If you ever wondered how to cook bacon in the oven, learn that it’s the easiest way to get perfectly crispy bacon every time in less than 20 minutes. It’s the best way to cook bacon, won’t splatter, and cooks evenly.
This step-by-step tutorial for cooking bacon in the oven will be your go-to reference whether you want a thick, chewy texture or more light and crispy slices.
I’ve been cooking bacon in the oven for years, and it consistently produces nicely cooked bacon. Quickly prepare crispy bacon to enjoy for breakfast, in keto burgers, sandwiches, or for topping casseroles.
This method is foolproof, and most restaurants use it.
Why Cook Bacon in The Oven
- Mess-Free– won’t splatter you with hot grease. When cooking bacon on the stove, you have to babysit it, and bacon grease gets everywhere.
- Cooks evenly for the crispiest bacon.
- Can make a large batch at once– You can bake lots of bacon at once and store it for later.
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Who’s ready for the world’s most perfect oven-cooked bacon? This is a simple, fail-proof method for cooking bacon in the oven. The best part? Breakfast is ready in under 30 minutes!
You’ll need just one ingredient: high-quality bacon.
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place each strip of bacon on the baking sheet. Make sure that the bacon slices are not overlapping. They can, however, touch because they will shrink slightly as they cook.
- Cook the bacon for 8 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness.
- Remove the bacon from the oven after it has reached the required texture and set it aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Then, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined dish and wipe away any excess grease with a few extra pieces of paper towel.
What’s the Best Temperature for Cooking Bacon in The Oven?
The perfect temperature for cooking bacon in the oven is 400F or 200C. It crisps up faster, and the edges don’t burn.
How Long Should I Cook The Bacon
The length of time bacon takes to cook in the oven is determined by the temperature of the oven and the thickness of your bacon. Thicker bacon strips will take longer to cook in the oven than thinner slices. So make sure to keep an eye on the bacon and remove it from the oven when it looks brown and crispy.
- Thin-Cut: 8-12 minutes
- Medium: 12-16 minutes
- Thick (1/8″ thick): 16-20 minutes
Tips For Making Crispy Bacon In The Oven
- Make sure your bacon is cooked at a high temperature. For baking bacon, we’ve discovered that 400°F is ideal. It’s important to preheat the oven before baking the bacon.
- Keep an Eye on the Prize: Bacon may easily go from nicely cooked to flawlessly burnt. Make sure your bacon doesn’t overcook by keeping an eye on it.
- The Thickness of the Bacon Matters: When baking bacon, we like thick-cut bacon. It’s chewy and somewhat crispy when it’s done. If you like your bacon to be extra crispy, go for a thinner or medium cut!
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Without a Rack?
Baking bacon in the oven is super easy, and you don’t even need a rack or foil. Sometimes using a wire rack makes bacon super crispy and it’s a pain to clean. Instead, get a rimmed sheet pan and place the raw bacon directly on the pan. For easier clean-up, you can line the sheet pan with parchment paper.
Is Flipping Necessary?
I never flip bacon in the oven, and it turns out perfect every time.
Parchment Paper Or Foil?
Either of these works for mess-free oven-baked bacon.
Store The Bacon Grease
Wondering what to do with the bacon grease? Pour the bacon grease into a glass jar and use it to add fantastic flavor to different recipes such as gravy with biscuits, or braised meat. Since bacon grease has a high smoke point, it’s perfect for cooking.
How To Store
- Allow bacon to cool fully before transferring to an airtight container and storing for up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
- You can also freeze the oven-baked bacon. Allow it to cool fully first. Then, please place it in a freezer-safe bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. Freeze bacon for up to 3 months.
How To Reheat
The microwave is the most convenient way to reheat cooked bacon. First, bacon should be placed on a microwave-safe platter. Then, on top of it, add a piece of paper towel.
Microwave for 60-90 seconds on high or until warmed through.
Recipes with Crispy Bacon
- The Best Loaded Cauliflower Bake with Cheddar and Bacon
- Best Instant Pot Egg Bites – {Keto & Low Carb}
- Easy Keto Chicken Salad Recipe
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Description
Ingredients
- 12 slices Bacon or as many strips and thickness you like
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper or foil for easier cleanup.
- Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared pan. Overlapping pieces won’t crisp at all.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the bacon is crisp. If your bacon is thicker, increase the baking time by about 5-8 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from the oven, and pat any excess grease using paper towels.
How do we calculate the nutrition info?
These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.
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