I love peameal bacon. If I’m out to breakfast and the waiter asks if I want bacon, sausage, ham, or peameal, I almost always pick peameal bacon. Not only does this cut of meat taste great, but it is also better for you than regular bacon. Peameal bacon slices is just amazing on eggs benedict. So good!.
Peameal bacon, also known as Canadian bacon, is a lean and tasty boneless pork loin that is cured and coated in cornmeal. It has a wonderful sweet, salty, smoky flavor that makes it ideal for breakfast, sandwiches, and more. Many people enjoy cooking peameal bacon in slices rather than as a whole roast But how long should you bake peameal bacon slices in the oven?
The baking time can vary based on a few factors
Oven Temperature
Baking at a higher oven temp like 400°F will cook the bacon faster than a lower temp. The high heat helps render fat and crisp up the peameal coating.
Bacon Thickness
Peameal bacon slices can range from thin to extra thick cut Thinner slices will cook faster and may only need 8-12 minutes in the oven. Thick cut bacon may need 15 minutes or longer
Cooking Method
Placing the slices directly on a baking sheet will cause them to cook faster than elevating them on a wire rack. The rack allows air flow underneath.
Desired Texture
If you like your peameal bacon extra crispy, bake it a bit longer. For chewy bacon, reduce the time. Keep a close eye on it!
Oven Differences
All ovens heat a bit differently. Get to know your oven’s hot and cool spots for the most accurate bake times.
Taking all of these factors into account, here are general guidelines for how long to bake peameal bacon slices in the oven:
- Thin sliced peameal on a sheet pan: 8-10 minutes
- Thick sliced peameal on a sheet pan: 12-15 minutes
- Thin sliced peameal on a rack: 10-12 minutes
- Thick sliced peameal on a rack: 15-18 minutes
No matter what thickness you are cooking, keep watch over the bacon as it bakes. Peameal bacon can go from perfect to burnt very quickly if overcooked.
Here are some tips for baking peameal bacon slices in the oven:
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. For best results, place a cooling rack over the lined pan. Lightly coat the rack with nonstick spray.
Step 2: Arrange the Slices
Lay peameal bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared rack, making sure not to overcrowd. Overlap can prevent even cooking.
Step 3: Season (Optional)
Brush lightly with maple syrup or rub with brown sugar for sweetness. Add spices like pepper or chipotle powder for heat.
Step 4: Bake at 400°F
Place pan in a preheated 400°F oven. Check thinner slices at 8 minutes. Thicker slices may need 12-15 minutes.
Step 5: Flip Occasionally
Consider flipping slices over halfway through for even browning if cooking directly on sheet.
Step 6: Drain and Serve
When done to your liking, remove pan from oven. Let bacon cool 1-2 minutes before transferring to paper towels to drain.
The best way to ensure perfect peameal bacon every time is to keep an eye on it as it bakes and get to know exactly how long your slices take. Yum!
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy baked peameal bacon slices:
- Breakfast sandwiches – use peameal bacon instead of regular bacon
- BLT sandwiches – it’s in the name!
- Salads – crumble over leafy greens for added protein
- Baked potatoes – top with crumbled peameal bacon and cheese
- Quiche – line the crust with peameal bacon before adding egg custard
- Brussels sprouts – roast brussels sprouts and bacon slices together
- Pasta carbonara – crispy baked peameal bacon pairs great with creamy pasta
- Pizza – top homemade pizza with crumbled peameal bacon
- Cheese board – wrap baked peameal bacon around dates or smoked gouda
- Bacon jam – cook into a sweet and savory bacon jam spread
- Snack – eat baked peameal bacon slices on their own for a tasty, protein-packed snack
Brush With Maple Syrup
The roast can be cooked the way it is, but I like to add maple syrup to the top. This sweetens the meat and creates a nice glaze on the outside of the meat. Use a light touch to cover the meat with maple syrup so that the peameal doesn’t come off. I only use maple syrup, but you could also add some spices.
Expert Tip! It is possible to rub the roast down with different seasonings, mustard, brown sugar and honey. You could use some seasoning like chipotle powder, paprika, black pepper, a hint of cinnamon, and more. There are so many possibilities.
What Is Peameal Bacon?
Peameal bacon is a cured boneless pork loin. When compared to what we usually call bacon, this very lean cut of meat has very little fat.
After the pork loin roast has been wet cured, it is rolled in corn meal. Peameal got its name from the fact that cured pork loins used to be rolled in ground dried yellow peas many years ago. The name has stayed the same, but the roast has been rolled in corn meal for a long time now.
