We are learning a life skill today: baking bacon in the oven. You’ll be able to make bacon that is consistently perfectly cooked and crisp after reading this article, and you’ll be able to proudly identify yourself as a bacon perfectionist.
I’d bet my last piece that the bacon is baked if you’ve ever wondered how your favorite brunch, burger, or BLT spot gets those flat, thick, and enchantedly crisp bacon slices.
Compared to fried bacon, oven-baked bacon is simpler to prepare, healthier, and more effective. (Air-frying bacon is another excellent technique.)
Bacon that has been baked instead of pan-fried is one of the few times in culinary history where the easier method produces a better product.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Although it always helps to watch a brief video tutorial, it’s incredibly simple. Watch the video below!.
Oven Baked Bacon – In 5 Steps
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Lay the bacon slices on the baking sheet.
Cook the bacon for 18-20 minutes or until it’s as crispy as you’d like.
Remove the bacon from the oven and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Tips for Perfect Oven Baked Bacon
Bake at 400 Degrees F. Some recipes recommend baking bacon at other temperatures or starting the bacon in a cold oven, but I found that a preheated 400 degrees F is the best temperature for baking bacon. It cooks the bacon evenly no matter its thickness and the bacon won’t splatter.
Use a Rack. Not only does the rack make the bacon healthier, but it also helps make it crispy and evenly-cooked.
Depending on your bacon’s thickness and desired level of crispness, you should cook bacon in the oven for a different amount of time.
For Thin-Cut Bacon. Regular, thin-cut bacon will typically bake in 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. If you want it extra crispy, you can let it bake a little longer, but keep a close eye on it.
For Thick-Cut Bacon. Thicker bacon will take 14 to 20 minutes, depending upon your thickness and how crisp you would like it to be.
How many slices you are making at once will also affect how long the bacon takes to cook.
Depending on how crowded your sheet pan is, you might need to increase the baking time by a few minutes.
To Store. Cooked bacon will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. If it starts to smell funny or change appearance, throw it out.
To Reheat. Recrisp your bacon slices on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.
To Freeze. Store baked bacon slices in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remove and thaw slices as desired.
It’s time to put your newfound knowledge of how to make oven-baked bacon to use!
