Frying bacon in a skillet has always been my go-to method. but what if you could make perfect bacon without the hassle and the mess of cooking on the stovetop? Well, it turns out that cooking bacon in the oven, especially on a rack, is the best way to cook bacon. It is cleaner, requires less effort and attention, and results in crispier bacon.
In contrast to frying bacon on the stovetop and having it sizzle in a pool of oil, cooking bacon in the oven uses a rack which allows grease and fat to drain away resulting in a crispier and less greasy bacon. It’s especially a great way to cook a whole pack of bacon efficiently. And it is also a healthier cooking method, if with a reduction in grease and fat content of the bacon.
So how to cook bacon perfectly in the oven? Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Use foil or a non-stick sheet pan to line a baking tray, making sure that the edges are elevated to avoid grease from dripping onto the tray. Arrange the bacon on the tray, making sure they don’t overlap. If you want your bacon with less grease, you use a wire rack where the bacon strips can be placed to allow the fat to drip off.
Transfer the bacon-laden tray into the oven and wait for eight to ten minutes, ensuring the bacon isn’t overcooked. After this, allow the bacon to cool on a layer of paper towels before serving or storing. Cooking bacon in the oven is not only a healthier alternative but also results in an easier, cleaning process.
To help make cooking bacon in the oven even more convenient, smaller countertop convection models are recommended. A couple of popular models for this are the Ninja Double Oven and Breville’s Smart Oven Air, adept at preheating quickly and cooking bacon evenly to a crispy finish in less than 10 minutes.
Ultimately, not only is cooking bacon in the oven a quicker and less messy method, but it also is much healthier, producing crispy and less greasy bacon. This method is not only efficient but also much preferred over other traditional bacon cooking methods. So, to enjoy perfect crispy bacon and to avoid the mess, oven cooking offers a great alternative.
