Cooking bacon in the oven creates perfectly crispy, delicious bacon. It’s also very simple, makes less of a mess than cooking it on the stove, and lets you do other things in the kitchen at the same time. If you’ve never baked bacon, give it a try!.
Benton’s bacon has achieved legendary status among bacon aficionados for its intensely smoky, rich and mouthwatering flavor. But cooking this artisanal bacon can be tricky. Cook it wrong and you’ll end up with a chewy, underdone mess. However, if you use the oven and follow a few simple steps, you can achieve perfectly crispy Benton’s bacon every time.
Why Choose Benton’s Bacon?
Before we get into the nitty gritty of oven cooking methods let’s look at why Benton’s bacon stands out from the crowd. Benton’s Country Smokehouse located in Madisonville, Tennessee, has been making old-fashioned country cured bacon since 1947 using traditional techniques.
Here are some key reasons why Benton’s bacon is so highly coveted
- Dry cured using only salt, brown sugar, and spices for a minimum of 14 days
- Cold smoked over hickory wood fires for up to 24 hours
- Made from heritage hog breeds like Berkshire, Tamworth, and Duroc
- Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
- Robust smoky and salty flavor with a perfume-like aroma
The exceptional flavor and artisanal process is why so many people say that once you try Benton’s bacon, you’ll be ruined for all other bacon. But you have to cook it right to truly experience this bacon’s full glory.
Why Cook Benton’s Bacon in the Oven?
There are a few different ways you can cook Benton’s bacon – skillet, microwave and oven. However, using the oven often yields the best and most consistent results. Here are some benefits to cooking this specialty bacon in the oven:
- Cooks evenly – No need to flip and risk underdone spots
- Perfectly crispy – Oven’s dry heat crisps up the bacon nicely
- Hands-free – Just put it in and go about your business until timer goes off
- Less splattering – Contained in the oven so less mess
- Cooks more – Can fit a lot of slices on the baking sheets
For these reasons, the oven is ideal for cooking up a lot of Benton’s bacon without the hassle.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Benton’s Bacon in the Oven
Follow these simple steps for crispy, delicious Benton’s bacon every time you use the oven:
Prep the Baking Sheets
- Line large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. (Use multiple sheets if cooking over a pound of bacon.)
- The parchment prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
Arrange the Bacon
- Lay bacon slices side by side on the prepared baking sheets.
- Make sure none of the slices are overlapping. You may need to use two sheets if cooking a lot of bacon.
- For easy grabbing, leave about a 1/2 inch between slices.
Preheat Oven to 400°F
- Preheat your oven to 400°F which is the ideal temp to get crispy Benton’s bacon.
Cook Time
- Cook the bacon for around 12-18 minutes depending on thickness.
- For 1/4-inch thick slices, cook around 15 minutes.
- Set timer and check frequently towards end.
Check for Doneness
- Check for your desired level of doneness after 12 minutes.
- Bacon should start to look crispy and browned at the edges.
- For thicker slices or extra crispy bacon, cook 2-3 minutes more.
Remove and Drain
- When done, use tongs to transfer bacon slices to a paper towel lined plate.
- This will soak up excess grease for crisper bacon.
And that’s it! Just a few simple steps result in perfect oven-cooked Benton’s bacon.
Handy Oven Cook Times
While checking frequently is recommended, these cook times work well as a starting point:
- 1/4 inch thick slices – Cook 15 minutes
- 1/2 inch thick slices – Cook 18 minutes
- 1 inch thick steak cuts – Cook 20-25 minutes
Knowing the approximate cook times for different thicknesses takes the guesswork out. But always keep watch towards the end.
Oven Temperature Matters
You may see recipes suggesting higher oven temps for bacon. However, cooking Benton’s bacon at a high temp risks uneven cooking and burning. The lower, consistent heat of a 400°F oven allows the bacon to crisp gradually without scorching.
Should You Pre-Heat the Oven?
For oven baking, you can choose to either preheat the oven before adding the bacon or place the bacon in the cold oven then turn it on.
Preheating first means you’ll be cooking from room temp. Putting the cold bacon in before heating can result in a bit more even cooking. Both methods work well, so choose whichever you prefer.
Choosing the Right Pan Is Key
Having the right bakeware is important for crispy oven bacon. Options include:
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Rimmed Baking Sheets – Most standard size work well. Provides ample crisping surface.
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Cooling Racks – Fit these inside of rimmed baking sheets to elevate bacon off grease.
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Broiler Pans – Perforated pans allow grease to drip through for crisper bacon.
Avoid any bakeware that has sides taller than 1 inch, as it can inhibit crispiness.
Benton’s Bacon Pairs Perfectly With…
Once you’ve mastered oven cooking Benton’s bacon, it’s time to think about how to serve and enjoy this smoky, tasty treat.
Here are some sensational ways to pair Benton’s bacon:
- Breakfast tacos or sandwiches
- BLT sandwiches
- Chopped into salads
- Wrapped around roasted asparagus
- Crumbled over baked potatoes
- In place of croutons for Caesar salad
- On burgers or pizza
With its intensely bold flavor, a little Benton’s bacon goes a long way in any dish! Feel free to get creative with recipes and pairings.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Like any cooked bacon, leftovers should be stored properly for food safety and to maintain quality. Follow these storage tips:
- Allow cooked bacon to cool completely before storage.
- Place cooled bacon in a zip top bag or sealed container.
- Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days maximum.
- To reheat, place on a baking sheet and cook for 5 minutes at 400°F. Microwaving can make it soggy.
With the knowledge of how to properly cook and store Benton’s bacon, you can always keep some of this tasty treat on hand!
So next time you get your hands on this prized artisanal bacon, remember these tips for cooking it to crispy, meat candy perfection in your oven. Benton’s bacon is truly one of life’s most delicious pleasures when cooked right. The oven method consistently delivers outstanding results you can count on.
Cooking Bacon in the Oven
There is no better way to cook bacon than in the oven. It gets perfectly crispy and cooked all the way through. But it’s amazing how many people have never tried it. It seems the stovetop reigns supreme.
Today I’ll share with you why you should change your habits and cook bacon in the oven. And trust me, once you cook bacon in the oven, you’ll never cook it on the stovetop again!.
When you cook bacon on the stove, it splatters all over the top and leaves hot spots on the pan. This means certain pieces of bacon may cook faster than others. That’s also why some bacon slices might charcoal a little too much while other slices are still not cooked enough.
Cooking bacon in the oven cooks all of your bacon slices evenly as the heat surrounds them. They slowly sizzle, don’t splatter and end up evenly cooked. It’s a beautiful thing.
Here’s how to render bacon grease:
- Add the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate after it’s done cooking.
- Put another piece of paper towel on top of a fine mesh sieve. You could also use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. Pour the hot bacon grease over the sieve and into a glass jar.
- Note: You should use glass instead of plastic because hot bacon grease will melt plastic.
You can see in the picture above that I already had some lighter-colored, opaque bacon fat in my glass jar. It’s easy for me to put this on top of fresh bacon. I just cover the jar and put it in the fridge.
So what do I use my rendered bacon grease for? Oh, just about everything. It’s what I fry my eggs in and how I sear pretty much any meat. It’s also great for sautéed or roasted vegetables to add depth and flavor.
Benton’s Bacon
FAQ
Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400?
How long does it take to cook Benton’s bacon?
How long should bacon be in the oven at 400 degrees?
How long does bacon take to cook in the oven?
How do you cook bacon in the oven?
Baking bacon in the oven is one of the easiest mess-free ways to prepare it. With our special method it comes out perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious every single time. Lay the bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the bacon in a cold oven. Set the oven to 400˚F.
How do you cook bacon on a rimmed baking sheet?
For easy clean-up, line a 13 x 18-inch rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty wide aluminum foil and so that there is some overhang on all sides (this prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet), then cover with a sheet of parchment paper. Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet.
What temperature should Bacon be preheated before baking?
We recommend baking bacon at 400 degrees F. For most recipes, you’d wait for the oven to preheat before you start baking. When baking bacon, however, we suggest sliding the sheet pan into the cold oven so the bacon sits inside as the oven comes to temperature.
How long do you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet. You should be able to fit about 12 slices (try to keep them from overlapping). Bake 14 to 18 minutes for regular bacon and 18 to 20 minutes for thick-cut bacon, carefully rotating the baking sheet from front to back about halfway through cooking.