Bacon is a beloved breakfast food and a versatile ingredient for just about any dish. It’s known for its deliciously crispy and savory qualities. While traditionally cooked in a skillet, oven baking bacon gives your smoky strips a bit more consistency and offers hassle-free cooking. If you ask us, baking your bacon in the oven is the only way to go. That’s why we’re dishing out step-by-step instructions to achieve perfectly crispy bacon every time – just like we do in our own kitchen. For our recipe, we used our Uncured Applewood Smoked Bacon but you can use any flavor you like.
Are you ready to experience pure bacon bliss? Well, buckle up, fellow bacon aficionados, because we’re about to change your pan-fried bacon game with oven-baked bacon. No more mess of frying bacon in a pan. This all-American, no-nonsense method will have you savoring crispy, flavorful strips without breaking a sweat. When it comes to bacon, it’s all about bold flavor. So, let’s dive right in and discover why oven-baked bacon is the true champion.
Why Oven Bake Your Bacon?
Before we get to the how, let’s talk about the “why”. Undoubtedly the majority of people reading this consider themselves the master’s of skillet fried bacon – why fix what isn’t broken? To you we say – you’ll understand once you try making bacon in the oven, but let’s first look at some of the benefits to this bacon cooking method:
1) Even Cooking: Oven baking ensures that every slice of bacon receives consistent heat distribution, resulting in even cooking throughout. This means no more burnt edges and undercooked centers.
2) Less Mess: By baking bacon in the oven, you eliminate the greasy splatters that often accompany stovetop cooking. The ridges on the cookie sheet catch the excess grease, making cleanup a breeze.
3) Larger Quantities: When you have a large family or are hosting a brunch, oven baking allows you to cook a bigger batch of bacon all at once. No more waiting for multiple skillet batches to finish.
4) Crispy Perfection: Oven baking allows you to achieve the desired level of crispiness without constantly monitoring or flipping the bacon. Plus, you can easily control the cooking time to cater to individual preferences
Still not convinced? Let’s get down to the nitty gritty…
Oven Bake that Bacon to Crispy Perfection
When you oven bake your bacon, you achieve perfection every single time. Imagine perfectly crispy slices, evenly cooked and boasting just the right amount of golden-brown goodness. Say goodbye to the inconsistency of pan-fried bacon, where some pieces are overcooked while others are disappointingly underdone. Cooking your bacon in the oven gives you a consistent texture throughout the entire batch, making every bite as good as the last.
Baking Bacon Makes for Easy Preparation
Picture this: instead of babysitting a hot pan, dodging sizzling grease, and constantly flipping and turning, you can simply lay out your bacon on a baking sheet and let the oven work its magic. It’s the epitome of ease and convenience. You’ll have more time to kick back, relax, and indulge in anticipation while the heavenly aroma wafts through your kitchen. Plus, no more grease splatters on your stovetop or apron. It’s a win-win situation.
Cooking for a Crowd – The Oven Holds More Bacon
Let’s face it, the smell of bacon brings the whole family to the kitchen faster than you say smoky goodness. Making bacon in the oven is your secret weapon. While frying bacon in a pan limits you to a few slices at a time, the oven method allows you to cook larger quantities all at once. No more frying up batches upon batches, tirelessly flipping strips and draining the grease. When you make bacon in the oven, you can effortlessly prepare a mouthwatering feast for your loved ones without missing out on all the fun. Bacon is meant to be shared.
Oven Bacon is a Healthier Option
Now, we’re not ones to shy away from indulgence, but if you’re looking for a slightly healthier approach to your bacon cravings, oven baked bacon is the way to go. By cooking bacon in the oven, you allow the excess fat to drip away, resulting in a leaner, less greasy bacon experience. Guilt free goodness.
If you ask us, oven-baked bacon is the holy grail of bacon perfection. When you oven bake your bacon, you preserve those delicious Applewood Smoked flavors, making every bite a journey to flavor town. It’s a hassle-free, mess-free, all-American method that delivers consistent, crispy slices every time. Say goodbye to the old pan-frying routine and embrace the ease and convenience. Grab your apron, fire up that oven, and follow our oven baked bacon instructions for the perfect bacon grab. Your inner Ron Swanson will rejoice.
How to Cook Your Bacon in the Oven – The Recipe
Ingredients: Bacon (we’ve got lots to choose from!)
Instructions
1) Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C)
2) Choose a baking sheet with ridges or a high raised lip around the edges – preferrably a non-stick sheet or one lined with alumnimum foil (this helps with clean-up later)
3) Lay all bacon strips flat on the sheet – they can be close, but not overlapping, which will ensure even cooking
4) Place bacon filled baking sheet in the oven for 12-20 minutes (keep an eye your first time to determine how long to bake for your desired crispiness)
5) Remove baking sheet from the oven and transfer bacon strips to a paper towel-lined plate, just as you would normally, to drain any excess grease
6) Devour!
You can find our more detailed oven baked bacon recipe here.