as it cooks.

• Use metal tongs or a spatula to carefully flip the bacon halfway through cooking time.

• Cook bacon in batches to avoid crowding the griddle, which can slow cooking.

• Drain cooked bacon on paper towels before serving to soak up excess grease.

• Adjust temperature as needed. Thicker bacon may require lower heat than thin-cut.

• Clean griddle plates after each