Crispy, delicious oven-baked bacon is easier to make than you think By using the right temperature and technique, you can achieve consistent results each time Here’s everything you need to know about baking bacon in the oven, including the best temperature for perfect bacon every time.
Why Bake Bacon in the Oven?
Cooking bacon on the stovetop often leads to grease splatters, uneven cooking, and constant monitoring. Switching to the oven prevents messes and frees you up to prepare other parts of the meal while the bacon cooks unattended. Oven baking also allows the bacon to cook evenly, resulting in uniformly crispy strips.
What Temperature is Best for Baking Bacon?
400°F is the ideal oven temperature for baking bacon. This temperature renders out the fat slowly for crispness without overcooking the meat or causing the bacon to burn Higher temperatures may shorten the cook time, but will increase the chances of burnt or unevenly cooked strips
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Bacon
Follow these simple steps for perfectly oven-baked bacon every time:
-
Prep the baking sheet: Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. For easier cleanup, add a cooling rack on top. The rack allows grease to drip below, keeping the bacon from sitting in fat.
-
Arrange the bacon: Lay bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared pan without overlapping. Sprinkling cracked black pepper or other seasonings is optional.
-
Put in a cold oven: Place the baking sheet with bacon in the cold oven first, then turn the oven to 400°F.
-
Bake for 15-25 minutes Once the oven preheats bake for 15-25 minutes depending on crispness preference. Note that cooking times are longer than usual since the bacon starts in a cold oven.
-
Blot grease: Carefully transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to blot grease. Let cool slightly before serving.
-
Cleanup: Discard grease or save it in a heatproof container for cooking. Soiled foil can go right in the trash for quick cleanup.
Baking Times for Bacon
To ensure perfect texture without burning at 400°F, follow these oven bacon cook times as a guide:
- 15-18 minutes: For chewy bacon
- 18-22 minutes: For crisp yet tender bacon
- 22-25 minutes: For very crispy bacon
Thicker specialty bacon may require a few extra minutes. Check often near the end of the recommended time range and cook longer if needed.
Cook Time Versus Oven Preheat
A common bacon baking mistake is putting the bacon into an already hot oven. This can lead to uneven cooking and burning.
Instead, place the bacon in the cold oven first. Turn on the heat, then let the oven gradually preheat with the bacon inside. This allows the bacon to warm up slowly as the oven heats, resulting in even crisping.
Signs Your Oven Temperature is Too High
If you notice any of these issues, your oven is likely too hot for baking bacon:
- Bacon burning or becoming too brown
- Fat splattering
- Uneven cooking between slices
- Curled or shrivelled appearance
If you see these signs, lower the temperature 25°F and test again. Adjusting down to 375°F may prevent burning.
Tips for Crispy Oven-Baked Bacon
For extra crispy bacon, try these tips:
- Use thick-cut bacon which holds up better than thin
- Cut strips shorter so they cook evenly
- Bake bacon on a wire rack for maximum air circulation
- Pat bacon dry before baking to help crisping
- Add a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup for caramelized flavor
Delicious Uses for Baked Bacon
Now that you know how to bake crispy bacon in the oven, try using those candied-like strips in these recipes:
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches
- Bacon cheeseburgers
- Bacon and blue cheese potato salad
- Bacon onion jam
- Candied bacon milkshake
- Bacon peanut brittle
The possibilities are endless! With the ideal oven temperature and proper technique, you’ll enjoy perfectly cooked bacon every time.
HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
FAQ
Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400?
What temperature should you cook bacon in the oven?
How long should bacon be in the oven at 400 degrees?
How long does it take to cook bacon at 375?
What temperature should Bacon be preheated before baking?
We recommend baking bacon at 400 degrees F. For most recipes, you’d wait for the oven to preheat before you start baking. When baking bacon, however, we suggest sliding the sheet pan into the cold oven so the bacon sits inside as the oven comes to temperature.
How do you cook bacon in the oven?
Baking bacon in the oven is one of the easiest mess-free ways to prepare it. With our special method it comes out perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious every single time. Lay the bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the bacon in a cold oven. Set the oven to 400˚F.
How do you cook bacon on a rimmed baking sheet?
For easy clean-up, line a 13 x 18-inch rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty wide aluminum foil and so that there is some overhang on all sides (this prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet), then cover with a sheet of parchment paper. Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet.
How long do you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet. You should be able to fit about 12 slices (try to keep them from overlapping). Bake 14 to 18 minutes for regular bacon and 18 to 20 minutes for thick-cut bacon, carefully rotating the baking sheet from front to back about halfway through cooking.
