Slices of bacon and the traditional cast iron – a match made in heaven. Cooking bacon in a cast-iron skillet might seem intimidating, but once you learn how to fry bacon in a cast iron skillet, there’s no going back. The cast iron skillet will fry up bacon beautifully for that perfect salty side.
Of all the pork products that have blessed countless of bellies on this earth, the one that reigns supreme will always be bacon. Crispy or chewy – you choose what’s the best bacon for you – that salty, addicting bite never seems to satisfy.
Nothing says Saturday mornings to my family more than homemade sourdough pancakes and crispy cast iron bacon. Not only is the salty and sweet combo just lip-smacking good but frying up your bacon in a cast iron couldn’t be simpler.
With a few tips and tricks, you can fry bacon in cast iron with ease.
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Can You Fry Bacon in a Cast Iron Skillet?
Absolutely! Not only will the cast iron pan fry up perfectly cooked and crisp bacon for you every single time, but the bacon will return the favor by seasoning the cast iron with bacon grease. So thoughtful, huh?
What does it mean to “season” a cast iron? Seasoning your cast iron skillet is when you heat up oil high enough that it creates a natural seal on your pan, making it nonstick.
Do I Have to Fry Bacon in a Cast Iron Skillet?
The simple answer is no, but should you? Yes!
There are plenty of other methods how to cook bacon. There’s the oven method, the water method, the stovetop method, or even in the air fryer.
That being said, my favorite is the stovetop method hands down. I like being able to see all the action, hear all the sizzles, and smell all the aromas.
Now, why cast iron skillets over aluminum pans or stainless steel pans? Cooking the traditional way with cast iron skillets means cooking the most perfect bacon. A cast iron pan retains heat evenly. This means, instead of scorching your food, the cast iron will render the bacon fat and deliver beautiful sears and crispy, salty slices.
What Kind of Cast Iron Skillet Should I Use to Fry Bacon?
For this recipe, I used my 12-inch cast iron skillet, but any cast iron skillet that your bacon slices fit in will do the trick.
What Kind of Bacon Should You Fry in a Cast Iron Skillet?
This is all personal preference. Cured, uncured, smoked, flavored, thin or thick-cut bacon – there are plenty of bacon strips to be fried up. My favorite would be smoked, maple bacon, but you choose your own bacon bliss to turn into crispy strips. Anyone will do!
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Cooking the Bacon Cold :
One common mistake made when cooking bacon in cast iron is frying bacon that’s coming directly out of the fridge. STOP!
Bacon fat holds onto the cold longer than the meat does. That being said, if you cook the bacon before it is brought to room temperature, then that is a sure invitation for unevenly cooked bacon. No one wants a bite of rubbery fat and a burnt bit.
To avoid this tragedy, bring your bacon to room temperature before frying it up (about 15 minutes).
Cooking the Bacon with Too High of Heat:
The name of the game is low and slow. If you cook the bacon at too high of heat, this can shock the water content of the bacon, which will cause the bacon to shrink drastically in size.
In order to keep that bacon at its largest size, cook it at low-medium to medium heat.
Overcrowding the Cast Iron:
When there are too many slices of bacon, it is common for the bacon to lay on top of one another. Pieces then begin to stick together, which end up floppy, burnt, or both. No one wants that kind of bacon.
Stick with cooking the bacon in small batches of 4 to 5 slices at a time for evenly cooked stripes.
Tossing the Bacon Grease:
Whatever you do, don’t pour the bacon grease down the drain! This can be detrimental to your pipes. As the bacon grease cools, it will harden, which can be damaging to your pipes and cause blockage.
Instead save this liquid gold to be used for a plethora of flavorful future cooking, like making cast iron skillet quiche or the juiciest cast iron skillet chicken breasts.
Supplies You May Need:
cast iron skillet
tongs
paper towel or brown paper bag
How to Fry Bacon in Cast Iron Skillet:
Before frying, bring the bacon to room temperature. Pull out the bacon 15 minutes before you plan to cook it.
Once the bacon is brought to room temperature, open up the package and lay 4-5 slices in the cold skillet.
Turn the stovetop on to medium-low to medium heat. Put the cast iron on the heat. It will take about a minute or two before you begin to hear the bacon sizzle.
Cook the bacon for about 2-3 minutes before you flip it to the other side. Use your tongs to flip the bacon slices one at a time.
Continue to flip the bacon every minute or so until it has reached the likeness you seek.
Once cooked, use tongs to remove the bacon slices and place them directly on a baking sheet lined with sheets of paper towels or a brown paper bag to soak up any extra bacon grease.
In between each batch, drain the extra grease. Remember don’t get rid of it! To save the excess grease, strain off any crispy bits by pouring them through a strainer or a coffee filter into a glass jar.
Repeat these steps for the remaining batches of bacon.
Allow the slices of bacon to cool and harden, then dig in!
How to Eat Cast Iron Skillet Bacon:
Of course, bacon on its own is mighty delicious and needs no extra frills, but if by any chance you have any leftover bacon, my cast iron quiche recipe is a perfect way to use it up! Crumbled bacon bits offer the perfect saltiness to this light quiche packed with colorful veggies and plenty of cheese.
Looking for a more grab-on-the-go kind of breakfast? Breakfast sandwiches on homemade sourdough bagels are a scrumptious way to start your day! A soft and chewy sourdough bagel, runny egg yolk, and thick, crispy bacon…maybe a slice of melted cheese? Yum!
Or serve as is with a deliciously sweet side like Sourdough Crepes or No-Knead Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. The saltiness from the Cast Iron Bacon and the sweetness from the sourdough treat will be a perfect pair!
Storing / Reheating Cast Iron Bacon:
Store any cooked bacon stripes in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.
To reheat cast iron bacon on the stovetop, place the bacon in the cast iron skillet and heat to medium heat. Cook the bacon for a few minutes on each side.
To reheat cast iron bacon in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the bacon on a rimmed baking sheet and heat the bacon for 8-10 minutes in the oven, or until just starting to sizzle.
Storing Bacon Grease:
To save the excess grease, strain off any crispy bits by pouring them through a thin strainer or a coffee filter into a glass jar. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-6 months or kept in the freezer indefinitely.
Happy frying!
Other Cast Iron Recipes You Might Like:
The Best Cast Iron Chicken Breast
Cheddar & Chive Sourdough Irish Soda Bread
How to Fry Bacon in Cast Iron Skillet
Slices of bacon and the traditional cast iron – a match made in heaven. Cooking bacon in a cast-iron skillet might seem intimidating, but once you learn how to fry bacon in a cast-iron skillet, there’s no going back. The cast iron skillet will fry up bacon beautifully for that perfect salty side.
Ingredients
- Favorites Bacon Slices
Instructions
1. Before frying, bring 15 slices of bacon to room temperature, about 15 minutes before you plan to cook it.
2. Once the bacon is brought to room temperature, lay 4-5 slices in the cold skillet.
3. Turn the stovetop on to medium-low to medium heat. Put the cast iron on the heat. It will take about a minute or two before you begin to hear the bacon sizzle.
4. Cook the bacon for about 2-3 minutes before you flip it to the other side. Use your tongs to flip the bacon slices one at a time.
5. Continue to flip the bacon every minute or so until it has reached the likeness you seek.
6. Once cooked, use tongs to remove the bacon slices and place them directly on a baking sheet lined with sheets of paper towels or a brown paper bag to soak up any extra bacon grease.
7. Pour off the extra bacon grease before cooking the next batch.
8. Repeat these steps for the remaining batches of bacon.
9. Allow the slices of bacon to cool and harden, then dig in!
Notes
- In between each batch, drain off the extra grease.
- To save the excess grease, strain off any crispy bits by pouring it through a strainer or a coffee filter into a glass jar.
- Store any cooked bacon stripes in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.
- To reheat cast iron bacon on the stove top, place the bacon in the cast iron skillet and heat to medium heat. Cook the bacon for a few minutes on each side.
- To reheat cast iron bacon in the oven, preheat the oven to 350. Place the bacon on a rimmed baking sheet and heat the bacon for 8-10 minutes in the oven, or until just starting to sizzle.
I loved this post! So informative, organized, and well written. Good job!
Thank you so much, Caitlyn! So glad you found it to be helpful and informative 🙂