How to Cook Sliced Peameal Bacon in the Oven: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Sliced peameal bacon, sometimes called Canadian bacon, is a delicious alternative to regular smoked bacon. It comes from the pork loin and is trimmed of fat, making it a healthier choice. While peameal bacon is often pan-fried, baking it in the oven is an easy hands-off cooking method that results in evenly cooked, crispy, and flavorful bacon every time.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook sliced peameal bacon in the oven perfectly. We’ll cover how to prep the bacon, what temperature and cook times to use, flavoring ideas, serving suggestions, and pro tips and tricks for guaranteed success. Let’s get cooking!

What is Peameal Bacon?

Peameal bacon comes from the lean boneless pork loin. It is wet cured in a brine, which gives it its signature salty flavor. The pork loin is then rolled in cornmeal, which is how it gets the name “peameal” bacon.

Unlike regular bacon made from pork belly, peameal bacon has less fat content. It also has a slightly sweeter, milder taste compared to smoked bacon.

Peameal bacon is quite popular in Canada, where it’s known as Canadian bacon. It’s often used as a breakfast meat served with eggs and pancakes. The lean cut also makes it a tasty topping for burgers and pizza.

Why Cook It in the Oven?

Baking peameal bacon in the oven has several advantages

• Even cooking: The oven’s dry heat surrounds the bacon, cooking it evenly on all sides. No need to flip and rotate like when pan frying.

• Less splattering: With no hot grease popping on the stovetop, oven-baking is neater and easier.

• Hands-off: Once it’s in the oven, you don’t need to constantly watch and flip the bacon. Just set a timer and go do other things.

• Flavor infusion: The long cook time allows flavors from glazes, rubs or seasoning to really permeate the meat.

• Perfect texture: Oven baking crisps up the bacon beautifully on the outside while keeping the inside tender.

Clearly, the oven is the way to go for cooking peameal bacon!

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Peameal Bacon in the Oven

Follow these simple steps for peameal bacon cooked just right in the oven every time.

1. Preheat Oven and Prep Baking Sheet

• Preheat oven to 400°F.

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. This prevents sticking.

2. Pat Bacon Dry and Arrange on Sheet

• Remove bacon from packaging.

• Gently pat dry with paper towels. Getting rid of excess moisture helps it cook up crispy.

• Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on prepared baking sheet without overlapping. Overlapping causes uneven cooking.

3. Season or Flavor (Optional)

• Want to add extra flavor? Now’s the time to season or glaze the bacon before it goes in the oven.

• Seasoning ideas: Sprinkle with brown sugar, maple sugar, coarse black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, or dried thyme.

• Glazing ideas: Brush with maple syrup, honey, brown sugar glaze, or homemade bourbon bbq sauce.

4. Bake

• Place baking sheet on middle rack of the preheated oven.

• Bake for 15-20 minutes. Then flip each slice.

• Continue baking another 10-15 minutes, keeping a close eye on it.

• Total baking time will be 25-35 minutes.

5. Check for Doneness

• Bacon should be lightly browned and crispy.

• To confirm doneness, use tongs to lift a piece. It should be stiff and crispy, not limp.

• If not done enough, bake a few more minutes until crispy and browned to your liking.

6. Drain on Paper Towel

• Transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.

• This drains off any excess grease for crisper bacon.

7. Let Sit 5 Minutes

• Let bacon rest 5 minutes before eating.

• This allows it to finish cooking and the flavors to set.

• Crunchy, tasty oven-baked peameal bacon ready to enjoy!

And that’s it! With these simple steps you’ll have perfectly cooked bacon with a crispy texture and delicious flavor.

Oven Baked Peameal Bacon Cooking Times

To recap, here are the general guidelines for oven bake times:

• Regular sliced: Bake 25-35 minutes total. Flip halfway.

• Thick sliced: May need 35-45 minutes total. Flip halfway.

• Peameal slab/roast: Bake low and slow at 250°F for 1-1 1⁄2 hours until 140°F internal temperature.

Always watch closely near the end of baking time. Your exact cooking time may vary based on thickness, if you added a glaze, and your desired level of crispiness.

Use a meat thermometer to test doneness, especially for thicker cuts. Peameal bacon should reach an internal temperature of at least 140°F.

Serving Suggestions

The oven-baked peameal bacon tastes delicious on its own, but it also shines when incorporated into recipes. Here are serving ideas:

• Breakfast tacos or burritos

• Eggs Benedict

• Bacon and egg breakfast pizzas

• BLT sandwiches

• Bacon jam or homemade bacon bits

• Potato hash with bacon

• Bacon mac and cheese

• Bacon-wrapped scallops or shrimp

• Cobb salad or bacon and blue cheese salad

• Bacon and cornbread stuffing

• Bacon-flecked cornbread muffins

• Bacon chocolate chip cookies

The savory, salty, slightly sweet flavor of peameal bacon complements both sweet and savory dishes. Get creative with how you use it!

Pro Tips for Oven-Baked Peameal Bacon Perfection

Take your oven-baked peameal bacon from good to great with these expert tips:

• Use a broiler pan or cooling rack set on the baking sheet. This allows air circulation and fat drainage for crisper bacon.

• Add a pan of water to the oven, which keeps the air moist for more even cooking.

• Cut bacon into smaller pieces to increase crispiness.

• Cook thicker cuts of peameal bacon at a lower 250°F oven temperature.

• Brush glazes on in layers. Some in the beginning, some midway, some at end for caramelized flavor.

• For less greasy bacon, line the baking sheet with parchment then place a cooling rack on top.

• For bacon that’s browned and crispy outside but chewy inside, cook at higher heat for less time.

• For bacon that’s more uniformly crispy throughout, use a lower temp and longer cooking time.

Common Questions about Oven Cooking Peameal Bacon

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking this special bacon in the oven:

Is it better to bake peameal bacon in the oven or pan fry?

Baking gives you more consistently cooked and crispy bacon with less splatter. Pan frying can work too but requires more effort flipping and watching the bacon.

Should you flip the bacon when oven baking?

Yes, flip the bacon slices about halfway through for even cooking on both sides.

What temperature should I bake peameal bacon at?

400°F is ideal, but you can also try 375°F for slightly slower baking.

How long does it take to bake peameal bacon?

Most sliced peameal bacon will take 25-35 minutes total baking time, but check often towards the end. Thicker cuts take more time.

Can you bake a full peameal bacon roast?

Yes! Bake it at a lower 250°F oven temp until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 140°F. This low and slow method keeps it tender.

What happens if you undercook peameal bacon in the oven?

Undercooked bacon will be limp, flabby, and pale in color. It may also be tough or rubbery instead of tender.

What happens if you overcook peameal bacon in the oven?

Overcooking makes the bacon dry, stiff and burnt tasting. It becomes overly crispy and loses its flavor.

Hopefully these tips answer all your questions about cooking this tasty bacon in the oven!

Enjoy the Simple Joy of Perfectly Baked Peameal Bacon

With its milder flavor, leaner cut, and hint of sweetness, peameal bacon is a delicious change from everyday smoked bacon. By following the step-by-step instructions in this guide, you are guaranteed tender and crispy oven-baked peameal bacon every time.

From properly prepping and arranging the bacon, to seasoning ideas and cooking tips, you now have all the info needed to bake this Canadian delight to perfection right at home. Serve it up with eggs, as part of a hearty breakfast sandwich, or crumble it on salads and baked potatoes. However you choose to enjoy your oven-baked peameal bacon, the flavor speaks for itself.

So try something new the next time you’re craving bacon for breakfast or dinner. Ditch the frying pan, and let your oven work its magic on peameal bacon instead. In no time, you’ll have crunchy, tasty bacon with very little effort on your part.