Once you learn how to cook bacon in the oven without a rack, you'll never go back to cooking it on the stove. Learn my tips and tricks for achieving perfectly cooked bacon (to your preference) and the benefits of this method.
Who doesn't love bacon? It's warm, salty, smoky, slightly sweet, and crispy. There's one problem though. Cooking it on the stovetop can be so messy. Between the splatters of bacon grease and cleaning out the pan afterward, sometimes it's easy to think, "Is this really worth it?".
The way to make bacon worth it is to cook it in the oven. This is the solution to perfectly cooked bacon every time, whether you're feeding a crowd or want to add it to different meals throughout the week.
Benefits of Cooking Bacon in the Oven
No oil splatters
When I cook bacon on the stovetop, it manages to get everywhere. With this method, I don't have to worry about it splattering on my clothes. Plus, clean-up is pretty dang easy. The result? Consistently cooked bacon every time.
No flipping
Cooking bacon in the oven is definitely a set-it-and-forget-it kind of cooking process. It requires no flipping or rotating the sheet pan.
No baking rack
There seems to be a misconception that you must cook your bacon on a baking rack that is placed on top of your sheet pan. The perk of cooking it in the oven is less cleanup.
A baking rack filled with bacon grease is a major pain in the ass to clean. Plus, I noticed it didn't really make that much of a difference in terms of crispiness.
3 Simple Steps to Cooking Bacon in the Oven Without A Rack
1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the lined sheet pan, making sure they don't overlap (it's okay if the strips are touching because bacon shrinks as it cooks).
3. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until it reaches your desired texture then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all you need is a sheet pan lined with parchment paper for an easy cleanup! Plus, it's the best way to batch cook bacon.
Despite the name, uncured bacon is still cured, it's just processed using naturally occurring nitrates found in vegetables vs cured bacon that's processed with synthetic nitrates & additives. If your bacon is cured, it may require less cooking time because my understanding is that it typically has more sugar in it (which would make it crisp up faster).
Oven temperatures can vary quite a bit so if you know your oven runs hot, check it around the 14-minute mark and add more time as needed. Or buy an oven thermometer to check the internal temperature and cook the bacon accordingly. Also, keep in mind that bacon crisps up as it cools.
Recipes With Bacon
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Without A Rack
Ingredients
- 12-16 oz uncured bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Arrange your bacon in a single layer on the lined sheet pan, making sure they don't overlap (it's okay if the strips are touching because bacon shrinks as it cooks).
- Bake for 18-22 minutes (see notes) or until it reaches your desired texture then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease. Enjoy!
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