How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
How to cook bacon in the oven with aluminum foil is a question many people ask when they want perfectly crispy bacon with less mess. Bacon in the oven makes bacon perfectly crispy and moreish. This method is very easy, creates less mess than you would on the stove, and it also gives you a chance to do some work in the kitchen. If you’ve never made bacon, you should definitely try it. In this page you can Learn how to cook bacon in the oven easily at home.
Why You’ll Love It
When it comes to perfectly crispy and evenly cooked bacon, nothing really beats cooking bacon in the oven. But surprisingly, many people have never tried this method. It seems that most people still prefer to cook bacon on the stove. Today, I will tell you why you should change your habit and why bacon should be baked in the oven. Believe me, once you cook bacon in the oven, you’ll never cook it on the stove again!
Cooking bacon on the stove causes splashes all over the surface of the stove and creates more hot spots in different places in the pan. This means that some pieces of bacon can cook faster than others. That’s why some slices accidentally burn more and become a little like coal. While some slices are still not fully ripe.
Ingredients and Tools You Need
This guide shows how to cook bacon in the oven to get it golden brown and crispy. Before starting, gather these ingredients and tools:
- Slices of bacon (regular, thick-cut, turkey, or beef)
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Tongs
- Paper towels
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven? Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 ° F (200 ° C). Lay the parchment paper on a baking tray, then place the bacon slices side by side on the tray. You can have as many pieces as you need.
Step 2: How long to cook bacon in the oven? Cook the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes. Be sure to check it after about 10 minutes, as some ovens cook more quickly. Bake at 400°F until the bacon is golden brown and crispy, that is, until it is cooked to the color and texture that you like.
Step 3: Remove the tray from the oven and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels using tongs. Your bacon is all ready, now you can serve it.
Step 4: If you’re taking out the bacon fat, lay the paper towel on a thin mesh sieve. Then place the sieve on top of the glass storage container and pour the bacon fat from the sheet tray into it. Cover the bowl with cling film and store it in the fridge for future use.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven?
Do you want to know how to cook bacon in the oven easily at home for delicious results? So different bacons have different cooking times.
- Regular bacon: 15–20 minutes
- Thick cut bacon: 20–25 minutes
- Turkey bacon: 12–18 minutes
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven at Different Temperatures?
1: Bacon is very easy to cook in the oven, but the cooking time depends on how long you keep the oven temperature. If you bake the bacon at 350 ° F, it usually takes 20 to 25 minutes to get crispy. Because the temperature is low, the bacon cooks slowly.
2: Bacon cooks a little faster at 375 ° F and is usually ready in 18 to 22 minutes. When the oven is set to 400 ° F, which is the most commonly used temperature for baking bacon, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes for the bacon to turn golden and crispy.
3: If you use 425 ° F, the bacon cooks even faster due to the high heat and is usually ready in 12 to 18 minutes, but it is important to keep an eye on it in the meantime. So that it doesn’t burn. No matter what temperature you use, placing the bacon slices in the same layer on the baking sheet and lining the sheet ensures that the bacon is evenly cooked and crispy.
Benefits of Cooking Bacon in the Oven
- First of all, you can bake bacon for several people at once. (And sometimes those “many people” are just your immediate family). This is especially important during the holidays or when you have a lot of guests at home. It also helps you to maintain your peace of mind while engaged in the kitchen.
- Secondly, baking bacon in the oven is a much cleaner method than cooking on the stove. I’m often famous for snacking while cooking bacon on the stove, because maybe I’m cooking the bacon a little too hot. But when you bake the bacon in the oven, there are no snaps because the bacon just shimmers. until it’s completely crispy (or according to your taste).
- Finally, baking bacon in the oven allows you to do several things at once in the kitchen. Because as soon as you put that sheet pan full of bacon in the oven, you’re free for about 15 minutes to bake eggs or make pancakes or waffles.
Some More Tips About How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
- Here’s how to cook bacon in the oven for perfectly crispy results. Lay the parchment paper on a large sheet pan (or don’t lay it at all – but then cleaning will be more difficult). With parchment paper, it’s quite simple: just tear off a piece, put the bacon on top and cook.
- Should bacon be placed on a cooling rack for cooking? I don’t think. I tried it, and there was no difference. But then I had to clean the cooling rack (and they are really hard to clean).
- 400 ° F works best for both normal and thick-cut bacon. Heat the oven and bake the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes or until it’s crispy to your liking. I turn the pan in the middle in half the time. To ensure uniform cooking, that’s all. And remember that the bacon will be crispier when it’s dry.
What to do with Bacon Grease?
If you buy organic bacon, as I do, be sure to consider removing and preserving the bacon fat. Bacon fat not only enhances the richness of flavor in braised meat and other foods, but also has a higher smoke point, meaning it is more stable and safe to cook. Now, what do I use my extracted bacon fat for? in almost everything! I fry eggs in it and also use it to sauté almost all kinds of meat. It’s also great for sautéing or roasting vegetables, as it adds both flavour and depth.
Storage & Reheating
Stored in the fridge
When the bacon is cooked and cooled, drain it on a paper towel, then wrap in a fresh paper towel to absorb the remaining grease. Put it in an airtight container or zip-top bag and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing
Place the bacon slices in one layer, lay the parchment paper in the middle, and place in a safe bag or container in the freezer. Remove as much as possible. Cooked bacon is stored in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Reheat (to bring back the crispiness)
Microwave: It’s my favourite way to reheat bacon baked in the oven! Place the bacon in the middle of the paper towel and microwave at 10-second intervals. Note: This way, the bacon may be a little more chewy, but it’s the quickest and least messy way, and the bacon still remains crispy.
Preheat the oven to 350 ° F. Place the bacon on top of the baking sheet on the wire rack and reheat for 5-8 minutes, checking often.
Skillet: Place it in a skillet on low heat without oil, cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, pressing lightly until it becomes crispy again.
Air fryer: Place the bacon in a single layer and reheat at 350 ° F for 2-4 minutes.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Course: Dinner Recipes4
servings5
minutes15
minutes190
kcalCrispy, golden bacon with hardly any mess? Yes, please. This easy oven method gives you evenly cooked bacon with simple prep and hands-off cooking, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or meal prep.
Ingredients
8 bacon slices
- Optional
Black pepper
Brown sugar
Maple syrup
Red pepper flakes
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper.
- Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the tray. Do not overlap them.
- Bake for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness and how crispy you want it. Start checking after 10 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven when the bacon looks golden and crisp.
- Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using tongs.
- Let it rest for 1 to 2 minutes so it crisps up a little more before serving.
- Optional: If you want to save the bacon grease, carefully strain it through a paper towel-lined fine mesh sieve into a glass container.
FAQS
How to Cook Thick Sliced Bacon in the Oven?
First, preheat the oven to 400 ° F (200 ° C). Place the thick bacon slices in a layer on the baking tray. Bake for about 18-25 minutes until the bacon is brown and crispy. Before serving, place it on a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.
How to Cook Bacon in the Toaster Oven?
Preheat the oven to 400 ° F. Spread the foil on a small baking tray and place the bacon slices on it. Bake them for 10-15 minutes until the bacon begins to look crispy. Then transfer them to a paper towel to remove the excess grease.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Without a Rack?
Preheat the oven to 400 ° F and place the bacon directly on the foil-lined baking sheet. Spread the slices in one layer. Bake them for 15-20 minutes until they are crispy. Place the bacon on a paper towel before eating.
How Long to Cook Thick Bacon in the Oven?
Thick bacon usually takes 18 to 25 minutes in a 400 ° F oven. Check after about 18 minutes. If you like it more crispy, let it cook a little more.
How to Cook Frozen Bacon in the Oven?
Heat the oven to 400°F and place frozen bacon on a baking tray. Bake for 5 minutes first, then separate the slices. Cook another 15–20 minutes until crispy.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Without Parchment Paper?
You can cook bacon on a tray with aluminum foil or just the tray itself. Lay the bacon in one layer and bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes. When crispy, place on paper towels.
