How to Cook Bacon Ahead of Time and Reheat for Meals All Week

Bacon makes everything better. From breakfast sandwiches to burgers, salads to appetizers that smoky salty, crispy pork goodness elevates any dish. But who has time to cook fresh bacon every single morning or for every recipe that calls for it?

Luckily, you can easily prepare a big batch of bacon ahead of time and store it for quick and easy use all week long. In this guide I’ll share the best techniques for precooking bacon proper storage methods, and foolproof reheating tips to revive it with a satisfying crunch. With a stash of ready-to-go bacon in your fridge or freezer, you’ll always be ready to take your meals up a notch!

Why Precook Bacon?

Cooking bacon in advance offers several advantages:

• Save time by not having to fry bacon every time you want it. Just grab a few strips from the fridge when you’re prepping meals.

• Meal prep: Make enough for a week’s worth of easy breakfasts, salads, wraps, and other foods all at once.

• Less mess – Baking it in the oven contains splatter. Stovetop frying can cause a greasy stovetop mess.

• More uses – Precooked bacon works for recipes where raw bacon would burn or overcook. Think quiches, casseroles, etc.

When stored properly in the fridge or freezer, precooked bacon keeps its flavor and texture perfectly. Let’s look at the best cooking methods.

Baking Bacon in the Oven

Using your oven to “bake” bacon is hands-down the easiest route for cooking large batches. Here’s how:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

• Arrange raw bacon strips in a single layer on the sheet. Make sure strips don’t overlap.

• Bake for 15-18 minutes, until bacon reaches desired crispness. I bake mine for 16 minutes.

• Drain bacon on paper towels before cooling completely.

The great thing about oven-baked bacon is you avoid splatter mess from frying. Baking also cooks the bacon more evenly. Feel free to sprinkle on brown sugar, pepper or other seasonings before baking.

Pan Frying for Maximum Crispness

While baking is my usual method, pan-frying makes the crispiest bacon. Try this for special occasions:

• Heat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat.

• Add just enough bacon strips to fit without crowding.

• Fry for 2-3 minutes per batch until crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Pan frying requires more attention to avoid burning. But it gives you greater control over crispness.

Quick Microwave Bacon

If you need just a few pieces quickly, the microwave can work in a pinch:

• Layer raw bacon between paper towels on a microwave-safe plate.

• Microwave on high in 1-minute increments, up to about 4 minutes total depending on thickness.

• Drain on fresh paper towels afterwards.

Microwaved bacon won’t be as evenly crisped but it’s super fast. This works when you lack time for other cooking methods.

Storing and Freezing Precooked Bacon

Proper storage is key to enjoying precooked bacon all week long:

• Let bacon cool completely before storing.

• Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

• For longer storage, wrap cooled bacon tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.

• Freeze individual slices wrapped in wax paper if using for sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Be sure to label frozen bacon with the date. Use within 2 weeks for best flavor. Now let’s talk about the best reheating methods.

Reheating Bacon 3 Ways

When ready to eat, revive crispiness and flavor with these quick reheating techniques:

Oven (best for batches):

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Space bacon strips on a foil-lined baking sheet.

• Warm for 6-8 minutes until sizzling and crisp.

Skillet:

• Heat a skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until hot.

Microwave:

• Layer bacon between paper towels on a microwave-safe plate.
• Microwave in 30 second bursts until hot and slightly crisped.

The oven or skillet will recrisp the best. Microwaving is fine for a quick warm-up.

Incorporating Precooked Bacon Into Meals

Having ready bacon makes whipping up so many dishes a breeze. Some tasty ideas:

• Breakfast sandwiches – Add bacon to egg, cheese and English muffin sandwiches.

• Burgers or hot dogs – Top beef patties and dogs with bacon for added flavor.

• Salads – Crumble over spinach, wedge, or Cobb salads.

• Baked potatoes – Sprinkle crispy bacon bits on loaded baked potatoes.

• Pizza – Use precooked bacon as a pizza topping.

• Pasta – Toss crispy bacon into pasta carbonara, mac and cheese or spaghetti.

• Brussel sprouts – Roast Brussel sprouts slices with chopped bacon.

The smoky, salty flavor pairs perfectly with so many ingredients. Keep cooked bacon on hand to elevate eggs, sandwiches, salads, vegetables, pasta and more all week long.

Cooking Bacon Ahead Is a Game Changer