Let’s not kid ourselves – of all the smells that emanate from the kitchen, few are quite as saliva-inducing or endorphin-firing as the whiff of a sizzling hot skillet full of thick-cut, juicy bacon.
In a hurry? My pick is the T-Fal pre-seasoned cast iron skillet from Amazon.
Far from considering myself a morning person, waking up to that lovely, smoky aroma will get me out of bed faster than a Texas preacher’s sermon on Sunday the Cowboys play the Redskins. With heavy traffic, long commutes and a dead-end office job in front of most of us, bacon for breakfast is one thing that’s actually worth getting up for.
Curious about deep frying bacon? We’ll show you how.
| Best Frying Pan for Bacon | Why We Like It | |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. T-fal E83405 Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet | provides the ultimate in heat retention and distribution in classic, traditional, pre-seasoned cast iron skillet |
 | 2. Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Anodized Nonstick Grill/Deep Square Griddle Pan | gives selection of different colors of handles to match your kitchen and add a touch of style |
 | 3. All-Clad HA1 Double Burner Grande | allows for lots of surface area for big families to cook large portions |
Frying pans for the bacon lover
Every aspiring bacon chef needs a few tried and true techniques in their salt-cured arsenal: a pair of tongs for the crucial and frequent flipping of the bacon strips, a large plate covered with paper towels to soak up the extra grease, and of course, a frying pan tailor-made for preparing the most important part of breakfast.
While there are a few things every baconite can agree on – bacon should always be placed on a cold pan and heated up, for example – the bacon world is divided over which pan is best. Some prefer a more traditional cast-iron pan, others opt for a more modern, non-stick skillet. Here are a few of your options, and remember, whichever frying pan you choose, you’ve already made the right choice by choosing bacon.
T-fal E83405 Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
For the bacon lover who values tradition and also enjoys heavy things, T-fal offers their E83407 Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. Providing the ultimate in heat retention and distribution, this pan gives you the all the benefits of cast iron with none of the drawbacks – it’s pre-seasoned and ready to use right out of the box!
As preparing bacon is most certainly a 2 handed job, it features an extra-long handle (complete with T-fal’s signature thumb rest) along with an easy-to-grip side helper handle, with dual pouring spouts for an effortless bacon fat draining experience. This baby will hold up in an oven up to 600 degrees, or the smoldering embers of a campfire after the impending nuclear holocaust lays waste to modern life as we know it.
Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Anodized Nonstick Grill/Deep Square Griddle Pan
If you’re looking for a little more style and flair in the kitchen (and are less worried about the apocalypse), look no further than this Rachael Ray grill and griddle. The 11-inch square cooking surface has a durable construction that promotes even heating and reduces hot spots, while the handle comes in a variety of bold, yet sophisticated colors.
The grip-friendly and comfortable handle is dual riveted for extra strength, which you’re going to need as you prepare pound after pound of hot, fresh, sizzling ecstasy. Best of all, this option includes a solid sandwich press, ideal for making the perfect lunchtime BLT with all of your succulent breakfast leftovers.
All-Clad HA1 Double Burner Grande
Parents with a large table full of screaming toddlers (and spouses) should opt for the All-Clad HA1 Double Burner Grande. Its 20-inch by 13-inch wide-ridged cooking surface is perfect for those who like their bacon extra crispy, as the fat has room to drain to the bottom. Its hard-anodized aluminum construction is designed for fast, even heating and easy cleanup, and its base is warp-resistant, ensuring you year after year of consistent bacon cooking. The stainless-steel handles deliver a nice contrast to the all-black base, and the double-burner design lets you cook bacon in amounts to keep even the hungriest, neediest family satisfied.
Bringing home the best
From the ancient times of Alexander the Great to the modern days of Homer J. Simpson, our love affair with bacon has stretched across millennia. Whether you prefer chewy or crispy, turkey or pork, there’s a bacon out there for everyone. Choosing the right frying pan for your bacon-loving lifestyle might be one of the more difficult choices you make in your life, but rest assured that once the decision is made, you’ll always have at least one reason to get up in the morning.
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Image credit via Flickr Creative Commons: cyclonebill and George W.
David learned to cook at an early age after his mother told him that he couldn't live on pizza forever, Dave uses his modest kitchen skills to recreate sorely-missed recipes from home and to occasionally make new favorite ones from places he is visiting.