Have a lot of bacon to cook? Read on to learn how to cook bacon in the oven. The method is almost entirely hands-off and results in perfectly crispy, evenly-cooked bacon.
The smell of bacon cooking is the only thing that makes my family gather around the kitchen and ask, “Whatcha makin’?” People who steal bacon should be ashamed. Bacon makes almost every meal better, whether it’s eaten by itself, with pancakes, scrambled eggs, or a cheesy omelette, or added to soups, salads, or sandwiches. Even though you can cook a few slices in a pan or the microwave, the oven is the only way to go for a big batch. This method is almost entirely hands-off and results in perfectly crispy, chewy, evenly-cooked bacon. The best part? Clean-up is a breeze.
With this method, you can cook about 12 slices of bacon on a single baking sheet. If you want to make more, just use two baking sheets and add a few minutes to the cooking time.
Cooking thick sliced bacon in the oven is one of the easiest ways to achieve crispy, evenly cooked bacon every time. Baking thick cut bacon avoids the splattering mess and constant monitoring of stove top frying. With the right oven temp and cook time, you can make tender and tasty thick bacon slices without the hassle. But how long should you bake thick sliced bacon in the oven?
The baking time can vary based on a few factors:
Oven Temperature
Higher oven temperatures like 400-425°F will cook the thick bacon faster than lower temps. The high heat helps render the fat and crisp up the bacon.
Bacon Thickness
Obviously, thicker sliced bacon will take longer to cook than thin slices Thick cut bacon may need upwards of 25-30 minutes in the oven
Elevated vs. Direct Contact
Placing bacon directly on the baking sheet will cause it to cook faster than elevating it on a wire rack The rack allows air circulation
Desired Texture
Do you prefer your thick bacon slices to be chewy or super crispy? Chewy bacon will need a shorter bake time than crispy bacon.
Oven Differences
All ovens heat a bit differently, so baking times can vary. Get to know your oven’s hot and cool spots.
Taking these factors into account, here are some general guidelines for how long to cook thick sliced bacon in the oven:
- Thick cut bacon on a sheet pan – 15-20 minutes
- Thick cut bacon on a rack – 20-25 minutes
- Chewy texture – 15-20 minutes
- Crispy texture – 22-27 minutes
No matter what thickness or texture you’re aiming for, keep a very close eye on the bacon as it bakes to prevent burning. Thick bacon can go from perfect to burnt quickly if overcooked.
Here are some tips for baking thick sliced bacon in the oven:
Step 1: Prep the Baking Sheet
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Place a cooling rack on top. Lightly coat the rack with nonstick spray.
Step 2: Arrange the Bacon
Lay thick bacon strips in a single layer on the prepared rack. Make sure not to overcrowd.
Step 3: Season (Optional)
Brush with maple syrup or rub on brown sugar, pepper, herbs etc. for added flavor.
Step 4: Bake at 400°F
Place pan in a COLD oven then turn to 400°F. This allows fat to render slowly.
Step 5: Flip Occasionally
Consider flipping bacon over halfway through for even cooking and crisping.
Step 6: Check Often
Start checking at 15 minutes for doneness based on desired texture.
Step 7: Drain and Serve
Remove from oven and let cool 1-2 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
The best way to ensure perfect thick bacon is to keep a very close eye on it in the oven. Cook times can vary, so start checking early and frequently. Adjust time based on your preference.
Here are some delicious ways to enjoy thick cut oven-baked bacon:
- Breakfast sandwiches
- BLTs
- Salads with crumbled bacon
- Baked potatoes with bacon bits
- Mac and cheese with bacon
- Brussels sprouts and bacon
- Carbonara pasta
- Clam chowder with bacon
- Pizza with bacon topping
- Bacon wrapped shrimp
- Candied bacon
- Bacon jam
- Bacon onion rings
- Bacon cheeseburgers
What You’ll Need To Cook Bacon in the Oven
Most supermarkets carry regular and thick-cut bacon. Only the thickness of the bacon slices makes the two types of bacon different when they are raw. Thick-cut bacon is 20% more dense. Once cooked, regular bacon is crispier while thick-cut bacon has a bit more chew. I believe the oven method works best for regular bacon because it leaves behind not as much grease on the baking sheet. All that grease makes the pan difficult to move in and out of the oven safely.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty wide aluminum foil, leaving some overhang on all sides to make cleanup easier. Then, put a sheet of parchment paper on top and cover with the aluminum foil. This will keep the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet. Place on the baking sheet as many bacon slices as you want to cook at once. You should be able to fit about 12 slices (try to keep them from overlapping).
For regular bacon, bake for 14 to 18 minutes. For thick-cut bacon, bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Carefully move the baking sheet from front to back about halfway through cooking. Keep an eye on the bacon near the end of the cooking time. Depending on how crispy you like your bacon, you may need to add or take away a minute or two.
The bacon will be very hot when you take it out of the oven, so be careful. Using tongs, move it to a plate or cutting board lined with paper towels. If you’d like to save the bacon grease for another use, strain it into a heatproof jar. Enjoy!.
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HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
How long does it take to cook bacon in the oven?
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a baking rack on top. Arrange bacon strips on the baking rack. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, 15 to 20 minutes. Cook thick-cut bacon in the oven — there’s no spattering grease and messy cleanup, and you still get crispy results.
How long to cook thick cut bacon?
Cook for 20-30 minutes to the desired crispiness. Top Tip: To get the meat and fat in your bacon to cook evenly, they must be at approximately the same temperature. Staying cold for longer than the meat, leave the bacon at room temp for about 20 minutes before cooking for evenly cooked crispy rashers. 2. How to Cook Thick-Cut Bacon on a Stove?
How long do you cook bacon in a frying pan?
As a rule of thumb I like to use the guidelines below: 350˚F- Cook bacon for ~30 minutes to done, ~38 minutes to crispy or for thick cut bacon. 400˚F- Cook bacon for ~25 minutes to done, ~32 minutes to crispy or for thick cut bacon. 425˚F- Cook bacon for ~20 minutes to done, ~26 minutes to crispy or for thick cut bacon.
How long do you cook bacon at 425 F?
425˚F- Cook bacon for ~20 minutes to done, ~26 minutes to crispy or for thick cut bacon. These are meant to be guidelines to give you an idea of what to expect. You will definitely want to watch the bacon closely while it is in the oven to see when it reaches your desired level of crispiness.
How long do you cook bacon in a crock pot?
Always cook bacon on foil or parchment paper at 400°F. Cook regular sliced bacon for 14 minutes; thick-cut bacon for 18 minutes. If you cook less than a full sheet of bacon, check after 12 minutes. For extra-crispy bacon, bake it on top of a metal cooling rack set over the baking sheet.
How long do you cook smoked bacon?
Lay the bacon on the rack. Arrange 3/4 pound (340 g) of thick-cut smoked bacon on the rack so the slices aren’t touching. Cook the bacon for 15 to 20 minutes. Put the sheet in the preheated oven and cook the bacon until it starts to turn brown and crispy around the edges.