Today’s HOW TO post is going to make breakfast a lot easier & cleaner! Did you know that making bacon doesn’t have to be messy, time-consuming, or complicated?
In this blog post, we’ll unveil the secret to perfectly cooked bacon without the hassle and mess of stovetop frying. Discover the art of baking bacon and unlock a hassle-free method that yields crispy, evenly cooked strips every time.
I Love Bacon
I have fond memories of my dad standing over the stove sizzling bacon every Sunday because Sunday morning in the Davis house meant homemade Belgium Waffles & delicious crispy Bacon! My dad’s bacon was always the perfect amount of crispy and was always served alongside our Sunday morning homemade waffles.
Unfortunately, the few times I’ve tried frying bacon, it’s turned into charcoal or wasn’t ready until all the other breakfast items were already consumed and partially digested. Luckily, the last time we visited my Mom & Dad, my mom introduced me to baking bacon in the oven . . . mind …. blown.
Could this be real? Could I really start making bacon without the splattering grease and constant flipping? Yes, yes, I could!
How to Bake Bacon in the Oven: The No Mess Method
Say goodbye to grease splatters and hello to a stress-free way of enjoying everyone’s favorite breakfast staple. Get ready to elevate your bacon game with this simple and delicious alternative—your taste buds will thank you!
Ingredients
1 Pound Thick-Cut Bacon
Equipment
- Rimmed Baking Sheet (we love ours from William Sonoma)
- Aluminum Foil
- Baking Rack. (Baking the bacon on a rack makes the bacon crisper and allows the bacon grease to drip off)
- Plate lined with paper towel
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 400° F.
- Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange bacon strips on the foil or baking rack.
- Bake bacon for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer cooked bacon to the paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess grease.
Why should you bake bacon instead of frying it?
Baking bacon offers several advantages over traditional stovetop frying. Here are a few reasons why you should consider baking bacon instead:
- Convenience: Baking bacon is incredibly convenient, especially when cooking for a larger group or preparing a batch in advance. Unlike frying, which requires constant monitoring and flipping, baking allows you to prepare a larger quantity of bacon at once without the need for constant attention. Simply lay out the bacon on a baking sheet and let the oven do the work while you focus on other tasks.
- Less Mess and Splatter: Frying bacon on the stovetop can result in messy grease splatters that can be difficult to clean. Baking bacon in the oven significantly reduces the mess. The bacon cooks on a baking sheet, allowing the excess fat to drip off, which makes cleanup much easier. Additionally, there’s no risk of getting burned by hot bacon grease during the frying process.
- More Even Cooking: Baking bacon in the oven ensures more even cooking and crispiness from end to end. The heat in the oven circulates around the bacon, cooking it evenly without any unevenly cooked or undercooked spots. This results in crispy, golden-brown bacon that is evenly cooked throughout.
- Healthier Option: Baking bacon is generally considered a healthier cooking method compared to frying. When you bake bacon, the excess fat drips away from the bacon, reducing the overall fat content. Additionally, since the bacon is not sitting in a pool of its own fat, it can be a slightly leaner option. However, it’s important to note that bacon itself is still a high-fat food, so it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
- Versatility: Baking bacon opens up a world of possibilities in terms of the dishes you can create. The oven-baked bacon comes out flat, making it easier to use in sandwiches, wraps, salads, or as a crispy topping for various dishes. The flat, evenly cooked strips are also perfect for layering on burgers or adding to breakfast tacos.
By choosing to bake bacon, you can enjoy a more convenient, mess-free, evenly cooked, and potentially healthier way of preparing this beloved breakfast staple. Give it a try and discover the joy of perfectly baked bacon with all its delicious possibilities.
How to Bake Bacon
Equipment
- Rimmed Baking Sheet (we love ours from William Sonoma)
- Aluminum Foil
- Baking Rack (Baking the bacon on a rack makes the bacon crisper and allows the bacon grease to drip off)
- Plate lined with paper towel
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Thick-Cut Bacon
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Arrange bacon strips on the foil or baking rack. It is not problem if the strips overlap each other because they will shrink drastically as they bake. Place the baking pan/rack in the oven.
- Bake bacon for 15 to 20 minutes. The timing depends on how soft or crispy you like your bacon and your oven.
- Remove from oven and transfer cooked bacon to the paper towel-lined plat to absorb the excess grease.
- Let baking pan cool and throw out aluminum foil for quick clean-up!