How to Cook Bacon on a Grill (and Keep the Mess Outside!)
Who says bacon has to be cooked in the kitchen?
If you love bacon but aren't crazy about the lingering smell of bacon grease throughout the house, I've got a simple solution: take the cooking outside!
In this video, I'll show you how to cook bacon on a gas grill using nothing more than aluminum foil, a pair of tongs, and, of course, some good old-fashioned bacon.
Whether you're trying to keep the kitchen clean, cooking breakfast while camping, or just looking for an excuse to fire up the grill, this method is worth a try.
And there's a bonus: you don't have to spend your morning scrubbing a greasy frying pan!
Watch the Original Video
How To Cook Bacon On A Grill — BigNate84
What You'll Need
You don't need fancy equipment or a special outdoor griddle for this method.
Your favorite package of bacon
Aluminum foil
A pair of grilling tongs
A gas grill
A plate lined with paper towels
That's it! Simple, inexpensive, and easy to clean up.
Step 1: Fire Up the Grill
Preheat your gas grill to medium-high heat. The original video used a higher setting, but every grill is different, so start conservatively and adjust as needed.
Bacon releases a lot of grease as it cooks, and excessive heat can cause flare-ups. Keep an eye on the temperature and never leave the grill unattended.
Step 2: Make a Simple Foil Tray
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and fold up the edges to create a shallow tray.
This is the secret to keeping the bacon grease contained. You want the edges high enough to prevent the grease from spilling onto the burners.
Place the foil tray on the grill grates.
No need to grease the foil! Bacon has plenty of fat of its own, and that fat will render as the bacon cooks.
Step 3: Lay Out the Bacon
Arrange your bacon strips in a single layer on the foil.
Listen to that sizzle!
Close the grill lid if your grill setup allows you to do so safely, and let the bacon begin cooking. Keep the heat under control and watch for any signs of excessive smoking or flare-ups.
Step 4: Rotate, Flip, and Keep an Eye on Things
One of the things I demonstrated in the original video was that you don't have to flip every strip of bacon every couple of minutes.
Instead, monitor the bacon as it cooks. Rotate the foil tray or reposition the strips as needed to account for hot spots on your grill.
In the original cook, we flipped the bacon once at around the ten-minute mark, when the color started to darken. Your cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon and the temperature of your grill, so use the appearance and texture of the bacon rather than the clock alone.
As the bacon gets close to being done, you'll notice little white bubbles forming in the rendered fat. That's one visual clue that it's getting there.
Keep watching closely until it reaches your preferred level of crispness.
Step 5: Drain and Serve
Once the bacon is cooked to your liking, carefully remove it from the grill with your tongs.
Transfer the strips to a plate lined with paper towels. The towels will absorb some of the excess grease and help the bacon finish draining.
Now you've got delicious bacon without the usual stovetop splatter!
Why Cook Bacon Outside?
There are a few good reasons to give this method a try:
Less mess indoors. Keep the grease and splatter out of your kitchen.
Less lingering bacon smell. Some of us love that smell, but not everyone wants the house to smell like breakfast all day.
A handy camping technique. With a suitable grill, you can cook bacon outdoors without needing a kitchen stove.
Useful during a power outage. If your normal cooking appliances aren't available, an outdoor gas grill can be another option, provided it's used outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
One reason I originally tried this method was to be considerate of my hardworking, seven-months-pregnant wife. I personally love the smell of bacon, but keeping it outside was a small way to put someone else first.
Sometimes the best kitchen hacks aren't really about the food. They're about making life a little easier for everyone!
A Bonus Tip: Don't Waste That Bacon Grease
In the original video, my friend Iron Chef Steve suggested cooking some leftover Christmas ham in the bacon grease.
We gave it a try, and I have to admit: it turned out excellent!
If you decide to experiment with leftover ham, make sure it's handled and reheated safely. And remember that hot bacon grease can cause serious burns, so handle it carefully and let it cool before disposing of it.
Give It a Try!
The next time you're craving bacon, consider taking the cooking outside. With a little aluminum foil and a few basic grilling tools, you can enjoy a classic breakfast favorite while keeping the mess out of the kitchen.
If you try this method, let me know how it turns out!
And if you haven't watched the original video yet, check it out here:
Watch How To Cook Bacon On A Grill — BigNate84
Thanks for stopping by, and happy grilling!
— BigNate84
Practical How-Tos • DIY • Repair • Save Money!