How To Cook Bacon In The Oven Like Jamie Oliver: A Full Guide

Bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many. Who doesn’t love waking up to the irresistible smell of sizzling bacon? But cooking bacon on the stove can be messy and require constant monitoring to prevent burning. So what’s the solution? Bake it in the oven!

Cooking bacon in the oven is a game changer. It frees up your stovetop, prevents splattering, and allows you to cook bacon perfectly every time Intrigued? Read on for a complete guide to baking bacon in the oven Jamie Oliver style.

Why Bake Bacon In The Oven?

There are several advantages to cooking bacon in the oven rather than the stovetop

• It’s hands-off Once you pop the bacon in the oven you can walk away. No need to constantly watch and flip it.

• It prevents splatters: Baking contains the grease, so your stovetop and kitchen stay cleaner.

• It cooks evenly: The bacon cooks evenly on all sides, preventing burnt edges.

• It’s faster: You can cook a large batch of bacon quickly in the oven.

• You can cook other items at the same time: Freed up stovetop space allows you to cook other breakfast items simultaneously.

Jamie Oliver’s Method For Oven-Baked Bacon

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is a fan of cooking bacon in the oven. Here are the steps he recommends:

1. Preheat The Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). The oven needs to be fully preheated before cooking the bacon.

2. Prepare The Baking Sheet

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.

3. Arrange The Bacon

Lay the bacon strips out on the baking sheet, making sure they aren’t overlapping. Leave a little space between each slice.

4. Drizzle With Oil

Drizzle a little bit of olive oil or avocado oil over the bacon. Rub it in slightly. This gives great flavor and promotes even cooking.

5. Bake!

Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness. Keep an eye on it towards the end to prevent burning.

6. Drain And Serve

Transfer the baked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve alongside eggs, toast, pancakes, or your other morning favorites!

Tips For Perfect Oven-Baked Bacon

Follow these tips from Jamie Oliver and other bacon-loving chefs:

• Use thick-cut bacon for the best texture. Regular sliced bacon works too.

• Bake bacon on a wire rack over a foil-lined pan for extra crispiness. The grease drips through.

• Add spices and herbs like black pepper, cayenne, rosemary, or thyme for flavor.

• Brush maple syrup or brown sugar onto the bacon before baking for a sweet touch.

• To bake bacon quickly in a crunch, lay strips overlapping in a pan and bake 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Bake bacon on low heat (325°F) for uniform crispness without burning. Extend cooking time 5-10 minutes.

• Avoid oven-cooked bacon curling by placing another foil-lined pan on top while baking.

• Bake bacon straight from the fridge for best results. Don’t let it sit out.

• When almost cooked to your liking, take the pan out and gently loosen bacon strips from the foil with a spatula to prevent sticking. Return to oven 2-3 minutes to finish cooking.

Step-By-Step Photo Guide

Follow this simple photo guide for baking crispy bacon in the oven every time:

![Baking sheet lined with foil][]

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. The lining prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.![Bacon laid out on baking sheet][]

Arrange bacon strips in a single layer on the lined pan. Leave a bit of space between each slice.![Olive oil being drizzled over bacon][]

Drizzle some olive oil or avocado oil over the bacon and rub it in with your hands. This gives flavor and helps bacon cook evenly. ![Baking sheet placed in the oven][]

Place prepared baking sheet in the preheated 400°F oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on desired crispness.![Cooked bacon being removed from oven][]

When bacon is nicely browned, remove pan from oven. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.![Finished crispy baked bacon][]

Your oven-baked bacon is ready to devour! Enjoy it on burgers, in breakfast sandwiches and more.

Jamie Oliver’s Ultimate Bacon Sandwich

Bacon is also fantastic in sandwiches, and Jamie Oliver has a recipe for the ultimate bacon sandwich. Here’s how he makes it:

• Use 2 thick slices of crusty white bread
• Add 2-3 slices of high-quality back bacon, pan fried until super crispy
• Cook the bread in the bacon fat briefly before assembling
• Let bacon sit directly on the bread like “spooning lovers”
• Add HP brown sauce for dipping
• For extra crunch, char the bread on a griddle after cooking in bacon grease

The result is a sublime sandwich with crispy bacon flavor infused right into the bread. The soft bread absorbs the savory bacon grease as the ideal companion to the salty, crispy pork. Dip in HP sauce for an extra punch of flavor.

Cooking Bacon Jamie Oliver Style

Whether you need a quick breakfast, want to meal prep for the week, or are craving a bacon sarnie, Jamie Oliver has you covered. Baking bacon in the oven delivers consistent results and frees up your stovetop without the splatter.

For ultimate flavor, use good quality thick-cut bacon, add spices, or brush on maple syrup or brown sugar before baking. Cook until crisp, drain on paper towels, and enjoy on burgers, in sandwiches and more. Bacon brings joy wherever it’s served!