Cooking bacon at a lower oven temperature like 250°F may seem counterintuitive but it actually results in bacon that is more tender, less shriveled, and packed with flavor. While most recipes call for baking bacon around 400°F the high heat can sometimes overcook the bacon or make it too crispy. Baking at 250°F allows the fat to render slowly for bacon that turns out perfect every time. But how long should you bake bacon at 250°F?
The cooking time can vary based on a few factors:
Bacon Thickness
Thinner sliced bacon will generally require less time in a 250°F oven than thick cut bacon. Thin slices may only need 30-40 minutes while thick cut could need 1 hour or more.
Elevated vs. Direct Contact
Placing the bacon directly on the baking sheet will cause it to cook faster than elevating on a rack, allowing air flow underneath.
Desired Texture
Do you prefer chewy or crispy bacon? Chewy bacon will need less time at 250°F For crispy bacon, cook longer
Amount of Bacon
Larger batches will require more time in the low oven temp than smaller amounts.
Taking these factors into account, here are some general guidelines for how long to cook bacon at 250°F:
- Thin sliced bacon on a sheet pan – 30-45 minutes
- Thick sliced bacon on a sheet pan – 45-60 minutes
- Thin sliced bacon on a rack – 35-50 minutes
- Thick sliced bacon on a rack – 55-70 minutes
The most accurate way to determine doneness is by checking the bacon frequently as it cooks. However, in general 1-2 hours in a 250°F oven yields tender, flavorful bacon regardless of thickness.
Here are some tips for baking bacon at 250°F:
Step 1: Prep the Pan
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Place a wire rack on top if desired.
Step 2: Arrange the Bacon
Lay bacon strips in a single layer on the prepared pan or rack. Make sure not to overcrowd.
Step 3: Season (Optional)
Brush lightly with maple syrup or coat with brown sugar, pepper, herbs, etc for flavor.
Step 4: Bake at 250°F
Place pan in COLD oven, then turn temperature to 250°F.
Step 5: Flip Occasionally
Flip bacon halfway through for even cooking, especially if pan frying.
Step 6: Check Often
Test bacon early and frequently to prevent overcooking.
Step 7: Drain and Serve
Let cool slightly, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Be careful of hot grease!
The low and slow 250°F method results in bacon that is less shriveled, jam-packed with smoky flavor, and warmed all the way through. Keep a close eye on it as you would at higher temps. Enjoy!
Here are some delicious ways to use your oven-baked bacon:
- Breakfast tacos or burritos
- BLTs with crispy lettuce
- Smoky bacon mac and cheese
- Bacon onion jam for burgers or sandwiches
- Bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers
- Candied bacon crumbles on salads
- Bacon and clam chowder
- Carbonara with tender bacon
- Bacon cheeseburger meatloaf
- Bacon fat roasted brussels sprouts
- Bacon baked beans
- Cobb salad with bacon crumbles
For Sandwiches and Burgers: Between Two Baking Sheets
For this method, I put parchment paper around the edges of a baking sheet, put bacon on top of it, cover it with another sheet of parchment, and then put a second tray on top of that. I then put the whole thing in the oven. (For easier cleanup, you can put a piece of foil on the bottom of the pan before adding the first parchment sheet.) Staying flat means the bacon is basically shallow-frying in its own fat the whole time, which makes for very well-done, evenly browned, and crisp bacon. The bacon also lies completely flat. The only bad thing is that it takes longer to crisp (about 25 to 30 minutes) because it can’t evaporate.
Some people ask why they would ever want flat bacon. It’s mostly useful for sandwiches and burgers because it makes it easier to stack. BLTs for a crowd? This is the technique for you. Also, like I did for my ultimate bacon cheeseburgers, it’s a great way to keep a bacon weave flat while it bakes.
Texture: Very crisp and evenly browned, with a few lightly chewy bits. Completely flat, with fat that melts as you chew. Ease of Setup: Moderate. Ease of Cleanup: Moderate. (The bottom tray comes out clean; the top tray might have a little bacon grease on its underside. ).
Want better bacon? You can probably find these brands at your local grocery store.
Baked Bacon for a Crowd Recipe
- 12 slices bacon
- Set the oven rack in the middle and heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). (If you want to double the recipe, move two racks to the upper and lower middle positions; see notes.) ) .
- To make crispy, wavy bacon, line a 13-by-18-inch baking sheet with foil. Arrange bacon strips on pan, overlapping as little as possible. Bake bacon for 10 minutes. Turn the pan over and keep baking until the bacon is as brown as you like it. For thin-cut bacon, this will take 5 to 10 minutes longer, and for thick-cut bacon, it will take 10 to 15 minutes longer. Grab the bacon from the oven and put it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then serve it. Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt .
- Take a 13-by-30-inch piece of aluminum foil and tear it into 1-inch pieces. Crimp the pieces together like an accordion. Spread out foil and put it on a 13-by-18-inch baking sheet with a lip. Fold the edges up to catch drips. Arrange bacon strips on foil, overlapping as little as possible. Bake bacon for 10 minutes. Turn the pan over and keep baking until the bacon is as brown as you like it. For thin-cut bacon, this will take 5 to 10 minutes longer, and for thick-cut bacon, it will take 10 to 15 minutes longer. Grab the bacon from the oven and put it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then serve it. Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt .
- Line a 13-by-18-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a sheet of parchment paper on top. This will make crisp, flat bacon that you can use on eggs and sandwiches. Arrange bacon strips on tray, overlapping as little as possible. Add a second piece of parchment paper on top, then a second baking sheet. For thin-cut bacon, bake for 25 to 30 minutes. For thick-cut bacon, bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Take the trays out of the oven and carefully take off the top one using tongs and an oven mitt. Place the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels to drain, and then serve. Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt .
How long do you bake bacon at 300 degrees?
FAQ
How long do you cook bacon in the oven?
To start, preheat your oven to 250°F and prep the bacon by laying it out on an oven-safe baking rack or sheet pan lined with foil. Bake the bacon for 30-40 minutes, rotating the sheet pan from top to bottom halfway through if you’re cooking more than one pan of bacon.
How do you cook bacon at 250 degrees?
To cook bacon at 250°F, start by prepping the bacon. If you have an oven-safe baking rack, place it inside a sheet pan. You can also line the sheet pan with foil for easier clean-up. Lay out the bacon strips on the wire rack, making sure they don’t overlap. Sprinkle with black pepper if desired.
How long do you cook bacon in a crock pot?
Sprinkle with black pepper if desired. Next, place the bacon in a cold oven and set the temperature to 250°F. Bake the bacon for 30-40 minutes total, rotating the sheet pan from top to bottom halfway through if you’re cooking more than one pan of bacon. If you’re not using a baking rack, flip the bacon strips halfway through cooking.
What temperature should Bacon be cooked at?
Bake at 400°F. Some recipes call for starting the bacon in a cold oven, but after testing multiple times, I found that a preheated 400 degrees F oven is the best temperature for baking bacon. It cooks the bacon evenly no matter its thickness and the bacon won’t splatter. Transfer to a Paper Towel-Lined Plate.
Can you cook bacon in a cold oven?
Place the bacon into a cold oven that has not been pre-heated. Once the bacon is in the oven, then start pre-heating the oven. Why? When you heat up bacon slowly, it renders out its fat and ends up super crispy – far crispier than if you had started cooking the bacon in a hot oven.
How long do you cook bacon on a cooling rack?
Place the cooling rack in the baking sheet. Lay the bacon on the cooling rack careful not to overlap. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until desired crispness. Remove and set on a paper towel lined plate. It’s super easy but here are some tips to ensure it is truly the best.