1. Bacon
Bacon is the holy grail of griddle cooking. It’s so good, in fact, that experts recommend cooking bacon first after seasoning a griddle for two reasons: it’s the American thing to do, and the grease helps further season the cooktop. The flat surface helps the bacon cook more evenly and has no sides to creep up on like a pan. Not only is it easy, but you can cook a TON of bacon at once. Outdoor bacon cooking also prevents a time-consuming kitchen cleanup - instead, just scrape the surface and walk away.
Cooking tips: If possible, set the bacon on the cooktop before igniting the burners so it starts on a cold surface. Cook the bacon “low and slow” at a low temperature. A grill press can help bacon cook quicker and more evenly, as the weight helps ensure more of the surface of the bacon is on the heat. Bacon will continue to cook a bit and stiffen when removed from the cooktop, so keep this in mind when determining how long to cook it. As a rule of thumb, cook until the strip is browned evenly and redness is gone.
Cooking tips: If possible, set the bacon on the cooktop before igniting the burners so it starts on a cold surface. Cook the bacon “low and slow” at a low temperature. A grill press can help bacon cook quicker and more evenly, as the weight helps ensure more of the surface of the bacon is on the heat. Bacon will continue to cook a bit and stiffen when removed from the cooktop, so keep this in mind when determining how long to cook it. As a rule of thumb, cook until the strip is browned evenly and redness is gone.