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How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
If you love bacon but hate cooking it on the stove (I'm raising both of my hands over here!) then I want to share one of my very FAVORITE kitchen tips with you – how to cook bacon in the oven!
I love having bacon on hand to crumble on a salad, or for topping burgers, etc… If you're doing the Keto Diet, you're probably using bacon a LOT more than that! (Also check out this tip on how to cook bacon in the microwave.)
But no matter WHAT your bacon needs are – avoid all the splattering and uneven crisping of cooking bacon on the stovetop by using this method of oven-cooked bacon. Here's what to do…
While you don't need to line your pan to cook bacon in the oven – it sure makes the cleanup job a heck of a lot easier! Trust me – I know from experience…
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper (I love this one because they're already cut to size!) or foil
- Lay out the bacon on the pan so that you can fit as many as possible (It's okay if some of them overlap a little bit)
- Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy
- Transfer the cooked bacon onto a paper-towel lined plate while it cools
- Once the grease on the pans cools and hardens, just toss the parchment paper/foil into the trash (EASY!)
TIP: You can do several sheet pans at once this way – placing them on different racks and you may just want to switch them around halfway through. This is a great trick to use if you're doing a menu plan that involves bacon!
To see more about menu planning check out my post here on 5 Reasons You Need a Menu Plan and get your own Printable Menu Plan here!
Here's what I like to do to break down my bacon for storage and food prep:
For toppings like salads, baked potatoes, soups, etc..
Cut the bacon up into small pieces (with kitchen shears or a sharp knife) and store in a ziploc bag in the fridge for up to a month. (Or in the freezer for longer)
For whole pieces
Store in an airtight container (I'm totally in love with this set of Rubbermaid Brilliance) and reheat in a skillet, microwave or oven to re-crisp. 🙂
I cook bacon in the oven on a rack. The grease settles in bottom of the pan. I save the grease to season veggies.
I also use bacon grease on the skins of baked potatoes..adds flavor to the skins gummy to eat. And when preparing sautéed cabbage , not only the grease but also crumble on the cabbage! Just remember , for those health conscience people, it doesn’t occur every meal…” every thing in moderation”!
I tried using foil before I settled on using a cookie rack as the bacon is far less greasy that way. Spray the rack with non-stick spray first. I also use a reusable cookie sheet liner (like Silpat) under it. Then I can just wipe off the liner and throw all three in the dishwasher.
I put my bacon on a cookie rack in the sheet pan and the bacon is not sitting in the grease but like the idea of using parchment. Will use that next time
I put mine in the oven with a cooling rack that sits in sheet pan. It takes a little longer, but it much less greasy!