How to cook crispy bacon in the oven without a rack, what to do if you don’t have foil, and how to keep your oven clean. Baking bacon in the oven is so easy!.
If there is one thing I am an expert at, its cooking bacon in the oven. Every week, I bake bacon in the oven at least three times. That’s why I thought, “Why not tell my readers all about my best bacon cooking tips?”
I could literally give the person who invented bacon a huge hug. This person has sustained me for the past 10 years. I really think I know a lot about bacon, and I have a whole section of my blog just for bacon recipes. Check it out here.
Bacon has been my easy meal that I can just throw in the oven and call it breakfast. all while my coffee is brewing.
I sometimes use parchment paper and sometimes foil to cook my bacon in the oven without a rack. They all work.
My favorite kind of bacon is thick cut bacon. That has always been my preference because it is delicious and thicker. I really cant think of any other reasons, ha!.
Any bacon will work, the only thing that will change is the cooking time based on how thick it is.
Baking bacon in the oven is a great way to cook large batches easily and cleanly. While lining the baking sheet with parchment paper can make cleanup even easier, it’s absolutely possible to bake bacon without it.
With the right techniques, you can bake crispy, delicious bacon in the oven without any parchment paper or foil Read on for a step-by-step guide!
Why Bake Bacon in the Oven?
Before getting into the specifics let’s look at why baking is one of the best ways to cook bacon
-
Cooks evenly – No need to constantly flip and monitor. Just pop it in the oven.
-
Less splattering – Contained in the oven instead of all over your stovetop.
-
Large batches – Fit a pound or more of bacon on a sheet pan.
-
Perfect texture – Comes out flat and crispy, not curled up.
-
Easy cleanup – Just remove bacon grease, no need to scrub pans.
-
More hands-off – Frees you up to make side dishes, drinks, etc.
-
Fun options – Great for maple bacon, candied bacon, peppered bacon, etc.
How to Bake Without Parchment Paper
Baking bacon without parchment paper is simple, it just takes a little preparation and care to keep your oven and pans clean. Here are some tips:
Choose the Right Pan
-
Use a broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet. This will keep grease contained.
-
Avoid non-stick pans which can be damaged by high oven heat. Stainless steel, ceramic, or aluminized steel work best.
-
Make sure the pan is large enough to lay strips out flat without overlapping too much. Overcrowding will steam the bacon instead of crisping it.
Prep the Pan
-
Lightly grease the pan with a thin layer of oil. This helps prevent sticking.
-
Optionally place a cooling rack inside the pan to elevate the bacon from the grease.
-
For easy cleanup, line the areas outside the rack perimeter with foil. This catches grease splatters.
Arrange Bacon Carefully
-
Lay strips in a single layer without overlapping if possible.
-
Place thicker pieces towards the center and thinner edges towards the sides to promote even cooking.
-
Leave space between each slice to allow heat circulation.
Monitor Temperature and Time
-
Bake at 400°F, adjusting time based on thickness. Thinner bacon may need 10-14 minutes while thick-cut can take 18-24 minutes.
-
For chewier texture, bake at a lower temp like 325°F. For ultra-crispy, bake at 425°F.
-
Check often and remove done pieces as they finish. Return undercooked slices to the oven.
Drain and Blot Grease
-
Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
-
Gently blot tops of bacon with more paper towels to soak up residual grease.
Clean Splatter Promptly
-
Take care of any grease splatters inside the oven while still warm. Letting them cool and harden makes cleaning tougher.
-
For stuck-on grease, boil a bit of water in the pan to loosen residue after cooking. Wipe clean with paper towels.
Handy Tips for Oven Bacon Perfection
Follow these tips and tricks for getting the best results when baking your bacon:
-
Rotate the pan periodically for even cooking.
-
Preheat oven for quicker cooking times. Putting bacon in a cold oven can help render fat.
-
Use a baking rack set inside the sheet pan to elevate bacon from drippings.
-
Optionally cover with foil to contain splatters, removing for the last few minutes.
-
Cook thicker slices towards the center of the pan and thinner pieces around the edges.
-
Brush pan with oil or grease to prevent sticking.
-
Cut bacon slices in half to better fit on the pan if needed.
-
Bake thicker cut bacon at a lower temp (325-350°F) for chewier texture.
-
Bake thinner sliced bacon at higher temps (400-425°F) for maximum crispness.
-
Blot bacon after cooking to absorb excess grease for crispier results.
Why Use Parchment Paper?
While baking bacon without parchment is certainly possible, using parchment paper makes the process even easier. Here’s why it can be helpful:
-
Catches grease drippings so the pan stays cleaner.
-
Non-stick surface prevents bacon from sticking to the pan.
-
Easy to bunch up and dispose of when cooking is done.
-
Can reuse pan immediately without needing to wash it out.
-
Can compost soiled parchment paper since it’s biodegradable.
So while parchment isn’t essential, it can streamline cleanup and prep when baking large batches of bacon. If you choose to use it, just be sure it’s heat-safe up to the oven temp you’re cooking at.
More Delicious Oven-Baked Bacon Ideas
Once you’ve mastered the basics, try out these fun variations:
-
Maple brown sugar bacon – Brush with maple syrup and sprinkle with brown sugar before baking.
-
Candied bacon – Coat slices with brown sugar or spices before baking for a candied texture.
-
Peppered bacon – Coat with freshly cracked black pepper. Works with other spices too.
-
Baked bacon bits – Chop into pieces and bake until crispy. Toss on salads, potatoes, etc.
-
Baked bacon jam – Cook until very crispy and crumble into a sweet jam-like topping.
-
Bake in a muffin tin – Form slices into muffin cups for bacon “muffins”.
Baking bacon in the oven without parchment paper is easy once you know the tricks. With the right pan prep and cooking technique, you can enjoy delicious oven-baked bacon anytime without the hassle of lining the pan. Give it a try!
How long to bake bacon in the oven at 400F
Typically it will take about 15 minutes or so. There are many variables in how long you need to let your bacon bake in the oven. A good temperature to start with is 400F. The time it takes depends on the thickness of you bacon and how crispy you like your bacon.
What temperature is best?
That’s how long it takes for my bacon to cook to my liking when I put it in the oven at 400F. If you use thinner bacon, it will cook quicker so be sure to keep an eye on it. I would check it every 5 minutes just to be safe.
There is no need to pre-heat the oven. It is actually best to start the bacon in a cold oven. It helps render the fat better.
Sometimes for thicker bacon, I flip the pieces halfway through so I dont have any half cooked pieces.
Now you can lay it out on paper towels to drain off the grease.
HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
Can you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
So we gave it a try and now it is the ONLY way we cook bacon. First, you need baking sheets with edges to make sure the grease is contained. It also is much easier to remove the foil from this style of baking sheet when the bacon is done cooking.
Can you cook bacon on parchment paper?
The best way to cook bacon in the oven is on parchment paper because it allows for an easy cleanup. Once you’re done and it’s cooled down, simply roll all that grease up into the center of the parchment paper and throw it away!
How do you bake bacon without a mess?
These are the items you’ll need for baking bacon without the mess: Line a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil (for easy clean up at the end). Unroll enough parchment paper to cover the base of the baking sheet, and then double it — so you have enough to cover the bacon strips as well. Lay the bacon out flat — individually — on the parchment paper.
How long do you cook bacon in the oven?
Place in the middle of the oven and turn the oven on to 400F. Cook the bacon until crisp, about 20 minutes (or until it is done to your liking) Remove from the oven and drain the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels. Parchment paper or foil – You can line your baking sheet with a wire rack, parchment paper, or foil.
How long do you cook bacon on a rimmed baking sheet?
Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, then lay the bacon strips flat, making sure pieces do not overlap. For extra-crisp bacon, place a wire rack on top of each baking sheet and lay the bacon strips on top of the rack. Bake until crisp and browned, 15 to 18 minutes, or desired doneness, rotating the sheets once.
How do you cook raw bacon in the oven?
Lay the raw bacon out on a sheet pan without a rack. Place in the middle of the oven and turn the oven on to 400F. Cook the bacon until crisp, about 20 minutes (or until it is done to your liking) Remove from the oven and drain the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels.