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How to Cook Bacon in the Oven - Step by Step

pile of cooked bacon on a white plate
Never fry bacon on the stovetop again. Learn to "fry" in the oven—perfect crisp bacon every time with no splatter mess to clean. Just cook it in the oven and do something else for a while—perfect bacon every time.
Prep Time: 3 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 23 mins
Servings: 5 2 slice servings
Calories: 60kcal
Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Ingredients

  • 8-10 slices bacon
  • aluminum foil to cover tray
  • parchment paper if needed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400° convection or 425° conventional. Or start with a cold oven and add a few minutes. You can use a lower or higher temperature if needed for other dishes, but it will affect the cooking time.
    heavy duty foil and raw bacon
  • Line an 18-inch × 13-inch rimmed sheet pan with a large sheet of aluminum foil (heavy-duty preferred) and turned up the edges. Place bacon close together but not touching. 8-10 pieces, about ½ pound, will usually fit. If you make thinner bacon or have issues with sticking, then parchment paper on the foil will help.
    raw bacon on foil covered tray
  • Place in the middle of the oven and check occasionally. Time will vary with the thickness of the bacon and your taste. Most bacon will take about 18-20 minutes. Thinner bacon will cook faster, and thick-cut bacon may take a few minutes more, so check a few times early.
    cooked bacon on foil covered tray
  • Cook to the crispiness you want. I like my bacon very crispy, so I usually bake it for 20-22 minutes. Drain on paper towels on a plate.
    cooked bacon on white plate

MY PRIVATE NOTES:

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Notes

Pro Tips:

  1. A half-pound of bacon or a bit more will usually fit an 18-inch × 13-inch  sheet pan.
  2. You do not have to preheat the oven. It just takes a bit longer.
  3. I have done this with oven temperatures from 350° to 425°. With or without convention. Just adjust the time some.
  4. Thinner bacon cooks faster. Very thick bacon will take a few minutes longer.
  5. Thinner bacon and bacon with more sugar will tend to stick. Use a layer of parchment paper if you are unsure or have a problem.
  6. No flipping or rack is needed, although some people will use them.
  7. It is done when it looks done to your taste.
  8. I generally do two sheet pans at a time in a convection oven. I rotate them 180-degrees and switch the top to bottom at 10 minutes.
  9. Cooked bacon is good refrigerated for 4-5 days and frozen for one month.
  10. Reheat bacon in a microwave covered with a paper towel for about 8-10 seconds per piece. If frozen, thaw first.

Nutrition

Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional values are estimated.

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