A foolproof method for perfectly crispy bacon.
It may well be that nothing is better than crispy bacon or that nothing is worse than soft, flabby bacon (though some people do prefer softer bacon, I am not one of those people!). There are different ways to get crispy bacon: you can cook it in a frying pan, but then you have to deal with the grease splatter (on your stove, on your clothes!); some people like to cook it in the microwave; you can also cook bacon in the air fryer and, while I do love this method, it limits the amount of bacon you can make at one time. Use your air fryer when you just need a slice or two for your BLT or to crumble over salad, but if you want to make a good amount of really crispy bacon, cook it in the oven at 425°F!
This hot-oven approach to cooking bacon is my favorite when I need a big batch. Unlike the stovetop method, I don’t have to stand over it and baby it—I just put it in the oven and go about my business for 12-14 minutes. The bacon comes out perfectly, and there’s very little cleanup. If you’re using thick-cut bacon, you might want to flip it midway through cooking or give it a little extra time in the oven, but otherwise, you don’t have to do a thing!
Bacon may not be the healthiest food (though it is a great source of protein), but that’s what makes it so special: we don’t eat it every day! But we may eat it more often now that we see how easy it is to make in the oven. Any bacon dish is made that much simpler with this method (I’m thinking Spicy Corn and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese). It comes out so crisp, salty, and smoky—and then there’s the added benefit of it filling your kitchen with that irresistible aroma!
I use this oven-baked method whenever I’m hosting brunch; this way I can make a lot of bacon. As soon as one tray comes out of the oven, I have another all prepped and ready to go. And since my bacon is cooking in the oven, it frees up my stovetop to make another brunch favorite: this luscious French Toast Brulee!
For Ultimate Crispiness
For crispy bacon, spread out the bacon in a single layer (don’t overlap the slices!) on parchment paper (or you can line your pan with aluminum foil if you don’t have parchment). Also, let your bacon come to room temperature (it can sit on the parchment-lined baking sheet for about 15 minutes) before putting it in the oven; this way, the fat and the meat will be at the same temperature and the bacon will cook more evenly. Next, putting a wire cooling rack on top of your lined, rimmed baking sheet and laying your bacon on the rack will allow the rendered fat to drain onto the parchment while the bacon cooks. Not only will this add to the crispiness, it will make it easy for you to save the bacon fat for all sorts of other dishes (add it to savory muffin recipes, cook potatoes in it, or use it as the fat in your spinach salad dressing!).
How do I store the bacon?
This bacon can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator (warm it up in a hot pan on the stove for just a few minutes). You can also freeze this oven-baked bacon by laying the cooked slices on a clean, parchment-lined sheet pan and sticking them in the freezer for 30 minutes; then transfer the bacon slices to a freezer-safe bag and store them for up to 3 months (just microwave the frozen bacon until it’s warmed through–start at 15 seconds).
Serving Suggestions
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner: bacon really does make everything better! A perfect way to start the day is with a delectable breakfast sandwich made by placing some slices of crispy, oven-baked bacon between two Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes and drizzling the whole thing with some maple syrup. Or make a savory breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon between two Potato Pancakes and top with a Sunny-Side Up Egg! One of my favorite lunches is a gooey Grilled Cheese stuffed with crispy oven-baked bacon (and some fresh tomatoes!). And a really popular family dinner at our house is mixing pieces of hot crispy bacon into this Easy Bruschetta Pasta.
Crumbled crispy bacon is also a delicious enhancement to so many dishes, like Garlic Mashed Potatoes or on top of Twice-Baked Potatoes with Horseradish and Chives. Bacon also does magical things to other kinds of vegetables–try it with Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Grilled Green Beans or Roasted Kabocha Squash. And for a spectacular sweet & savory dessert? Make these Pumpkin Salted Caramel Blondies that are finished with Sea Salt and Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce and then crumble some ultra-crispy oven-baked bacon over them. You’re welcome!!
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven 425
Ingredients
- 8-10 slices of bacon approximately 1/2 pound
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Arrange the bacon slices on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the bacon reaches your preferred level of crispiness.
- Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven, and using tongs, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and crisp up further.
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