Baking bacon results in perfectly cooked bacon, every time! Everybody loves bacon, right? Let me show you how to make PERFECT bacon every time – you’ll never make it another way again! How to Bake Bacon for the most perfect bacon you’ve ever seen! Step by step instructions make this so easy – restaurant quality bacon is just an oven away 🙂
Baking Bacon: A How To Guide to Making Perfect Bacon Every Time!
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Baking Bacon
Making perfect bacon is easier than you might think. I used to forgo making bacon because the gigantic mess it made just wasn’t worth the amazing taste. A few years ago I learned about baking bacon and it has changed my life forever.
Why should you bake your bacon?
- Baked bacon does not curl – you get nice straight bacon pieces every time.
- Cooks evenly – no white fatty pieces on one end and burnt bacon on the other.
- No splattering of bacon grease all over the place.
- No need to babysit the bacon. You don’t even have to turn it over!
- Tastes delicious.
What you will need to bake bacon:
- Shallow baking sheet
- Foil (heavy-duty preferable)
- Metal Cooling Rack (optional)
- Non-stick cooking spray (optional)
- Paper towels
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven:
- Line the baking sheet with foil. (You will want to use a baking sheet that has enough of a rim that it contains the bacon drippings.)
- If using a metal cooling rack, spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray, and place the rack inside the baking sheet.
- Place the bacon slices in a single layer either directly on the foil or on a rack Make sure not to overlap slices.
- Turn the oven on and set to 400 degrees. Do not wait for the oven to preheat. Go ahead and place the pan in the oven.
- Cook the bacon for 12-17 minutes. Cooking time depends on the thickness of your bacon, and how long it takes for you oven to come to temperature. Start checking your bacon around 10 minutes to ensure your bacon doesn’t burn. (Nothing worse than burnt bacon!)
- When the bacon is golden brown, the bacon is done.
- Once the bacon has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove immediately and place on paper towels to soak up the bacon grease.
- Eat and enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Baked Bacon
- The oven should be cold when you put the bacon in – do not preheat.
- Make sure you are watching the bacon closely during the last few minutes of baking to ensure that the bacon doesn’t burn.
- Remove the bacon from the rack or baking sheet right after removing from oven. The bacon will continue cooking as long as it is left in the pan or bacon fat.
- It is easy to flavor up the bacon. Try black pepper or brown sugar sprinkled on the top before baking – it will give your bacon a whole new flavor.
- Want to freeze your bacon? Under-cook your bacon by a couple of minutes , let it cool and then place it in Ziploc bag. To reheat, pull out a couple of slices and cook in the microwave on medium power for 30 seconds.
How To Bake Bacon
Baking Bacon: A How-To Guide to Making Perfect Bacon Every Time
Ingredients
- 8 oz bacon
- Shallow baking sheet
- Foil heavy-duty preferable
- Metal Cooling Rack optional
- Non-stick cooking spray optional
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Line the baking sheet with foil. (You will want to use a baking sheet that has enough of a rim that it contains the bacon drippings.)
- If using a metal cooling rack, spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray, and place the rack inside the baking sheet.
- Place the bacon slices in a single layer either directly on the foil or on a rack Make sure not to overlap slices.
- Turn the oven on and set to 400 degrees. Do not wait for the oven to preheat. Go ahead and place the pan in the oven.
- Cook the bacon for 12-17 minutes. Cooking time depends on the thickness of your bacon, and how long it takes for you oven to come to temperature. Start checking your bacon around 10 minutes to ensure your bacon doesn’t burn. (Nothing worse than burnt bacon!)
- When the bacon is golden brown, the bacon is done.
- Once the bacon has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove immediately and place on paper towels to soak up the bacon grease.
- Eat and enjoy!
Nutrition
Some yummy bacon recipes:
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Breakfast Burrito Bonanza – A Freezer Meal Idea
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
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Athea Core Photography says
Well this goes into the “Why didn’t I think of that?” file! lol This is great, the bacon is way less greasy, the cleanup is much easier and everyone can sit down for breakfast at the same time…no more cooking a few peices at one! ❤ it!
Trish @MomOnTimeout says
@pattyannsue I’ve not had a problem with spattering but maybe you could try loosely tenting foil over the bacon and see if it still cooks right.
pattyannsue says
I’ve baked bacon for some time myself, however, I quit because it makes my oven a complete mess! What about yours? I think I probably was preheating the oven before I put the bacon in. Does starting with a cold oven reduce the oven spatter?
Anonymous says
I’ve always been told to cook bacon starting with a cold pan because the bacon doesn’t curl like in a hot pan.
Yadira says
Thanks for the tip! I will definetly be using this method from now on. I’m curious… What happens if I preheat the oven?
Anonymous says
Whenever I fry my bacon, I use the big griddle. No popping grease then because it doesnt pool up. Also, cooking at a lower temp helps prevent it as well. Nevertheless, this baking method looks wonderful and I cant wait to try it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Anonymous says
Been using this method for years also. Learned many moons ago when I worked in a restaurant. It’s also a great way to save your bacon grease for future cooking. Just remember to keep it stored in the fridge. Nothing better than using a little of it to fry your eggs, add to your pot of beans, etc..
Lindsay says
How have I cooked bacon before reading this?? I have learned so much! Thank you for linking up @ Show & Share! So happy that you did!
ladywiththeredrocker says
I love baked bacon! I never would have thought to put bacon on a cooling rack. Must try this! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie @ Ladywiththeredrocker.wordpress.com
Shannon says
This is amazing. I had no idea. Thank you!
Shannon @ Imperfectly-Inspired
Jennifer says
This is the only way I like to make bacon now, it’s not as messy! I bet a lot of people will love this post and thank you!
JulieAnn says
Good idea! I bake mine too, but I use our broiler pan instead of a cookie sheet and rack.
Courtney says
Thanks for sharing this–I have never heard of baking bacon but am excited to give it a try since I am not a fan of cooking it on the stove or in the microwave. Thanks again!
Witchy Mom's Homeschool and Organic Gardens says
Oooh, I want to see if using parchment paper will help with the mess! Thanks for the idea to give baking bacon another try!
Carrie says
Tweeted it, fab tutorial!