There are many ways to cook bacon, but baking it in the oven is a great way to make a big batch without the mess and hassle of frying it in a skillet. Cooking bacon in the oven is also a more hands-off approach, allowing you to multitask in the kitchen. The oven temperature and baking time depend on the desired crispiness and the type of bacon used.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Oven temperature | 350°F to 450°F |
Baking time | 10 to 20 minutes |
Baking sheet lining | Aluminum foil, parchment paper, or greaseproof paper |
Baking sheet type | Rimmed |
Bacon arrangement | Single layer, not overlapping |
Flipping required? | No, but flip halfway if desired |
Rack required? | No, but use for extra crispiness |
What You'll Learn
Preheat the oven to 400°F
At 400°F, you can cook regular sliced bacon for 14 minutes and thick-cut bacon for 18 minutes. If you like your bacon extra crispy, you can bake it on a metal cooling rack placed over the baking sheet. This allows the bacon to cook from all sides and become extra crispy.
It's worth noting that some sources suggest a slightly lower temperature of 350°F for thick-cut bacon, cooking it for 15 to 20 minutes. However, 400°F seems to be the most recommended temperature for achieving the perfect crispy bacon.
Preheating the oven is an important step, but it's even more important to place the bacon into the oven before it starts to preheat. This allows the bacon to heat up slowly, rendering out more fat and resulting in crispier bacon.
So, preheat your oven to 400°F, but only after you've already placed your bacon-filled baking sheet inside.
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Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper
When it comes to baking bacon, lining your baking sheet or tray is a crucial step. Using foil or parchment paper makes the cooking process mess-free and simplifies cleanup. Here's a step-by-step guide to lining your baking sheet for perfectly baked bacon:
Step 1: Choose Your Lining
You have two main options for lining your baking sheet: foil or parchment paper. Both materials have their advantages. Foil is typically found in most kitchens and can withstand high temperatures. Parchment paper, on the other hand, is a favourite for those seeking a compostable option, as it can be easily discarded after use.
Step 2: Line the Baking Sheet
Once you've selected your lining material, it's time to prepare your baking sheet. Take a sheet of foil or parchment paper and place it on your baking sheet, ensuring it covers the entire surface. If you're using foil, you can simply mould it to the shape of the baking sheet. With parchment paper, you might need to overlap multiple sheets to ensure full coverage.
Step 3: Prepare for Easy Cleanup
To make cleanup even easier, consider allowing some overhang on all four sides of the baking sheet. This will help contain the grease and drippings during cooking, so they don't end up in your oven. Overlapping sheets of foil or parchment paper can help achieve this, creating a barrier that catches all the bacon grease.
Step 4: Arrange the Bacon
Now that your baking sheet is lined, it's time to arrange your bacon slices. Place the bacon in a single layer on top of the foil or parchment paper. The slices can be close together, even touching, but avoid overlapping them. Overlapping slices may stick together during cooking.
Step 5: Optional Seasoning
At this point, you can add some extra flavour to your bacon. Consider sprinkling on seasonings like cracked black pepper, brown sugar, or chipotle chilli powder. This step is entirely optional but can take your bacon to the next level.
Step 6: Ready for the Oven
With your bacon arranged, you're now ready to place the baking sheet in the oven. Remember, some recipes recommend preheating the oven, while others suggest placing the bacon in a cold oven and then turning it on. Follow your chosen recipe's instructions for the best results.
Lining your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper is a simple yet essential step in baking bacon. It ensures a mess-free cooking process and simplifies cleanup, so you can focus on enjoying your perfectly cooked bacon!
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Arrange bacon in a single layer
When arranging bacon on a baking sheet, it's important to place the slices in a single layer, ensuring they are close together but not overlapping. This is because the bacon will shrink while baking, and overlapping slices may stick together. If you are making a lot of bacon, the slices can be placed slightly closer together, but it's important to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lead to uneven cooking.
When arranging the bacon, you can place the slices directly on top of the foil or parchment paper, or you can fit the baking sheet with an oven-safe cooling rack and place the bacon on top of that. Using a cooling rack allows the grease to drain away while the bacon cooks, resulting in a slightly healthier option and crispier bacon. However, this method also requires washing the greasy rack afterward, so it's up to you to decide which method you prefer.
If you want to get creative, you can also sprinkle the bacon with seasonings like cracked black pepper, brown sugar, or chipotle chilli powder before placing it in the oven.
Once you've arranged the bacon on the baking sheet, it's time to move on to the next step of baking it in the oven.
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Bake for 10-20 minutes
Once you've arranged your bacon on a lined baking tray, it's time to get cooking!
The cooking time will depend on the type of bacon you're using and your desired level of crispiness. For regular sliced bacon, you'll want to bake it for around 14 minutes. If you're using thick-cut bacon, extend the cooking time to about 18 minutes. Remember, these are just guidelines, and you should always keep an eye on your bacon to make sure it's cooking to your liking.
So, pop your tray of bacon into the oven and set a timer. Keep in mind that thick-cut bacon may need a little longer, so don't be afraid to extend the cooking time if needed. Check on your bacon after about 10 minutes—this is a good time to ensure it's cooking evenly and prevent any accidental charcoaling!
If you're after super crispy bacon, consider using a metal cooling rack placed over your baking tray. This allows the bacon to cook from all sides and gives it that extra crispiness. Just be aware that you'll have to clean the greasy rack afterward!
Now, while your bacon is in the oven, you're free to focus on other things. Whip up some eggs, make a batch of pancakes, or simply relax and let the oven do its magic.
Once the timer goes off, it's time to check on your bacon. Use tongs to remove the crispy slices and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain off any excess grease. If you're happy with the level of crispiness, you can transfer the bacon to your waiting plate or platter. However, if you're like me and prefer your bacon extra crispy, you might want to pop it back into the oven for a few more minutes. Just keep an eye on it to avoid any accidental burning!
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Drain on a paper towel-lined plate
Once you've removed your bacon from the oven, the next step is to transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. This will help to soak up any excess grease and ensure your bacon is crispy and delicious.
If you want to save the bacon grease, be sure to let it cool slightly before handling. You can then pour it into a heat-proof container and refrigerate for later use. Bacon grease can be used instead of oil to add extra flavour when sautéing vegetables or eggs.
If you don't want to save the grease, simply set the hot grease-filled baking sheet aside and let it cool down. Once the grease has solidified, you can lift the paper towel and discard it, making cleanup quick and easy.
Whether you choose to save the grease or not, transferring your cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate is an important step to ensure your bacon is crispy and ready to enjoy.
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Frequently asked questions
Most sources recommend baking bacon at 400°F (200°C). However, some suggest lower temperatures, such as 350°F or 325°F, especially for thick-cut bacon.
The baking time depends on the thickness of the bacon and your desired level of crispiness. Regular sliced bacon typically takes 14-20 minutes, while thick-cut bacon may need up to 18-20 minutes.
To make bacon crispy, bake it on a metal cooling rack placed over a baking sheet. This allows the bacon to cook from all sides and makes it extra crispy. You can also try a higher temperature, such as 450°F, for super crispy bacon.