Baked Bacon In The Oven Perfectly Cooked Every Time Wellplated Com

The secret to perfect fried bacon is that it isn’t fried; it’s baked. Cooking bacon in the oven is the method most restaurants use, and it is foolproof. Ever wonder how your favorite brunch, burger or BLT spot achieves those flat, thick, and magically crisp bacon slices? I’d wager my last piece that the bacon is baked. Oven baked bacon is easier to make, healthier, and produces better results than fried bacon (Air Fryer Bacon is another great method). Baked bacon is one of those rare culinary situations where the method that yields a superior result (baked bacon) is actually easier than the conventional method (pan frying).

An oven-safe rack allows the heat to circulate evenly around the bacon, a key component of bacon excellence.Baked bacon is hands-free to make, quick to clean up, and won’t splatter you with hot grease while you stand at the stove to babysit it.The best way to cook bacon truly is in the oven!

Ready to dive into how to cook perfect baked bacon? Let’s do it!

Is It Healthier to Bake Bacon?

Here are a couple of reasons why it is better to cook bacon in the oven than on the stove:

One of the great things about baking bacon using this specific method is that the grease from the bacon drips off and is collected below the rack, which means it stays off your bacon and out of your body.Another step I take to make my oven baked bacon healthier is patting off any remaining grease with a paper towel. This further reduces the amount of fat left on each slice. As a bonus, this also makes the bacon crispier too.

While baked bacon is arguably healthier than fried bacon, it is still bacon. Enjoy it in moderation as one tasty component of a balanced diet. Whenever we have bacon, I like to serve it with other lean proteins, fruits, whole grains, or vegetables to make a complete meal.

How to Make Oven Baked Bacon

Let’s take a closer look at how to cook bacon in the oven. Cooking bacon in the oven allows you to make large batches of bacon at once, with every slice evenly cooked and crisp. It’s also safe to put bacon in the oven. If you know how to cook bacon on the stove, then you know that it requires time spent over the skillet, lots of flying grease, and a mess to clean up afterward. With this easy method, you can cook bacon in the oven without the risk of splattering yourself and with almost no mess.

The ONLY Ingredient

High-Quality Bacon. This might sound obvious, but I can’t overstate its importance: the better quality of bacon you buy, the better your final baked bacon will taste. I promise it’s worth it!

Tips for Buying Bacon

Purchase bacon from the butcher counter at the grocery store. It’s usually only a dollar or two more than the pre-packaged stuff, but the taste is remarkably better.Go for the thick cut bacon (no wimpy bacon here!). It’s easier to layer onto to sandwiches, makes more of an impact when sprinkled on salads, and is extra satisfying when munched on its own.For flavor, focus on the quality of the bacon first. Bacon that is applewood smoked is always good, but any flavor is delicious when it’s well sourced.

Tips for Perfect Oven Baked Bacon

Bake at 400 Degrees F. Some recipes recommend baking bacon at other temperatures or starting the bacon in a cold oven, but I found that a preheated 400 degrees F is the best temperature for baking bacon. It cooks the bacon evenly no matter its thickness and the bacon won’t splatter.Use a Rack. Not only does the rack make the bacon healthier, but it also helps make it crispy and evenly-cooked.

How Long to Bake Bacon

How long bacon should be cooked in the oven will vary based upon the thickness of your bacon and your desired crispness.

For Thin-Cut Bacon. Regular, thin-cut bacon will typically bake in 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. If you want it extra crispy, you can let it bake a little longer, but keep a close eye on it.For Thick-Cut Bacon. Thicker bacon will take 14 to 20 minutes, depending upon your thickness and how crisp you would like it to be.

The time the bacon takes to cook will also vary by how many slices you are making at once. If your sheet pan is very crowded, you may need to extend the baking time by a few minutes.

Baked Bacon Storage Tips

To Store. Cooked bacon will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. If it starts to smell funny or change appearance, throw it out.To Reheat. Recrisp your bacon slices on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.To Freeze. Store baked bacon slices in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remove and thaw slices as desired.

How to Use Baked Bacon

Now that you’ve mastered the life skill of how to make oven baked bacon, it’s time to use it!

Use It in Any Recipe That Calls for Cooked/Crumbled Bacon. In addition to the most obvious end (gobbling the slices directly from the plate), baking bacon in the oven is an ideal method any time you have a recipe that calls for adding cooked, crumbled bacon, or if you want to make a standard recipe a little more decadent. These Roasted Brussels Sprouts are delicious with a little bacon sprinkle, to name but one example.Salads. Crumbled bacon makes salads scrumptious and extra appealing. Try BLT Chopped Salad, 7 Layer Salad, or add it to Apple Walnut Salad.Top Pizzas. Dice it and use it to top Naan Pizza, Ricotta Pizza, and Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pizza.Sandwiches and Burgers. A slice of crisp bacon is always a good choice on a BLT, Air Fryer Grilled Cheese, Blue Cheese Burgers, and more!

Recommended Tools for Making Bacon in the Oven

Rimmed Baking Sheet. Your oven baked bacon BFF.Aluminum Foil. Adding a layer of this to your baking sheet makes cooking bacon in the oven a breeze to clean up.Oven-Safe Baking Rack. A key component in our crispy baked bacon.