Perfectly Crispy Bacon in Minutes: How to Cook Bacon on a Panini Press

As someone who loves a good grilled sandwich, I was thrilled when I discovered another fantastic use for my panini press – cooking bacon! Using a panini maker to cook crispy bacon is so easy and eliminates the mess of frying bacon on the stovetop. If you’re looking for an easy way to make perfect bacon in just minutes, using a panini grill is absolutely the way to go

Why Cook Bacon on a Panini Press?

Cooking bacon on a panini grill has some major advantages over stovetop and oven methods:

• Super fast – Bacon cooks in just 10-15 minutes start to finish, No preheating required,

• Less messy – Bacon grease stays contained in the press so there’s no splattering

• Evenly cooked – The bacon cooks evenly with no turning needed. No under or overcooked spots.

• Ideal thickness – Bacon comes out perfectly flat and crispy, ideal for sandwiches and burgers.

• Quick cleanup – Grease slides right off the grates after cooking. So much easier than a bacon splattered stovetop!

For those reasons, I now use my panini press to cook nearly all the bacon I need. The only time I still use the oven is when cooking large batches. For 4-6 slices at a time, the press can’t be beat for convenience.

Step-By-Step Guide to Cooking Bacon on a Panini Press

Cooking bacon on a panini grill couldn’t be easier. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat and Prepare Panini Press

• Turn on panini press and allow to fully preheat. Closed presses preheat faster.

• For presses with a drip tray, make sure it’s inserted to catch grease.

• Open the press and wipe grates lightly with oil if needed to prevent sticking.

2. Arrange Bacon on Grates

• Lay bacon slices lengthwise across grates, lining up the edges.

• Bacon should fit snugly without overlapping. Trim edges if needed.

3. Close Lid and Grill

• Lower lid completely to press bacon flat. Bacon should sizzle immediately.

• Grill for 8-15 minutes, depending on bacon thickness, until desired crispness.

• Lift lid briefly to check doneness halfway through. Adjust time as needed.

4. Remove, Drain, and Serve

• Transfer bacon with tongs to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

• Let grease in press cool slightly before wiping grates clean with a paper towel.

With perfectly crisped, flat bacon ready in minutes, you’ll wonder why you ever used a skillet!

Tips for Grilling Bacon on a Panini Press

While using a panini maker to cook bacon is very straightforward, these tips will help you achieve bacon perfection:

• Choose thin sliced bacon – it cooks the most evenly. Regular cut bacon works too.

• Preheat the press fully before adding bacon for immediate sizzling.

• Arrange bacon in a single layer, no overlapping to prevent sticking.

• Cook at least 8 minutes for thin bacon. Thicker cuts take 10-15 minutes.

• Press down completely using press’s hinge to flatten bacon.

• Let bacon rest 1 minute after grilling before eating for crispiest results.

• Wipe grease from grates once cooled slightly but while still warm for easy cleaning.

With the right techniques, you’ll have perfectly flat, evenly crisped bacon off your panini press every time.

Handy Panini Press Cooking Charts for Bacon

To take the guesswork out of panini pressed bacon, use these helpful cooking charts for reference:

Bacon Thickness Cooking Times

• Thin sliced (~1/16 inch): 8-10 minutes
• Regular sliced (~1/8 inch): 10-12 minutes
• Thick cut (~1/4 inch): 12-15 minutes

Amount of Bacon by Press Size

• Small press: ~6 slices
• Medium press: ~8-10 slices
• Large press: ~12-14 slices

Press Temperature Settings

• Preheat on high, then reduce to 325°F once bacon is loaded
• Or keep at high if your press doesn’t have temp control

Consult the charts to determine the best time, temperature and bacon amounts for your press.

Handy Pointers for Troubleshooting Panini Bacon

Cooking bacon on a panini grill is usually foolproof, but here are some troubleshooting tips just in case:

• Bacon sticks to grates? Wipe grates with a little oil first.

• Bacon underscooked? Increase cooking time for thicker cuts.

• Bacon overcooked or burnt? Reduce time for thinner bacon or lower temp.

• Bacon uneven? Make sure slices aren’t overlapping on grates.

• Big flare up? Excess grease on bacon can cause this. Pat slices dry before grilling.

• Press smoking? Carefully wipe away any built up grease on grates after several batches.

With a few simple adjustments, it’s easy to achieve perfectly grilled bacon on your panini press every time.

Creative Ways to Use Bacon from Your Panini Press

Aside from serving it as breakfast meat or on sandwiches and burgers, here are some fun ways to use up all that ready-to-go bacon from the panini grill:

• Crumble over salads, baked potatoes or mac and cheese.

• Make bacon jam to spread on biscuits, toast or sandwiches.

• Toss crumbled bacon into cornbread, waffles or pancake batter.

• Wrap bacon around smoked sausages, shrimp or dates for easy apps.

• Candy bacon pieces with brown sugar to use on pizza or in cookies.

• Make ahead tubs of cooked, crumbled bacon to keep on hand.

With crispy cooked bacon ready in minutes on your panini press, there are so many great ways to use it up creatively!

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Bacon on a Panini Press

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about making bacon on a panini grill:

What type of panini press is best for bacon?

Any panini press will work, but ones with adjustable temperature controls and drip trays make it easiest. Popular presses like Breville and Cuisinart models have these key features.

Can I use a panini press for turkey bacon too?

Yes, turkey bacon works great! Just reduce cook times by 2-3 minutes compared to pork bacon since it’s thinner.

How much bacon fits on a panini press?

On average, 6-8 slices fits on small presses, 8-10 slices on medium sizes, and 12-14 slices on larger presses.

Is it safe to close the press when cooking bacon?

Yes, closing the press is recommended to flatten and evenly cook the bacon. There’s no fire risk.

Does the bacon come out greasy?

Nope, the bacon comes out crispy and lightly greased since excess fat drips away while cooking.

By keeping these tips and FAQs in mind, you’ll find panini pressed bacon to be easy, convenient and so much less messy than stovetop methods.

Start Grilling Bacon on Your Panini Press Today!

If you love serving up piles of crispy bacon for breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, then ditch the skillet and start grilling it on your panini press instead. You’ll be amazed at how fast and easy it is to cook bacon this way. With perfectly flat and crispy bacon ready in just 10-15 minutes, your panini press will become your new go-to for bacon cooking. Once you discover how convenient it is, you’ll never want to fry bacon on the stovetop again!