I Found the Secret to Perfectly Crispy Bacon Every Time

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If you still do bacon V panI'm sorry to say, but you're doing it wrong. When you add bacon to the pan, you risk a greasy mess, uneven cooking, and the constant threat of hot splatters. It's time to stop the madness.

The secret to incredibly perfect, consistently crispy bacon isn't some fancy gadget, it's yours. bake. It delivers edge-to-edge crispness, requires no active cooking time, and best of all, leaves no grease all over the kitchen.

If you're ready to cook perfect, drama-free bacon every time, this is the only method you'll ever need.


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How to Cook Perfect Bacon in the Oven

raw bacon on a baking sheet

It's okay if the bacon touches, as long as it doesn't overlap.

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Here are my tips for making perfectly crispy bacon in the oven. Spoiler alert: there aren't many steps, and none of them take very long.

Preheat the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. I would avoid fryer setting if your oven has one, as fast-moving air is more likely to disperse the fat inside. We strive for a clutter-free scenario.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or use a nonstick baking sheet for a more eco-friendly approach.. If you use foil, make sure the edges go up the sides of the pan to prevent the fat from spilling through the sides and falling onto the pan.

If you are using non-stick cookware, I prefer ceramic baking sheet or pan, but Teflon works well too.

Read more: Guide to Nonstick Cookware: Teflon, Ceramic, and More Explained

Place bacon on baking sheet. The strips should not overlap, but it's okay if they touch as they will shrink significantly during cooking. If you prefer extra crispy bacon with less fat, you can spread the slices lattice over the drip pan so that the fat drips down.

Cook for 8–10 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on the bacon as some ovens get hotter than others. If you like your bacon crispy and well done, wait a few more minutes. Remember that bacon gets crispy after it's removed and cooled.

Read more: No grill, no problem. This is the easiest way to cook a cheeseburger indoors.

bacon on a tray

Bacon in the oven is as good as it gets.

Hana Asbrink /CNET.com/

Drain the bacon on a sheet of two paper towels. In just a few minutes, you're ready to serve these crispy strips with eggs, a BLT, or crumble. come up with macaroni and cheese in a box.

The best part? After cooking the bacon in the oven, all you'll be left with is a small ball of foil that can easily be tossed in the trash.

Several countertop ovens for cooking bacon

For bacon I like to use smaller model with countertop convection. A large oven works just as well, but it takes longer to heat up, and dammit, we want bacon right now.

Ninja Double Oven And Breville Pro Smart Oven two multi-function ovens that work well. Both are big enough to keep bacon grease from splattering on the ceiling, but they're small and powerful enough to quickly reheat and cook bacon crispy in under 10 minutes. (We also have tips for how to clean a cast iron frying pan And how to make boxed mac and cheese taste better.)

Can you cook bacon in the air fryer?

Bacon in the deep fryer

An air fryer is another cleaner tool for cooking bacon.

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Absolutely. Lightweight air fryers are ideal for cooking bacon, much like cooking bacon in the oven. Here are step-by-step instructions for making bacon in the deep fryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I avoid the air fryer setting when cooking bacon?

To fry bacon in the oven, a lot of hot air passes through the cooking area very quickly. While it's not usually a problem, bacon is greasy (which is one of the reasons we avoid cooking it on the stovetop in general). The fast moving air created by the air fryer mode is a good way to splatter grease inside the oven.

How long should I cook bacon in the oven?

For best results, you should cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes, but if you want the crispiest bacon possible, you can leave the strips on for a couple more minutes.

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