This recipe on how to cook bacon in the oven is a simple, mess free method for cooking your bacon. I prefer this method over pan frying since it keeps all the grease in one place. It’s super easy to set up and cleanup only takes a few minutes.
Ingredients
Bacon – the cut is your preference. For this recipe, we used thick cut black peppered bacon from Daily’s. You could also use a thin sliced if you prefer, you just may need to adjust the cooking time.
Equipment Needed to Cook Bacon In The Oven
- Baking Pan – 13 inches by 9 inches should do the trick. It needs to be long enough to fit a few slices of bacon.
- Parchment Paper – this makes cleanup a breeze. You could also use aluminum foil or cook it directly on the pan.
Instructions For Cooking Bacon In The Oven
For this recipe, we used Daily’s black pepper thick cut bacon. This recipe will be almost identical for any type of bacon that you use, but you may need to adjust the cook time. Thinner bacon will cook faster.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
Grab a baking pan and spread out a piece of parchment paper on to help catch the grease. You can cook the bacon directly on the pan, but this method minimizes the mess.
Lay out 6-8 pieces of bacon on the pan. Leave about a half inch of space between each slice.
Put the bacon in the preheated oven and back for 16 minutes. Adjust as necessary until the bacon is 145 degrees.
And that’s it! Enjoy your crispy oven-baked bacon.
At What Temperature is bacon Safe to Eat?
Bacon is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). However, for optimal texture and flavor, it’s often cooked to a higher temperature, around 160°F (71°C) or even crispy at 165°F (74°C). Always use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s cooked properly!
Do you need to flip bacon in the oven?
No, you don’t need to flip bacon in the oven. The heat from the oven will cook it evenly without needing to be flipped, especially if you’re using a baking sheet. However, if you’d like both sides to be extra crispy, you can flip it halfway through, but it’s not required for it to cook properly.
Tips for Cooking Bacon in the Oven
- Use parchment paper or foil: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to make cleanup easier. The bacon won’t stick, and you can simply toss the lining when done.
- Cook at 400°F (200°C): This temperature gives a great balance between crispiness and tenderness without burning the bacon. It usually takes 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the slices.
- Use a wire rack for extra crispness: Placing bacon on a wire rack set over the baking sheet allows the fat to drip away, making the bacon even crispier. It also cooks more evenly.
- Avoid overcrowding: Make sure the bacon slices are laid out in a single layer with some space between them. Overlapping can result in uneven cooking.
- Start in a cold oven: Some people like starting the bacon in a cold oven to render more fat slowly. It can help bacon cook more evenly, especially if you’re working with thicker cuts.
- Rotate the pan: About halfway through cooking, rotate the pan to ensure even cooking, especially if your oven has hot spots.
- Pat off excess grease: After removing the bacon from the oven, place it on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease for a crispier finish.