How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Cover the bottom baking sheet completely with foil all the way up the sides and set the rack on top.
Lay bacon pieces on the rack side by side in a single layer. Be careful not to overlap because the meat can end up sticking together.
Place the tray into the cold oven and set the temperature to 400 degrees. Cook bacon for about 15 minutes, or until it’s as crispy as you like it. Remember that it will continue to crisp up a little as it cools. Drain cooked bacon on paper towels.

Raw bacon on a baking rack over a baking sheet.

Cooked bacon on a baking sheet with a baking rack.

FAQs

How do you know when bacon is done?

You can tell bacon is done when it turns from a light pink color to a golden brown. It should be crispy, but it’s ok to serve it a little chewy if that’s your preference.

How can I use leftover bacon?

There are so many ways to use bacon! It’s delicious as a garnish on salads or stirred into Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. You could make yourself a nice Club Sandwich or just chop it up and stir into an omelet.

Do you need to flip bacon in the oven?

Because we are using a baking rack, there is no need to flip the bacon over. Even if you were to cook it directly on the sheet pan, you wouldn’t need to turn it.

Can you freeze cooked bacon?

Freezing bacon is actually a great way to preserve it so you always have some on hand. To reheat thaw your bacon first, then heat in the oven for in a skillet over medium-high heat. It will only take a few minutes to crisp up.

How Long Does it Take to Bake Bacon?

The answer to this question will vary by a few factors.

How chewy or crispy do you want your bacon?
How thick is the bacon?
The temperature of the oven.

For example, cooking bacon in the oven at 350 F for 35-40 minutes will more produce a tender, melt-in-your-mouth result. Using a high temperature, say, cooking bacon in the oven at 425 F, will give you an excellent chewy-crispy bite.

Because I tend to walk right down the middle of the road, I went with 400℉. But here are the cooking temperatures for bacon:

Tender, melt in your mouth bacon – 35 minutes at 375℉.
Perfectly crispy, but not too chewy bacon – 20 minutes at 400℉.
Meaty, chewy-crisp bacon – 15-20 minutes at 425℉.

For thick-cut bacon, add 5-10 minutes to the baking time. Watch closely because baking bacon at higher temperatures tends to burn toward the end.

Serving Suggestions

Maybe I’m stating the obvious here, but bacon is the best breakfast food and goes with all things breakfast. From Homemade Hash Browns to Chocolate Chip Pancakes, a little bacon on the side is never a bad thing.

I love to crumble this bacon onto salads, layer in Hasselback Chicken, or top Grilled Hamburgers. There are so many delicious recipes out there just calling for the addition of bacon. With this foolproof method you will always have some on hand!

Expert Tips

Put the bacon in a cold oven. This helps keep the bacon from shrinking. Once your bacon is in the oven, turn it on – do not preheat!
Be sure to use an oven safe cooling rack with the baking sheet. As the bacon cooks, the grease drips down instead of absorbing into the bacon itself, and it gets crispier, faster.
I prefer a thick cut bacon. All bacon shrinks when cooked, and the thick cut ends up more substantial and meaty after being cooked in the oven. I love the center cut thick cut bacon best because it has the best quality and the least amount of fat.
For storage, refrigerate cooked bacon within an hour of cooking in a shallow, airtight container or wrapped in foil or plastic wrap. Extend the life of cooked bacon by freezing it in those containers for up to 2-3 months. Thawed in the fridge, it will keep for an additional 3-4 days.

Bacon, scrambled eggs and diced potatoes on a plate with a fork.

More Recipes with Bacon

Recipe