How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Without A Rack
Learn how easy it is to cook bacon in the oven without a rack for perfectly cooked and crispy results. Plus, an easy cleanup!
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!
Notes
Use the middle rack. For the most even cooking, make sure to place your pan on the middle rack in your oven.
How to avoid overly crispy/burnt bacon. Oven temperatures vary, and because of this, some ovens run hotter than others. To avoid burnt bacon, there are a couple of things you can do: buy an oven thermometer to check the internal temperature or check the bacon after the 12-minute mark.
Cooking times. I find 20-22 minutes to generally be the sweet spot for my oven and my personal preference for crispiness. However, if your bacon is thick-cut, you'll likely need to cook it closer to the 30-minute mark.