How to make bacon that is both crunchy and chewy? The best and easiest way to cook bacon strips is in the oven! No need to even fry your bacon because baked bacon is just as crispy, but less messy. In 15 minutes, you can have perfectly cooked bacon that doesn’t drip! This is a great way to make this American classic for breakfast, dinner, or maybe even dessert.
Crispy, delicious oven-baked bacon is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Ditch the messy frying pan and learn how long you need to bake bacon at 375°F for perfect results every time.
Baking bacon in the oven has so many advantages over stovetop It cooks evenly, there’s less splatter, and you can cook large batches all at once But nailing the bake time can be tricky.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about cooking times and temps for flawless oven-baked bacon. Let’s get crispy!
Why Bake Bacon at 375°F?
375°F is the ideal oven temp for crisp, evenly cooked bacon without ending up burnt or underdone. Here’s why 375°F hits the bacon baking sweet spot:
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High enough heat to render fat and crisp up the bacon.
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Lower temp prevents overcooking the edges and fat before the centers are done,
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Gives you time to pull the pan before bacon overcooks or burns
Many recipes call for baking anywhere from 350°F to 425°F. But through extensive testing, 375°F produces the best results every time.
Now let’s look at exactly how long you should bake bacon at 375°F for perfect doneness.
How Long to Bake Bacon at 375°F
The baking time can vary quite a bit depending on whether you want soft and chewy bacon or extra crispy. As a general guideline:
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For chewy bacon, bake 8-12 minutes
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For crispy bacon, bake 12-18 minutes
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For extra crispy bacon, bake 18-24 minutes
Thinner sliced bacon will cook faster than thick cut bacon so adjust times accordingly.
Regardless of your preferred texture, always watch the bacon closely near the end of the recommended bake times. Ovens vary and you may need to pull it sooner or bake it a bit longer.
Tips for Perfect Oven Baked Bacon Every Time
Follow these tips for flawless, evenly cooked bacon from your oven every time:
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Use a rimmed baking sheet – This prevents grease drips and splatters.
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Line pan with foil – For easy cleanup, cover the pan with foil.
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Place bacon on a wire rack – Elevate on a rack so the bacon fat can drip through.
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Space out evenly – Don’t overcrowd slices or they’ll stick together.
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Flip halfway – Flip the bacon halfway through for even cooking on both sides.
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Blot grease – Drain excess grease on paper towels before serving.
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Watch closely at end – Stay nearby toward the end of cook time.
Follow these steps and you’ll achieve picture-perfect bacon from your oven every time!
Step-By-Step Instructions for Baking Bacon
Here’s a quick summary of the full oven-baked bacon procedure:
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Add wire rack.
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Arrange raw bacon slices evenly on rack without overlapping.
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Bake for 8-12 minutes for chewy bacon, up to 18-24 minutes for crispy.
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Remove pan, carefully flip bacon slices with tongs.
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Return to oven and bake another 8-12 minutes, until desired crispness.
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Transfer cooked bacon to paper towel-lined plate to drain.
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Enjoy your perfectly oven-baked bacon!
Once you’ve got these steps down, you’ll never have to deal with messy fried bacon in a pan again.
Cooking More Bacon? Adjust Oven Temp and Time
If you’re cooking up a large batch of bacon for a crowd, you may need to tweak the oven temp and cook times slightly:
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For 1-2 packages of bacon, keep oven at 375°F.
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For 3 or more packages, reduce heat to 350°F to prevent burning.
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Add 2-4 minutes to total cook time for multiple packages.
Watch carefully as oven temp and cook times can vary. Just adjust as needed to achieve your perfect crispness.
Best Ways to Use Leftover Baked Bacon
Baking a big batch? Here are some delicious ways to use up any leftover baked bacon:
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Add crumbled bacon to salads, soups or baked potatoes.
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Make a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
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Mix into scrambled eggs or an omelette.
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Top a burger or barbecue chicken.
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Stir into baked beans, mac and cheese or greens.
With perfectly cooked oven-baked bacon ready to go, the possibilities are endless!
common Questions about Baking Bacon at 375°F
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
How long should I bake bacon at 375°F for thick-cut bacon?
For thick-cut bacon, increase bake times to 15-20 minutes for chewy and 20-28 minutes for crispy. Check frequently to avoid burning.
Can I bake bacon at 400°F instead of 375°F?
Yes, you can bake at 400°F but watch it closely as it may cook faster and be prone to burning. Reduce times to 10-14 minutes.
Should I flip the bacon halfway through baking?
It’s recommended to flip the bacon slices halfway for even cooking on both sides. Use tongs to carefully flip.
Can I reuse the baking sheet after cooking greasy bacon?
It’s best to cover the pan with foil for easy cleanup. But if you want to reuse, scrub well with hot soapy water or use baking soda.
Now that you know exactly how long to bake bacon at 375°F for any texture you desire, you’ll never have to settle for limp, greasy microwaved bacon again. Forget the frying pan and enjoy perfectly crispy oven-baked bacon anytime!
How to store baked bacon
- First, put the bacon on a plate to cool down.
- Next place cooled bacon in a resealable plastic bag.
- The fridge is a good place to keep cooked bacon for up to a week. Bacon that has been stored in the fridge can be heated up in the microwave or added to a hot pan to crisp up. For even more crunch, you can cut it up!
How to cook bacon in the ovenWhether you need to cook bacon quickly for breakfast, or to feed a crowd, cooking bacon in the oven minimizes clean up and produces almost no mess! Below is the step by step process of how to make perfect bacon in the oven!
- First things first, preheat oven to 375 F.
- The next step is to get a big baking sheet ready and line it with bacon or foil.
- Now, put the bacon strips on the baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the strips don’t touch each other, or they will stick together.
- Finally, bake your bacon for 15 minutes or until it’s perfectly crispy, then drain it!
- Move the bacon strips from the baking sheet to a plate to drain the fat. Now, tilt the baking sheet so that the bacon fat can drain into a trash can or a storage container.
- That can also be done with paper towels, newspapers, or a brown paper bag that has been cut up.