How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Cooking bacon in the oven gives you straight, even strips that are either crispy or chewy, depending on how you like your bacon. Follow these steps and baking methods to get perfect bacon every time.
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 8 bacon slices
Instructions
- Preheat Your Oven – Position the rack in your oven to the center. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (191 degrees Celsius). Use aluminum foil or parchment paper to line a large sheet pan.
- Roast the Bacon Strips – Lay bacon on the baking sheet, making sure the bacon strips aren't overlapping. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the oven and flip the bacon over using tongs. When you put the sheet pan back in the oven, rotate it to a different position. Bake for approximately 5 additional minutes.
- For Crispy Bacon Strips – If you want crispier bacon, cook it on a wire rack. Put a wire rack onto your sheet pan and line the bacon on top of the rack. Bake the bacon for approximately 15 minutes. Remove the baking pan from the oven and flip the bacon strips over. Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes.
- Use Paper Towels to Absorb the Bacon Grease – Once the bacon is cooked, transfer it to a plate that's been lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb the excess grease.
Notes
Storing Cooked Bacon: You can refrigerate cooked bacon strips for up to a week in an airtight container. You can also freeze cooked bacon strips to pull out for future meals or recipes. Freeze your bacon in a zippered freezer bag for up to 6 months.
Reheat Your Bacon Strip: To reheat individual bacon strips, wrap a bacon slice in paper towels and microwave it in increments of 10 seconds until they're hot.
Bake Bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius): If you want to cook your bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), follow the directions above, but flip the bacon strips after they've been cooking for 10 minutes. If you put the bacon strips directly onto the sheet pan, it takes between 12 and 19 minutes to cook. If you cook your bacon on a wire rack, your bacon will be cooked in about 19-27 minutes. The timing depends on how thick the bacon slices are.
Save the Bacon Grease: Bacon grease is wonderful as a flavorful cooking fat. When your baking sheet has cooked completely, but the bacon grease is still liquid, pour it into a Mason canning jar or bowl. We recommend pouring the greatest through cheesecloth and a fine mesh sieve to remove the little bits, but this isn't completely necessary. Bacon can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months or frozen indefinitely.
Nutrition
Calories: 92kcalProtein: 3gFat: 81g
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