Freezing bacon is the best way to preserve the shelf life by several months, and it is a super common practice in many households. Not only does it make bacon last longer, but there is zero effect on the final product.
To make even cooking and shorten the meal prep time, most recipes suggest to defrost bacon beforehand. But you may wonder if it is possible to cook frozen bacon in the oven without thawing.
Can I cook bacon straight from frozen? Yes, you can cook bacon straight from frozen into the oven. In fact, it takes only 5 minutes to defrost in the oven rather than leaving overnight in the fridge.
Storing bacon strips in the freezer won’t drastically change the taste and texture. However, it is best to use before 6 months.
Oven is popular and convenient appliance to cook bacon. It helps to avoid splattering and achieve crispness with the press of a button.
This article shares proper way to cook frozen bacon in the oven. Answered below are frequently asked questions about baking frozen bacon, and specific guideline to follow to make delicious bacon from frozen in the oven.
What happens when you cook frozen bacon?
When cooking frozen bacon, it generally takes an extra 50% of the original cooking time to cook from frozen. Typically bacon slices are thin enough that they only take an extra 5 minutes at most to thaw.
Usually, frozen bacon starts to thaw in low temperature. But when contact with high temperature directly, the edges may start burning and the interior may remain icy.
Therefore, leave frozen bacon on low heat or preheated oven until the block begins to separate. Then, re-arrange the separated slices into a single layer to cook the bacon until crispy.
Once the thawed bacon pieces are separating, immediately cook them and do not leave on the counter more than a hours to prevent exposure to bacteria that cause food poisoning.
How long does bacon take to defrost in the oven?
In order to defrost frozen bacon in the oven, it takes about 5 minutes while using the preheat setting at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or 148 degrees Celsius. The perfect time to defrost frozen bacon in the oven is while warming up on the preheat setting.
It is not recommended to defrost frozen bacon in the oven on a high heat temperature. The frozen bacon may start cooking and burning instead of thawing, which may result in a soggy or rubbery texture.
Defrosting and cooking at the same time is dream come true, and the oven resolve the issue. Defrost for the first 5 minutes while the oven is preheating, then it is ready to cook at the correct temperature.
When in hurry, oven may be the best option to defrost instead of overnight refrigerator, tap water, or microwave.
What temperature do I cook frozen bacon in the oven?
When dealing with frozen bacon, it is best to preheat the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or 148 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes. Then, separate the bacon slices into a single layer before increasing the temp to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius to cook until crispy.
Ensure the bacon is fully defrosted and the slices are separating easily. After 5 minutes of preheating, it should be easy to lay in a single file and maintain the flatness to cook in the oven.
Depend on the thickness and preference of crispness, the temperature setting may vary. Whether cooking thin-cut or thick-cut bacon, always thaw fully on preheat or low heat setting before start baking in the oven.
Frozen Bacon in Oven: Conclusion
Frozen bacon last several months without altering the flavor and texture. It is most efficient method to preserve food to extend the shelf life.
From frozen to cooking, oven makes it easy for meal preparation. It does not splatter when cooking bacon and makes it perfectly crispy without fancy techniques.
When using oven to cook frozen bacon, use low heat setting or 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes or until the block of bacon is fully separating into individual strips. Then, re-arrange into a single layer to start the cooking process.
Do not cook the block of frozen bacon on high heat without separating the slices because the outside edges will burn and the indies will not be cooked. It is important the thaw slowly to make sure the slices come apart, then lay flat and bake until done.
The defrosting time in the oven may vary depending on the thickness and amount of bacon.
For better result, use oven to thaw and cook frozen bacon to save your time and make it easy to clean afterwards.