Does Anyone Use a Bacon Press?

[Stimw]

I bought a nice bacon press for around 10 bucks hoping to keep the bacon from shriveling up and let it all brown.
It works BUT, when cooked the bacon gets hard instead of nicely crunchy.
Are there tricks to using one of these?
And don't tell me to bake it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

According to a bacon expert on TV he said bacon when properly cooked will fold around in an inverted U shape when laid across a knife. Most people seem to like bacon extra crispy but I like it more like ham when cooked. It is hard to cook it where there are not some over-cooked spots without using some kind of press to hold it straight.

I think that your problem is simply overcooking. Try doing it about half the time in the skillet from what you are currently doing.

 

[crash325]

I use a bacon press & a cement trowel. Both work fine. Cooking time will vary depending on how thick the bacon is.

Just keep checking it, when it looks right it is right.

 

[/pine]

IMO the secret/trick to perfect bacon (done in a skillet on top of the stove) is to fry it very slowly...The faster the fat renders the more likely it is to curl...

 

[deanocraft]

I use a bacon press we bought at the Lodge factory outlet. It is cast iron and so is the pot. I cook on a gas stove and bacon comes out crispy. /pine may have the secret...
I don't always cook bacon, but when I do I use a bacon press.

 

[Joe Malovich]

slow is key, I've used a bacon press and thawed bacon should take about 15 minutes of more under the press, 30 minutes without the press. 2 or 3 out of 10 on the dial. I prefer my bacon halfway floppy, once it cools down a bit it firms up.

 

[Firemanbuck82]

Sorry, but baked is the only way to go. You can put most of a full package (if you buy) on a foil lined cookie sheet, set it and forget it as you prepare the rest of the meal. 4 strips at a time in a pan is lunacy. That's my opinion, your mileage may vary.

 

[3Ts]

Never used a bacon press, so I can't help there. I used to fry it outside on the camp stove because of all the grease splatters. My daughter introduced me to baking it. It comes out flatter, cooks quicker, less mess, less attention and taste and texture are the same.

 

[tcreeley]

I don't like crispy bacon. I like it slightly undercooked. Delicious that way!

 

[300UGUY]

I learned something today. Never heard of a bacon press! Now I know��