Wondering what’s the best oven temp for cooking bacon? Baking can be a lot more convenient than pan frying, but what temperature should you use? Keep reading to discover the best way to cook perfectly crispy bacon in the oven.
Although it seems simple, baking bacon in the oven is far from foolproof. If you’re not careful, you can end up burning the bacon. When you use the right oven temperature for the right amount of time, baking is an easy and delicious method of preparing both pork and turkey bacon.
Whether you’re using a convection oven or a regular oven, we’ll share with you the best way to get delicious strips of bacon every time.
Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?
Compared to frying bacon in a skillet, the oven offers quite a few advantages:
- Cooking in bulk: when you need to cook enough bacon to feed a crowd, nothing beats the oven!
- Easier cleanup: the stovetop method can lead to lots of splatters and a greasy skillet. The oven is a lot less messy with the easier cleanup.
- Multitasking: while the oven is taking care of the bacon, your hands are free to prepare other dishes or clean the kitchen
- No need to flip: when baked in the oven, you’ll get evenly cooked bacon without having to flip the strips.
- Less risk of burns: getting splashed with bacon grease is painful! With the oven, you won’t need to worry about splatter.
- More consistent cooking: when you use the oven, all your bacon strips will be equally crispy
Best Bacon in Oven Temp
The sweet spot for cooking bacon in the oven is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. At a higher temperature, you’re likely to burn the bacon, while lower temperatures won’t cook it fast enough.
If your oven has a fan or forced air feature, go ahead and turn it on. This will help to circulate the hot air more evenly for more consistent cooking.
If you’re not in a rush, you can try cooking bacon in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Though it takes a longer time, you’re less likely to end up with burnt bacon and the strips won’t curl up as much.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven
When cooking bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect it to be ready in 15-20 minutes for regular bacon, while thick-cut bacon will take around 20-25 minutes. If you’re using the forced air feature or a convection oven, the bacon will cook a bit faster, so be sure to check on it earlier.
If you’re cooking bacon low and slow at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, regular bacon will be done in 20-25 minutes and thick-cut bacon should be ready in 30-35 minutes. It’s always a good idea to check the oven 5 minutes before it’s expected to be done. This way, you’re less likely to end up with burnt bacon.
How to Tell When Bacon Is Done
You can tell when bacon is done simply by looking at it. Cooked bacon will turn from pale pink to a deep, reddish-brown and will be visibly crispy. The ideal level of crispiness is entirely up to you.
Tips for the Best Bacon in the Oven
- While you wait for the oven to heat up, use parchment paper or aluminum foil to line a baking tray.
- For best results, avoid cooking regular bacon and thick-cut bacon simultaneously. When you use the same cut, it’s easier to keep track of the cooking time.
- Place the bacon on the foil or parchment paper in a single, evenly spaced layer.
- If you have a convection oven or the forced air feature, go ahead and use it. This ensures more even cooking and even speeds up the process by a few minutes.
- Though there’s no need to flip the bacon, you may need to rotate the baking tray if one section of your oven is hotter than the other.
- While the bacon is in the oven, use paper towels to line a plate to absorb the excess grease from the bacon.
- If you prefer when bacon is less crispy, remove it from the oven a few minutes earlier.
FAQ
How Long Does Bacon Take in the Oven at 400?
With an oven temp of 400°F, regular bacon will be cooked in 15-20 minutes. Thick-cut bacon will need 20-25 minutes in the oven. When using a convection oven, bacon will cook a bit faster, towards the lower end of the specified range.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven at 350?
If you preheat your oven to 350°F, thinner slices of bacon should be fully cooked in 25-30 minutes. Thick-cut bacon will take a bit longer, around 30-35 minutes. Bear in mind that convection ovens cook faster than regular ovens.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Bacon at 425?
Using an oven temperature of 425°F, bacon will be fully cooked in 10-15 minutes. Thinner slices will be done in 10 minutes, while thick-cut bacon can take up to 15 minutes. At such a high temperature, bacon can burn easily, so don’t abandon the oven and remove the bacon as soon as it reaches your desired level of crispiness.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven?
Turkey bacon can be cooked in the oven just like pork bacon. It’s important to note that turkey is much leaner than pork, so the cooking time is a bit shorter. Thin slices of turkey bacon can be fully cooked in as little as 8 minutes. Thicker slices can take 10-12 minutes, but keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
Can You Bake Bacon Without Foil Or Parchment Paper?
Although it’s possible to bake bacon directly on your baking tray, this isn’t recommended. Bacon releases a lot of grease and cleanup is much easier if you use foil or parchment paper. Make things easier for yourself by lining the baking tray before you start baking.
Should You Flip Bacon In The Oven?
Bacon will cook evenly in the oven without you needing to flip it over. However, if your oven is hotter in one section, it’s a good idea to rotate your baking tray so you don’t end up with some sections of the bacon being burnt. If your oven has even heating, this wouldn’t be necessary.
How To Render Bacon Grease?
Bacon grease can be used in so many delicious ways. Use it as a substitute for oil or butter and you’ll definitely notice the difference in flavor. Instead of throwing away the grease, simply use a paper towel to line a mesh sieve or a fine strainer. Place the sieve over a glass jar and pour the grease into the jar. You can also use a cheesecloth or nut milk bag for this. Store the jar in the fridge for up to six months or in the freezer indefinitely.
How Long Does Cooked Bacon Last?
Cooked bacon can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Once the bacon has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Cooked bacon can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (+Best Bacon Oven Temp)
Ingredients
- 8 bacon slices regular or thick-cut
- aluminum foil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. If your oven has a convection or forced air feature, go ahead and turn it on. Meanwhile, prepare a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess bacon grease.
- Use aluminum foil or parchment paper to line a baking tray or dish.
- Place the slices of bacon on the baking tray in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes for regular bacon, or 20-25 minutes for thick-cut bacon.
- There’s no need to flip the bacon slices, but be sure to check on them at the 15-minute mark for regular bacon and at the 20-minute mark for thick-cut.
- Once the bacon has reached your preferred level of crispiness, remove the baking tray from the oven and transfer the bacon slices to the paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use a lower oven temp of 350°F. If you do, be sure to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.
- Cooking times will vary by oven, so err on the side of caution by checking the bacon 5 minutes earlier than the expected time.
- If you want to capture the bacon grease, simply use a paper towel to line a mesh sieve or a fine strainer. Place the sieve over a glass jar and pour the grease into the jar. Store the jar in the fridge.
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