Cooking bacon is the easiest and most straightforward method. From breakfast to sandwiches, bacon is a healthy protein that is all around satisfying with flavor and texture.
There are many ways to cook bacon, and using an oven is one of the most fool proof methods. As easy as it may sound, oven can make bacon crispy or reduce mess without splattering based on the steps and tips you follow.
How do you cook bacon in the oven? Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and place the bacon slices in a single layer without overcrowding.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until they are crispy. Remove the bacon from the oven and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to soak up excess grease and further crisp the bacon before serving.
Oven is the easiest and cleanest method to cook bacon. It has temperature setting adjustable to thickness and desired doneness of bacon.
Answered below are frequently asked questions about the best way to cook bacon in the oven. This post includes oven tips and steps to follow when baking for perfect results every time.
Can you cook bacon in the oven?
Yes, you can cook bacon in the oven. In fact, it is most easiest and cleanest method compared to stovetop.
Making bacon in the oven allows it to cook more consistently because heat is from all sides. Oven cooked bacon does not require flipping on the other side because heat and air circulation makes it cook evenly on both sides.
The oven makes the bacon cooked thoroughly and crispy all around. Whereas, the heat source of stovetop comes only from the bottom, which makes it burn easily on the one side and undercooked on other parts.
Is it safe to cook bacon in the oven?
Yes, it is safe to cook bacon in the oven. The high heat temperature makes it easy to kill any harmful bacteria present in bacon and avoid undercooking.
Meat protein, especially pork, are easy target for bacteria, parasites and food borne illness. Even though bacon is cured, it is highly recommended to make sure that it is fully cooed before serving.
Most bacteria that are pathogenic can be safely removed through a heat of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius or higher, achievable within minutes of cooking in the oven.
Always check the doneness of bacon before consuming to prevent from parasitic infection. Look for color turned into golden brown and fats to be rendered out.
Is it better to cook bacon in the oven or stove?
It is better to cook bacon in the oven instead of on the stovetop. When bacon is cooked on the stove, it tends to get crispier on the edges while other parts remain undercooked.
Oven baking bacon cooks more consistently because heat is delivered from all sides. Furthermore, using oven reduces the mess to cleanup afterwards and cuts down on meal prep time.
This kitchen appliance ensures crispy and evenly cooked bacon strips without having to stand over the stovetop.
How do you cook bacon in an oven
Cooking bacon in an oven is pretty easy compared to other methods. It is fast and cleaner way to make crispy and delicious bacon.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius.
Prepare the bacon by lining the baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the slices on a single layer and avoid overlapping or overcrowding them.
When baking large quantities of bacon, consider splitting into two pans to cook separately.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the strips are brown and crispy. Once the doneness has reached your preference, remove on a paper towel lined plate to further absorb excess grease and let it crisp.
Temperature and cooking time will vary due to different thickness and certain brands of bacon may require slightly altered cooking methods.
How long does it take to cook bacon in the oven?
Cooking bacon in the oven is simple and straightforward. Preheat the oven and set the temperature to get the job without hassle.
Depending on the amount of bacon, thickness, preferred crispness and temperature setting, the cooking time may vary.
- 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius: 12 to 20 minutes
- 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 191 degrees Celsius: 18 to 22 minutes
- 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius: 20 to 25 minutes
When baking thin-cut bacon, it takes about 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius. And for thick cut bacon, it takes about 14 to 20 minutes.
Regardless of the temperature and thickness, you can adjust the timing depending upon how crisp you would like it to be.
How long should bacon be in the oven at 400?
The ideal temperature setting to cook bacon in the oven is 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius, and it should take between 16 to 20 minutes.
However, the doneness will vary depending on how crispy you like and the thickness of the bacon.
Thin-cut bacon may take as little as 12 minutes to get crispy and thick-cut bacon ranges between 16 to 20 minutes.
Ensure the sheet pan is not overly crowded. If so, you may need to extend the baking time by a few more minutes.
How long does bacon take to bake at 350?
When lowering the oven temperature to cook bacon at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 177 degrees Celsius, it takes slightly more time between 20 to 30 minutes.
On average, bacon slices need 22 to 27 minutes in the oven, but thick-cut slices require 26 to 30 minutes at the lower temperature.
Depend on the thickness, you may need a few extra minutes to achieve the desired crisp.
Do you have to flip the bacon in the oven?
No, you do not have to flip the bacon in the oven unless it is extra thick. The only time you must flip bacon is when cooked on the stovetop.
The oven allows the heat to circulate all around the bacon, therefore no need to flip halfway through cooking.
Another situation is when the bacon is very thick, then flipping ensures that there are no undercooked parts.
Furthermore, you may consider rotating the baking tray for even heating if your oven has hotspots in the back.
Can you cook bacon on foil in the oven?
Yes, you can cook bacon on foil in the oven. It helps make bacon extra crispy and cleanup super quick by capturing all the grease.
When using aluminum foil to cook bacon in the oven, it helps to transmit heat evenly. Sometimes there is concern over sticking, so a light spray of cooking oil will resolve that issue.
You can simply place bacon strips on a wire rack on top of a foil lined baking sheet to collect any drips.
The other method requires to use parchment paper without a wire rack. Line baking pan with foil and add a sheet of parchment paper to keep the bacon from sticking and help cook more evenly.
Tips to cook bacon in the oven
Oven makes cooking bacon easy and effortless. With the right preparation, you can avoid splattering and mess to cleanup.
Regardless of the end results, here are useful tips to cook bacon in the oven:
- Use parchment paper and foil to line the baking sheet to cook bacon.
- A sheet of parchment paper on top of the bacon slices will prevent platter in the oven.
- Preheat the oven and cook bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius.
- If oven has hotspot, rotate the tray halfway during cooking for even doneness.
- When using oven to cook bacon, not necessary to flip the slices unless they are extra thick.
- Always check the doneness to prevent from harmful bacteria causing food poisoning. Brown color and rendered fat are good indicators to look for.
Baking Bacon in Oven: Conclusion
When it comes to cooking bacon, the technique may vary due to personal preference ranging between crispy to chewy.
Start by setting the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius for an excellent result.
Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet to absorb any grease while cooking. Place bacon strips in a single layer and avoid overlapping on top of each other.
Bake for 16 to 20 minutes for standard bacon. Extra thin or thick cut bacon may need more or less time to accomplish the desired crispness.
Once the bacon is fully cooked, transfer to a plate with paper towel underneath to absorb the extra grease and prevent it from becoming soft and losing its crispy texture.
Oven makes cooking bacon super easy and hassle-free. Following the right instructions for temperature and time helps to achieve perfect doneness.