Perfectly grilled bacon is a delicious masterpiece that you will definitely love. When camping or barbecuing in your backyard, perfectly crispy bacon slices are always your best bet as a crowd-pleaser.
In this article, we will share all the smartest tips on how to grill bacon.
Contents
Why cook bacon on the grill?
There are lots of benefits when you cook bacon on the grill:
Perfect for camping and barbecuing
Grilled bacon is the best idea for a camping or BBQ party.
It is no secret that bacon cooked outside is always tastier. You can easily tempt your friends and neighbors to visit and join you at the great barbecue party! The tasty smell of grilled bacon spreading all around can’t leave anyone indifferent!
Smoky flavor
Frying bacon is a good idea, but there is nothing to compare with the nice smoky flavor of grilled bacon. Cooking bacon on the grill provides your meat with the incredible smoky flavor that you never get when cooking bacon on the frying pan.
In addition, you can bring this tasty smoky flavor to your breakfast of bacon burgers.
Quick and even cooking
Bacon on the grill is a good idea if you want to cook quickly.
Cooking bacon on the grill is a much more quick process than frying on the pan. In addition, bacon cooks more evenly, so you can avoid the half-soft and half-crispy bacon that is possible to get when frying it in the pan.
Grill marks
They look beautiful and make your bacon pieces tastier just at the first sight! No other cooking method can give you this nice benefit.
No extra smell
No doubt that bacon smells extremely tasty. However, the bacon smell is not what you want to have inside your house or RV camper. As this smell is prone to soak into the curtains and furniture, the best idea is to cook bacon on the grill!
No hot bacon grease
Forget about those boiling splashes of bacon fat popping out from the skillet when cooking at home! Cook bacon on the grill, and you will never face this nasty issue.
What bacon is the best for grilling?
Generally, the way of cooking bacon matters on which kind of bacon to choose. For the best results, you can buy and try some different types of bacon at your local grocery store.
Direct heat
If you are going to cook bacon on direct heat, opt for the thick-cut bacon. It works much better on high heat. In addition, it doesn’t stick to the grill and is much easier to flip over.
Indirect heat
In case you are cooking bacon on indirect heat, choose center-cut bacon, regular, or thick sliced bacon strips. All these kinds of bacon are good to cook when the heat is not directly on the cooking bacon.
How to grill bacon?
Before you start grilling bacon, make sure you have everything from this checklist:
Cooking items
- barbecue grill
- wire brush
- silicone brush
- bamboo skewers
- long handled spatula
- paper towels
Ingredients
- 12 bacon slices (thick-cut bacon is best for this recipe)
- vegetable oil/canola oil
Cooking instructions
Here are the simplest instructions on how to cook bacon strips on the grill.
#1. Clean the grill grates
Before you start cooking bacon, clean the grill grates well to prevent food from sticking. Use a wire brush to clean the grill grates thoroughly.
#2. Coat the grill grates with oil
Cover the grill grate with a light coating of vegetable or canola oil. Brush-cleaned grill grates coat all surfaces evenly.
#3. Heat the grill
Now, it’s time to heat the outdoor grill. Opt for medium-high heat, which is about 325 degrees F.
For those who cook on the charcoal grill, keep in mind to let the coals die down a bit before grilling bacon.
If you prefer gas grilling, heat the burners on either side of the area where you are grilling bacon. It will help you create a direct heat source underneath the cooking bacon. Keep the grill lid closed until the temperature rises to 325 degrees F.
If you use a cast iron skillet or grill pan, place it on the grill grate to preheat as well.
#4. Grill bacon slices
When the grill is preheated, you can finally grill bacon strips.
Put the thick-cut bacon strips on the coated grill grate. Place them perpendicular to the grate lines so as not to drop them in the grill fire.
For those who cook on a gas grill, turn down the grill burners to medium-low heat when you place the bacon.
#5. Watch out for the grilling bacon
To get the perfectly crispy bacon, control the cooking process.
Use a long metal spatula to flip the grilled bacon over several times while cooking.
Depending on the desired crispiness, you can also play with adjusting the grill temperature to 375 °F. Add a few minutes to the grilling time for cooking each side of the bacon strips if you want to make them extra crispy.
When cooking on the grilling grates, place cooked bacon on bamboo skewers. It will help you to protect it from falling between the grill grates.
If you cook thinner cuts of bacon, keep in mind they will cook faster, so don’t forget to monitor the grilled bacon more frequently.
#6. Take the grilled bacon away and serve
As soon as you grill bacon to the desired doneness, turn off the grill.
Transferthe bacon to the paper towel-lined plate. Let the cooked bacon drain on the paper towels. It is essential to absorb excess grease from the meat.
Now, it is ready for eating!
Smart grilling tips
Play with bacon flavors
Are you looking for ideas to help you make the plain bacon fancier? Here are some cool flavor variations up to your taste!
Seasoned bacon always tastes awesome. Add your favorite BBQ rub to enrich the bacon flavor to your taste!
BBQ bacon is one more cool cooking idea. Before your bacon is done, brush it with a tasty barbecue sauce.
Brown sugar or maple syrup are the best options for those who prefer a bit of a sweet undertone in the grilled bacon. Sprinkle your bacon with some brown sugar or maple oil before grilling, and you will get delicious candied bacon on the grill!
Aluminum foil method
Watch out for the flare-ups! They are the severest enemy of grilled bacon. The thin strips are too risky to burn in contact with a grill fire. So much fat increases the risk of a grease fire.
To avoid this problem, opt for the aluminum foil method.
Measure a double sheet of foil that fits the bacon you are going to grill. Lay it with the edges turned up, that is done to catch the bacon drippings. Then, place the bacon pieces on the foil surface. You can flip them over when it is needed.
However, remember that there is less chance of a grease fire when cooking bacon on the grill, as compared to the other cooking methods.
You may also be interested in reading our articles:
Bacon on the grill FAQs
Can you slow cook on a gas grill?
Yes, you can. Depending on the thickness of the bacon cooked on the grill, the cooking time can vary. The average cooking time for 8 strips of bacon is about 3.5 hours. Cook your meat to the desired crispiness and watch out for the grilling process.
Should you cook tri-tip slowly or fast?
The tri-tip steak is the best to choose for the fast-cooking methods. It is a great time-saver in the kitchen.
This tri-tip cut comes from the bottom sirloin and is known for the delicious roast formed while cooking. So, for those who are looking for a slow cooking way, it is much better to opt for a tri-tip roast instead.
How long do you slow-cook a tri-tip on a gas grill?
If you are wondering how do you cook a tri-tip steak on a gas grill, here is a short instruction for you:
- Firstly, preheat your grill to about 350 °F.
- Cover the tri-tip with a light coating of oil, and season with some salt and pepper. You may add your favorite rub as well.
- Put the tri-tip at the center of the grill to place it over direct heat.
- Cook the tri-tip for 5 minutes. Then, flip it over and repeat.
- Move the cooking tri-tip to the indirect heat zone. Now, cook it for about 20-30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check when the internal temperature reaches 135 °F.
- To get a delicious crust on the grilled tri-tip, heat your grill to 500 degrees.
Depending on the size, you should slow-cook a tri-tip for roughly 2 1/2 to 4 hours. Cook until the internal temperature of the tri-tip is at least 145 F. To watch out for the temperature, use a meat thermometer. You will find a detailed answer in our article How to slow cook tri-tip on gas grill: the quick guide.
What is the difference between cured and uncured bacon?
When talking about cured and uncured bacon, the main thing to know is that all bacon must be cured before eating it. However, what do people mean by cured and uncured bacon?
Cured bacon is preserved with a help of a salt, sodium, and nitrates combination. Nitrates are responsible for the long-time preservation and the beautiful pink color of the meat.
Uncured bacon is cured in fact; however, it is cured without sourced synthetic nitrates. The curing process is different, as it is made with natural nitrates that are found in vegetables. This method creates a healthier version of bacon that is free of artificial chemicals.
Keep in mind that uncured bacon usually tastes saltier than cured one, since it is preserved in a salt brine longer. So, when added to other dishes, uncured bacon doesn’t need much salt to add. It is already naturally salted, so you can easily over-salt your dish if you add some more salt to this bacon.
What’s the difference between pork belly and bacon?
Bacon can be cut from any part of the pig and is always cured and sometimes smoked, whereas pork belly is cut from the belly of the pig but not cured or smoked.
Final thoughts
No matter if you cook bacon on direct or indirect heat, in thin or thick slices, or opt for candied bacon or BBQ bacon, your guests are always lucky to have a piece of crisp bacon cooked on the grill. Try any cooking methods given above, and find your favorite one!
Hello! In my free time, I like to pamper my family with delicious grilled dinners. In addition, friends often gather with us and a grilled steak is what you need for pleasant company!
I have been working as a salesman in a grill and accessories store for several years. I know all about grills and smokers. My friends and acquaintances always consult with me before buying a new grill. I am a master at this with vast experience!
Recently I was advised to start my own blog and I decided to do it. I hope to be useful to you!