How Long to Bake Bacon in the Oven at 375°F for Perfectly Cooked Crispy Bacon

Bacon is a breakfast staple in many households. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of sizzling bacon wafting through the house first thing in the morning While pan-frying is the traditional method, baking bacon in the oven offers some major advantages. It’s splatter-free, allows you to cook large batches evenly, and minimizes clean up

But to achieve crispy, mouthwatering oven-baked bacon, you need to use the right temperature and technique. Many recipes call for baking bacon at 375°F. Is this the ideal oven temp for bacon? And exactly how long does it take to bake bacon at 375°F to crispy perfection?

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to bake bacon in the oven at 375°F. Let’s get cooking!

Why Bake Bacon in the Oven?

Before jumping into oven temps and times let’s look at why you should bake bacon in the oven in the first place

• Minimizes splattering – Baking contains the grease for less mess.

• Cooks evenly – The oven heat circulates all around the bacon.

• Cooks large batches – Fit more bacon in the oven than a skillet.

• Hands-free cooking – Just pop it in the oven and set a timer.

• Easy cleanup – Foil-lined pan catches drips for fast cleanup.

Overall, the oven provides a neater, more consistent way to cook crispy bacon in bulk.

Is 375°F the Best Oven Temperature for Bacon?

When it comes to preheating your oven for baking bacon, 375°F is ideal for several reasons:

• High enough to crisp – 375°F renders fat for crispy bacon.

• Avoids burning – Lower than 400°F, so less likely to burn.

• Cooks evenly – Heat circulates well at 375°F.

• Minimizes splatter – Spatter increases over 400°F.

You can bake bacon at a range of oven temps from 350°F up to 400°F. But 375°F strikes the best balance between crisping, avoiding burnt spots, and containing spatter.

How Long to Bake Bacon at 375°F

Bacon cook times can vary a bit based on the thickness of the slices and your desired level of crispiness. But as a general rule of thumb, bake bacon at 375°F for 15-18 minutes.

Here are more details on timing:

• Thin sliced bacon – 15 minutes
• Regular sliced bacon – 16-17 minutes
• Thick sliced bacon – 17-18 minutes

Check for doneness after 15 minutes. Continue cooking 1-2 minutes more until the bacon reaches your ideal crispness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Bacon at 375°F

Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked bacon from your oven every time.

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon
• Rimmed baking sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Wire cooling rack (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Line baking sheet with foil and place rack on top (optional).

3. Arrange raw bacon slices in a single layer on the rack.

4. Bake for 15-18 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes.

5. Remove from oven when bacon is lightly browned and crispy.

6. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate to drain.

The wire rack elevates the bacon from the pan for even crisping on all sides. But you can bake directly on a foil-lined pan too.

Troubleshooting Common Bacon Baking Issues

It may take some trial and error to get your bacon baking method perfected. Here are some common oven bacon problems and how to fix them:

Bacon isn’t getting crisp – Increase oven temp to 400°F. Cook 1-2 minutes longer. Use thinner slices.

Bacon is burnt – Reduce oven temp to 350°F. Check early and cook less time.

Bacon curls up – Use racks to elevate slices. Press slices flat before baking.

Bacon sticks to foil – Spray foil with nonstick spray before adding bacon.

Fat isn’t draining – Be sure bacon isn’t overlapping. Use a rack to elevate.

Uneven cooking – Rotate baking sheet midway through cooking time.

Tips for Baked Bacon Perfection

Follow these tips for the best oven-baked bacon every time:

• Choose bacon with a good lean meat-to-fat ratio for balance.

• Layer paper towels under the foil to absorb extra grease.

• Add cracked black pepper or brown sugar for flavor variations.

• Bake turkey bacon 2-3 minutes less than pork bacon.

• Let baked bacon cool slightly before handling to avoid sticking.

• Store fully cooled bacon in a zip top bag for up to 1 week.

• Reheat leftover bacon in the microwave 10 seconds at a time.

With the right prep and cooking time, you can ditch messy skillet frying forever and make fabulous bacon in your oven. Crisp, evenly browned, grease-free bacon is just 15-18 minutes away at 375°F. Give this easy oven bacon method a try!