How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven at 425 Degrees – The Ultimate Guide

Cooking bacon can be messy and splattery when done in a skillet on the stovetop. Grease tends to pop and splatter, creating a clean up hassle. Luckily, there is an easier way – baking your bacon in the oven! Specifically, baking bacon at 425 degrees Fahrenheit creates crispy, evenly cooked bacon with less mess and fuss. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to master oven-baked bacon.

Why Bake Bacon in the Oven

Baking bacon in the oven has many advantages over stovetop frying:

• Cooks evenly – No need to flip and risk undercooked spots. The oven heat surrounds the bacon from all sides.

• Less messy – Without hot grease popping on your skin and clothes.

• Cooks flat – No annoying bacon curls.

• Cooks more at once – Most ovens fit a whole pound of bacon on a sheet pan

• Frees the stovetop – Leaving burners open for other items

• Easy cleanup – Just toss away the foil.

Simply put, the oven allows for neater, less hassle bacon cooking

How Long Does it Take to Cook Bacon at 425 Degrees?

So how long exactly should you bake bacon at 425 degrees F? The timing can vary a bit depending on your oven and the thickness of the bacon. Thinner sliced bacon will cook faster than thick-cut bacon. Here are general guidelines:

• Thin sliced bacon – 8 to 12 minutes
• Regular sliced bacon – 10 to 15 minutes
• Thick-cut bacon – 14 to 18 minutes

For the most accurate timing, watch the bacon closely the first time you make it. Check it a few minutes before the recommended time. Look for bacon slices to be browned with some crispy edges but still have a little flexibility, not blackened or burnt.

If after preheating your oven to 425°F and cooking for the estimated time the bacon is still not quite done, continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until it reaches your desired doneness. The great thing about oven baking is you can easily add more time but you can’t undo overcooking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfect oven baked bacon every time:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound bacon, thin sliced, regular sliced, or thick-cut

Equipment:

• Rimmed baking sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Wire rack (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Be sure to turn up foil edges to catch grease.

3. Arrange bacon slices on the baking sheet in a single layer without overlapping. Place on top of a wire rack set inside the baking sheet, if desired. (The rack helps bacon cook evenly and crisps from all sides).

4. Bake for 8-18 minutes, depending on thickness. Check frequently at the end to prevent burning.

5. Remove pan from the oven. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

And that’s it! With these simple steps, you’ll enjoy hands-off, hassle-free crispy bacon from your oven. No messy grease splatters to clean up.

Pro Tip: Add a layer of foil over the bacon to prevent oven splatter. Remove for the last 2-3 minutes for final crisping.

Oven Bacon Cooking Tips

Follow these tips for bacon baking success:

• Use thick cut bacon for the best texture – it stays pliable instead of brittle and crunchy.

• Make baked bacon on the weekend for easy breakfasts all week. Store cooled bacon in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

• Line the baking sheet with parchment instead of foil for even easier no-clean up.

• Use a broiler pan and slotted top to allow grease to drip through for extra crispness.

• Crank up the heat to 450°F for ultra crispy bacon. May take a couple minutes less time.

• Toss chopped baked bacon on salads and baked potatoes for a quick flavor boost.

• Freeze extra baked bacon to reheat anytime for breakfast sandwiches, BLTs, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep bacon flat in the oven?

Cooking bacon on a wire rack over a baking sheet allows heat to circulate all around, resulting in flatter bacon. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan.

Can you cook bacon from frozen in the oven?

Yes, you can absolutely bake frozen bacon in the oven! Just add 2-3 extra minutes to the cook time. It may release more water at first but will crisp up.

Why is my baked bacon undercooked in spots?

If some pieces are less done than others, the bacon likely overlapped or was crowded on the pan. Make sure slices lay in a single layer without touching for the most even results.

What oven temp is best for bacon?

Any temp from 400°F to 450°F will work. 425°F gives the best balance of cook time and crisping. Higher heat risks burning before the fat renders.

How can you tell when bacon is done?

Bacon is done when it has browned, developed some crispy edges, and has a little flexibility but is not totally limp. If very stiff and blackened, it is overcooked.

Can you bake bacon at 350 degrees?

While you can bake bacon at 350°F, it will take longer to crisp up and may render more fat out instead of getting crispy. 425°F is ideal for getting crispy oven-baked bacon.

More Delicious Ways to Use Baked Bacon

The possibilities are endless when you always have baked bacon ready in your fridge. Here are just a few tasty ways to enjoy oven-cooked bacon:

• Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches

• BLT sandwiches

• Bacon-wrapped scallops or shrimp

• Cobb salad topped with crispy chopped bacon

• Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes with bacon pieces

• Bacon mac and cheese

• Bacon jam or baked beans

• Bacon and blue cheese stuffed burgers

• Bacon vinaigrette salad dressing

• Bacon and pecan or maple syrup baked goods like muffins and scones

• Bacon explosions (bacon-wrapped stuffed bacon)

Baking a big batch of bacon lets you quickly elevate anything with its smoky, salty, crispy flavor.

Make Easy Oven Bacon Part of Your Repertoire

Once you try oven-baked bacon, you may never go back to splattering yourself at the stovetop again. So next time a recipe calls for bacon or you get a bacon craving, save yourself a mess and pop it in the oven instead. Your kitchen and taste buds will thank you!