Cooking bacon in the oven is a easy and efficient method that yields evenly-cooked, crisp strips without the debris and constant supervision of stovetop frying.
If you’re curious about the optimal method for achieving that delicious crunch. This article will demonstrate how to bake bacon to perfection in the oven.
Use Any Type Of Bacon
The most prevalent form of bacon is American Bacon. This popular cut is derived from the belly of the swine and is typically a fatty cut of meat. Also delicious when oven-baked is flavored bacon, such as maple or peppered.
In the oven, thick-cut bacon performs well. This bacon is about 1/8 inch thick, requiring more cooking time. If it requires additional time after 20 minutes, turn it over and place it back in the oven for a few minutes.
The use of turkey bacon, which is somewhat slimmer, is acceptable. At the same temperature, it will require less time in the oven to prevent drying out.
How To Cook Bacon In Oven?
1. Arrange Bacon On a Baking Sheet Lined With Foil
On top of the foil, arrange the bacon in a single layer, with the segments touching but not overlapping.
Alternatively, if you prefer, line the baking sheet with an oven-friendly cooling rack and place the bacon on top to enable extra grease to drain as the bacon cooks; either way, it’s not a big deal.
Please omit the rack so that there is one less dish to clear.
Now is the perfect time to astound your family or brunch guests by elevating your bacon.
Add seasoning such as black peppercorns, brown sugar, or chipotle chile powder.
2. Place Bacon In A Cold Oven
This phase is of the utmost importance. Place the bacon in an oven that has not been preheated and is still chilly. Preheat the oven after you’ve placed the bacon in it.
Why? When bacon is heated slowly, its fat is rendered, and it becomes extremely crispy, far crispier than if it had been cooked in a hot oven.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit after placing the bacon in it and baking it until it gets the required crispness.
Because the bacon will be frying while the oven heats up, the total cooking time will be slightly longer than in other recipes.
If you choose to cook bacon in an already-heated oven, you must reduce the cooking time, or the bacon will brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven using utensils and place the bacon on paper towels.
3. Clean Up And Enjoy!
If you wish to save the bacon grease, pour it gingerly into a heat-resistant container, such as an old metal coffee container.
If you do not wish to save the fat, set the grease-filled baking sheet aside and allow it to settle. The grease will solidify on the aluminum foil, allowing for a very simple cleansing.
Timing Required
Time Required For Baking Regular Bacon
Bake 350 degrees for approximately 15–20 minutes for normal bacon slices. To avoid overcooking the food, keep a tight check on it as the clock nears the 15-minute mark.
Timing For Cooking Bacon With A Thick Cut
If you use bacon with thicker slices, increase the cooking time to between 25 and 30 minutes. To get that perfectly crisp texture on thick bacon, you need to cook it for a little bit longer.
The Benefits Of Bacon Cooking In The Oven
To begin with, you can cook for a crowd, even if that gathering is only your immediate family.
This is especially critical around the holidays or when you have a large number of guests over.
It’s also essential for maintaining your sanity while cooking with the masses.
Second, baking bacon is considerably more environmentally friendly than frying bacon on the stove.
I’m infamous for getting splatters all over the stovetop because I probably cook my bacon a touch too hot.
However, there are no splatters when cooking bacon in the oven since the bacon just sizzles until it’s properly crispy or cooked to your liking.
In the kitchen, you can finally multitask by roasting bacon. Because you will have approximately 15 minutes to prepare eggs, pancakes, or waffles after placing the delicious bacon sheet pan in the oven.
Bacon Storing And Reheating
The storage of bacon is uncomplicated. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days after it has cooled. Reheat bacon over low heat in a skillet or in 15-second increments in the microwave.
If you make a large quantity of bacon, you can freeze it. Just make sure to freeze the strips separately or between pieces of parchment paper so they don’t stay together.
Thanks for reading. I hope you find it helpful.