I can still recall the first time I cooked bacon myself… I cranked up the burner and fried those slices into oblivion. While I do like my bacon crispy, the shriveled-up, singed pieces that I pulled from the skillet weren’t even close to being fit for consumption.
Why do you call it bacon? You don’t bake it; you fry it! Why the devil can’t they call it “frycon”? -Dick, 3rd Rock from the Sun
I can’t say that I ever perfected frying bacon on the stovetop, but once I learned how to bake bacon in the oven, it became a moot point. Baking bacon is, hands down, the easiest way to get perfectly crispy and delicious bacon with the least amount of mess.
I’m always amazed at how many of my friends don’t realize that you can bake bacon in the oven… It dawned on me tonight, while I was baking a batch, that if they don’t know, chances are a good portion of you may not be aware of how to bake bacon either!
And it would be such a shame not to share the knowledge, because baked bacon is such a pleasure. Baking bacon almost always yields perfectly cooked bacon! But even better, it creates much less of a mess, and there’s less of that lingering scent of fried bacon.
I understand if you’re a little skeptical, but give it a try just once. I really think you’ll be a baked bacon convert. Especially if you’re cooking for a crowd — baking bacon in the oven makes big batches a cinch!
How To Bake Bacon
Are you ready for this? Simply lay the bacon slices out on a cooling rack that’s placed on top of a rimmed aluminum baking sheet, making sure that the slices don’t overlap. Pop the whole thing into an oven that’s been preheated to 400 degrees. Bake for 15-20 minutes — the total cooking time depends on the thickness of your bacon and how crispy you like it. Pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any extra grease, and serve. Easy-peasy!
I mean this was a total game changer for me! No more standing at the stovetop for 30+ minutes watching and turning bacon, while trying to avoid those painful grease spatters. I just can’t help but share the love.
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg. bacon
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place a cooling rack that's placed on top of a rimmed baking sheet. Lay the bacon slices out on the rack, making sure that they don't overlap. More than one tray can be baked at the same time if necessary.
- Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Actual cooking time depends on the thickness of the bacon and desired crispiness.
- Pat each slice dry with a paper towel to remove excess grease, and cool slightly before serving.
Save The Rendered Bacon Fat
Don’t even THINK about throwing out the flavorful rendered bacon fat that collects in the baking sheet. This stuff is pure magic!
Let it cool slightly, then pour it off into a glass jar through a mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a month.
I like to use it for sautéing and roasting vegetables… Everyone wants to know the secret to my amazingly flavorful veggies! It’s also excellent for cooking beans.
Products I recommend for preparing this recipe:
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Marquita says
How bad does it splatter in the oven.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Actually, because the bacon cooks more slowly, there’s virtually no splattering! And the rimmed baking sheet will catch any excess grease that drips off while baking.