How to cook perfect crispy bacon in the oven with almost no mess!
I have a dirty little secret. Many people would think this just isn’t possible, but those that know me closest know that it is true. Okay… here it goes. I don’t like bacon. There. I said it. And it really is true!
I used to like bacon, I mean like a normal person, so really I loved it. I loved it to be super crispy and I can still remember cooking it over the campfire and the smell taunting me until it was finally done and we could devour it. As I got older I moved more toward a vegetarian diet and now only eat chicken and turkey, so sadly, no bacon and I really lost my taste for it.
My poor family though, they love bacon, and since I am the head meal planner, grocery shopper, meal prepper, chef and waiter in this house, it doesn’t get added to the menu as often as they would like. I really don’t mind them eating it, I just hate cooking the stuff. It is so darn messy. Can you relate?
When I saw this pin scroll through my feed for bacon made in the oven, it was a must try. What a great comprimise. They get their bacon and I have a minimal mess and clean up. Unless it was too good to be true, in that way where Pinterest makes it look simple but it is really an oven fire waiting to happen.
So it came time to give it a try. I followed the pin exactly. Line the cookie sheet with foil, I thought it was a great tip to use grilling foil
I placed the bacon on the cookie sheet and put it in a cold oven then set it to 375˚F. I let it bake for 15 minutes gave it a check and decided my fam would want it a little crispier. I let it bake for another 5 minutes and it was just right.
After you take it out of the oven let it cool for a few minutes then use tongs to transfer it to some paper towels and let it drain the grease a bit.
Bacon Cooked in the Oven – PIN WIN!!
Once it cooled down it was PERFECT! Huge pin win. In a major way.
- Crispy bacon
- Only 2 minutes of prep
- Clean up consists of wadding up a ball of foil and doing a 2-pointer into the trash.
I will never make bacon another way again, and my family is cheering because they will be getting it much more often. There are so many new dishes I can make since it is so easy to make now!
Have you tried making bacon in the oven? What is your favorite way to make it?
How to Cook {Perfect & Crispy} Bacon in the Oven
Ingredients
- Bacon
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with foil.
- Lay bacon in a single layer on the cookie sheet.
- Put into a cold oven and set to 375F.
- Bake for 15-25 minutes or until done to desired crispiness.
I really want to try this! In the narrative you say to set the oven to 375 – but in the recipe you say to set it at 400. Which is correct?
Hi Linda! I so apologize for that typo! I usually am writing and posting at night while the kids are asleep and sometimes my brain just isn’t as sharp as I had hoped for. I did do this one at 375F just as the pin directed. Let me know how much you love it!
I suggest using the Reynolds nonstick foil. Great product.
I’m afraid the grease will pop in the oven. You didn’t have that problem?
There was some grease splatter I wiped down once the oven was cool, but it was much more contained in there than outside the oven in a skillet and the bacon was cooked perfectly!
I put parchment paper over mine to prevent spatter all over also cook my husband sausage at the same time
The parchment paper is a great tip. Thanks for sharing.
Every time I have cooked bacon in the oven, I have the bacon grease in the oven. Pick your battle -clean the stove top and counters or stoop and clean an oven.
use two baking pans.first one put parchment paper in first,ten the bacon,then another, piece of pachment paper over the bacon, then the second pan.and cook at the 375 for 20 minuites
I have tried cooking bacon in the oven though I didnt put it in a cold oven to start, will this keep it from making an oven grease mess as opposed to a on the top stove mess? When I made mine, I found grease splatters everywhere in the oven, ugh! Any other tips you would suggest?
I covered mine with aluminum foil on top, and there was no mess. Also, I was cooking thick bacon so it went way longer. Almost an hour.
Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours nowadays.
I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
When I do my bacon in the oven, I use cooling racks to place the bacon upon.same method only the bacon doesn’t sit in the grease.
Hi Kimber! Love, love, love bacon made this way!! My little added tidbit is that once I have the bacon in the pan I pour about 1/4 cup of water over the bacon. It really cuts down on the oven spatter plus the bacon gets a bit crunchier which tastes even better to me and my family. We go through a lot of bacon! Have a happy day!
What a cool tip! I am so excited to try it! Thanks for leaving me a note!
Don’t forget to put that bacon grease in a jar in the refrigerator. A little bit of that in the pan when you’re cooking eggs or frying potatoes and you’ll never use margarine (yuck!) or shortening (eek!) again and it adds so much flavor!
I’m the same way. Everyone throwing away good grease. Never!!
I agree! I save both, bacon and sausage grease, for that reason. The sausage grease comes in handy for some quick breakfast gravy, too.
Been doing something similar for years, usually on holidays or with visitors.
–oven set to 250 degrees.
–line a metal edged tray with aluminum foil
–insert cookie cooling rack
–slice bacon in half
–single lay bacon on rack
visit with friends and family while bacon ‘melts’
–use a pancake turner to remove bacon from racks & serve with the rest of breakfast
–after company leaves, toss cooled greasy foil into trash. Cookies sheets need only slight cleaning.
I’ve cooked bacon this way for years, started out by putting it on a broiler pan. Also if you need to save time, especially if you’re going to be making a big amount, you can blanch the bacon first. That’s how it’s done in breakfast restaurants.
I do think you missed a crucial step though, saving the bacon grease in a container in the refrigerator for cooking and seasoning dishes.
I saw your post on Pintetest. I love making bacon in the oven!
I’m a consultant for Demarle at home – a nonstick cookware company. When I saw your baking sheet covered with foil, I said to myself:”This lady need our amazing Deep Flexiflat!” The Deep Flexiflat is a rectangular pan with edges, you can roast veggies, bake meat, fish and more. Our cookware are very versatile. If you’re interested we could organize your Facebook cooking party and you could get discounted and free products. 😉 Regards,
Adeline
Hi Adeline, Thanks for stopping by. I do have several Silpat liners I love, but when I cook something super messy like bacon, I always use foil so I can just fold up the foil and toss it in the trash to make clean up a breeze. With 3 kids and a crazy hectic schedule, sometimes you just need an easy way to get things done!
Hi Adeline, Thanks for stopping by. I do have several Silpat liners I love, but when I cook something super messy like bacon, I always use foil so I can just fold up the foil and toss it in the trash to make clean up a breeze. With 3 kids and a crazy hectic schedule, sometimes you just need an easy way to get things done!
I’m glad you love the SILPAT. 😉 Our cookware are mainly known for a easy breazy cleanup. 😉 And are perfect for busy moms. I can assure you that when you’d give a try to our Flexipan you don”t want to use any other pan or dishe after that.
Would you be interested about having a Facebook party? You could get discount and free products. You just have to invite your friends, I will post daily recipes and videos. If you want we can give it a try. How does it sound to you?
Adeline
Making bacon in the oven is easy; but greasy. I found a way to make it grease free. Hang the bacon over the oven rack and place a baking sheet under it to catch the grease. I then store the caught grease to season veggies
Such a great tip!! Thanks so much for letting me know! I think I need a part 2 to this post with other tips people have given me!
I love this method. I put a rectangular piece of parchment paper on top of the foil. That way I can reuse that huge piece of foil
That is a great tip! Thank you!!
Great culinary technique but if you don’t start with the right bacon it won’t work. You must use Canadian style, thinly cut, streaky bacon. Try it with the thicker cut Eurooean back bacon and you’ll just end up with a bit of pink shoe leather. That is not meant to be crispy and must be cooked only until the fat caramelises and the bacon is tender.
Do you have to flip it any?
No need to flip… its super easy!
Ok! Thank you Kimber!! 🙂
I’ve been baking my bacon this way since I saw a friend do it years ago. Works great! I’ve used parchment paper and do flip it after 10 minutes or so. Want to and a little flavor? After flipping sprinkle some brown sugar and basil on the bacon. Continue to cook til crispy. My friend calls it Crazy Bacon. Amazing taste!
Now THAT sounds amazing!! Thanks for the tip! I will have to give it a try!
I have also been baking my bacon for several years now, and can’t imagine ever frying or microwaving it again. 20 minutes, however, is nowhere near long enough. Perhaps my bacon is a little thicker, or I just like it crispier, but I usually bake it for about 50-60 minutes after pre-heating the oven. I use the Wright’s brand, as I like the flavor of it.
Also, another easy clean-up tip, is to crumple the foil a little, so the bacon is not just sitting in the grease, but rather on top of it, so the grease can drain down.
It does make clean-up a whole lot easier, although I usually have some grease seeping through to the pan.
I just tried this, and you’re absolutely right, 20 minutes is nowhere near long enough. I’m not sure I’d start with a cold oven either.
I’ve been doing this for years & I LOVE it!! I set my oven at 400°F
I’ve been cooking bacon on a broiler pan for that same reason since I was a kid.
This is the best way to make perfect bacon. Starting with the cold oven is the key. Temperature isn’t absolutely crucial, but 375 does work best to not cook the bacon too quickly. 20 minutes usually is the time it takes.
Do I have to turn the bacon or leave as is until done?
You can do either but I usually just leave it!
I also use cookie cooler racks under the bacon to keep it from “boiling” in their own grease. love all the tips on this thread!
Yes that is an awesome tip! I actually have a new post going up about just that, thanks to all the great feedback! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I love making it this way! I’ll never make it any other way! I cook mine about 20 minutes total and it’s perfect!
Broilernpan. Top and bottom, lined with foil. Slits in top. 400 degrees
Is thisonly for a gas oven? (God, I miss a gas oven!) But over here in England, everyone I know has a fan-assisted electric oven!
Help!
We have an electric oven so it should work!
Just tried this tonight & OMG this will be my new way of cooking bacon!! It’s great & easy (I even figured it out) thank you so much for sharing!!!
Oh my goodness this is the best! It worked perfect for me. Ine I took it out of the oven, I placed the bacon on paper towel to drain. The kids gobbled it up! (And so did I.)
Wondering if you could address the splatter problem by placing a piece of parchment paper lightly over the bacon while it is cooking? May help contain the grease….
Hmm, does high altitude alter baking? First time baking bacon, and was not impressed. Mine took 35 minutes. After 25 minutes, it was still mostly raw. I had grease splattered all over the oven & boy, the smell! Yuck!
Over the years, I’ve cooked bacon every way possible including the oven. I’m not sure why some writers prefer the oven over the microwave? One thing is for sure, fresh bacon is built for the microwave. It has a high fat and water content and it is thin, so it cooks up crisp and tasty.
For those who have tried the oven, but are looking for a better method, consider the Bacon Pro. It cooks 23 slices of bacon all at once in the microwave. It is clean and easy. You may never go back to cooking it in the oven or on the stove-top. Search it. Bacon Pro. Watch the video. You make the call.
Just tried this recipe and it cooked perfectly!!! Went about 20min starting in the cold oven and it was nice and crispy, may be a little mess in the oven, but the bacon is perfect.
This is revolutionary! I am forever converted. My bacon couldn’t have come out any more perfect!
Omg I just tried this.. I was really skeptical about it but wow… that has to be the best bacon ever. And no mess 🙌
My grandmother made this all the time except she used straight evaporated milk. I believe its creamier and no need for a roux. Delicious!! If someone tries let me have your opinion. Happy New Year!
I tried the cooling rack over the foil method and will not do that again. It was hard cleaning the rack. I put large foil in pan turning up the sides then I take another length of foil and crumple it then pull it out to sit on the first foil. the wrinkles let the fat fall away from the bacon into the creases. I do not save the fat as defeats purpose of getting as much fat as possible out of the bacon so why turn around and eat the fat later. cover the bacon with parchment of another piece of foil to cut down oven splatters.
Do everything the way stated, but crumple up some foil and put it down the center of the baking sheet and place the bacon over it, it makes it crisper and it doesn’t retain as much greese.
I’ve cooked mine in the oven before and it always came out chewy, but I preheated the oven before. I think the secret is starting in a cold oven. Thank you, my bacon is nice and crispy!
love the sound of your loaded chicken salad ,can’t wait to try it.
Have you ever tryed turkey bacon has less greese and not as fatten plus made with turkey not pork truth about me I don’t like to many kinds of meats and I won’t eat nothing with fish can’t stand the smell or taste of it only pork I eat is fried ham. And bacon and sausage beef like ground beef. And steak other then that love veggies and fruits ain’t a fan of syrup in fruit also have allergy to mangos and tree nuts
I agree! I save both, bacon and sausage grease, for that reason. The sausage grease comes in handy for some quick breakfast gravy, too.
do you keep the oven door closed completely or do you have to crack it open like when broiling
No you leave the oven closed.
Is the timer set after the oven warms up????
Is the timer started when the bacon goes in the cold oven or once the oven is at 375?
I put them in the oven cold.
I’m cooking now it’s been 25 minutes and bacon is still raw. I did it cold and 375° but it is taking much longer.
I cook my bacon the same way, only I use parchment paper. It is the best way I have found to prepare it.
Trying this tomorrow.
If not using non-stick foil, should I spray the foil with some cooking spray?
I don’t know WHAT they consider crispy, but after 20 mins. I cranked the heat to 400 degrees set it for 10 more minutes and it was still raw, i know my oven works as i use it everyday. So i really think cooking it on the stove saves electricity. Won’t try this cooking method again! AWEFUL Waste of TIME!!!!
If u run under cold water first it wont shrink. I had assumed the oven and cold water deal were common knowledge.
What about the spitting grease mess?
This is the only way I cook bacon now! No more greasy cook top! We have the same diet! I do NOT like bacon! I will, on occasion, only eat chicken or turkey. And it’s not even because I want to, I have to for the iron (anemic) and I refuse to eat beef or pork. But, like yours, my family loves bacon! Bacon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if it was up to them!
Only way to cook bacon now! YUMMY!
I put cookie cooling racks in a cookie sheet. Then the bacon. No grease to get off the bacon that way. After reading this post, I’d like the pan, the use the cooling racks and then add the bacon.
I feel stupid for asking, but does the time start as soon as you put the bacon in the oven, or does it start once the oven reaches 375?
I start timing as soon as it goes in the oven.