The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Perfect Bacon in the Oven Like Martha Stewart
As an aspiring home cook and bacon lover, I’ve always admired Martha Stewart’s recipes and cooking techniques. Her method for oven-baked bacon produces the crispiest, most evenly cooked bacon I’ve ever tasted!
Baking bacon in the oven avoids the splattering mess of frying on the stovetop And thanks to Martha’s tips, it results in bacon that’s crispy, flavorful, and ready to add to any dish Follow this complete guide to cook easy oven bacon the Martha Stewart way.
Why Bake Bacon in the Oven?
Cooking bacon in the oven has some clear advantages over stovetop methods
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Less splattering and mess – the oven contains it all
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Cooks more bacon at once by using a sheet pan
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Crispier texture as it fries in its own fat
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More even cooking since it’s surrounded by heat
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Hands-off cooking that requires no monitoring or flipping
Simply put, the oven produces delicious, crispy bacon with much less effort and cleanup than the stovetop. Once you try it, you may never go back!
Martha Stewart’s Oven Bacon Method
Here are the steps to Martha’s tried and true technique:
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Arrange raw bacon slices in a single layer on the lined pan. Make sure the slices aren’t overlapping.
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Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness.
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Rotate the pan halfway through for even cooking.
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Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
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Enjoy your crispy, evenly cooked bacon on its own or on sandwiches, in salads, and more!
Martha recommends using a rimmed baking sheet so the rendered bacon fat doesn’t spill over. Parchment paper makes cleanup easy. The high heat helps the bacon fry in its own fat, becoming crispy and brown.
Choosing the Right Bacon
To achieve bakery-style crispness, choose a good quality, thick-cut smoked bacon. The thicker cut will hold up better to oven cooking without over-crisping. Here are some great options:
- Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon
- Applegate Organics Sunday Bacon
- Wright Brand Thick Cut Bacon
- Hormel Black Label Thick Cut Bacon
Store-bought regular sliced bacon will also work, though the thinner cut may crisp faster so watch the cooking time. Play around with different bacon brands and slice thicknesses to find your ultimate oven bacon!
Bacon Cooking Times
Bacon cook times can vary based on slice thickness, doneness preference, and oven accuracy. Follow these tips for perfect results:
- Start checking at 12 minutes for thin sliced bacon
- Cook thick cut bacon for 15-18 minutes
- Crispiness increases the longer it bakes
- Watch closely near the end to avoid burning
- Cook a test slice first if you’re unsure of timing
Use a tongs or fork to lift a test piece and check for your ideal crispness. Remember, it will continue crisping up a bit once out of the oven.
More Oven Bacon Tips
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For ultra crispy bacon, place a baking rack on the pan and lay bacon on top – this elevates it from the grease.
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Bake bacon on its own for full crispness. Adding other ingredients to the pan may steam the bacon.
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For less clean-up, line pan with foil instead of parchment. Crinkle and mold foil to pan edges.
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Save that delicious rendered bacon fat! Store it refrigerated for cooking eggs, roast potatoes, sautéing greens, etc.
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Undercook bacon slightly if using immediately in other recipes – it will crisp up more.
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Baked bacon keeps well refrigerated for 5 days – reheat gently in oven or microwave.
Flavor Boosts
Plain oven-baked bacon is delicious, but you can also kick up the flavor with simple additions:
- Fresh chopped herbs – rosemary, thyme, sage
- Minced garlic or shallots
- Black pepper, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika
- Maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey drizzled on top
- Spice rubs – chili powder, cinnamon, espresso
Get creative with extra flavors once you’ve mastered the basic oven bacon method!
Make a Full Sheet Pan Breakfast
Maximize the oven by cooking a complete breakfast on one sheet pan:
- Bacon – cook first for 10-12 minutes
- Breakfast potatoes – toss with oil, add to pan
- Eggs cracked right onto the rendered bacon grease
- Veggies like onions, peppers, kale
Pile it all on a plate straight from the oven for an easy breakfast!
Step Up Your Bacon Game
Bored with plain old bacon? Use oven-cooked bacon to level up these dishes:
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BLT sandwich – bake crispy bacon for the ultimate sandwich
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Bacon, lettuce, and tomato pasta – chop into a pasta dish
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Bacon and gruyere quiche – line the crust with baked bacon
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Bacon-wrapped dates or shrimp – delicious appetizers
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Candied bacon – coat baked bacon with brown sugar glaze
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Bacon mac and cheese – mix crispy bits right into cheesy pasta
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Bacon jam – caramelize into a sweet and savory spread
Oven-cooked bacon is endlessly versatile. Get creative with sweet and savory ways to enjoy it!
Common Oven Bacon Questions
If you’re new to oven-baked bacon, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
How long does bacon take in the oven?
- Thin sliced = 12-15 minutes
- Thick cut = 15-18 minutes
- Watch closely near end to avoid burning
Should bacon be covered while cooking in the oven?
No, do not cover bacon while baking. This will steam it instead of crisping.
Can you cook bacon from frozen in the oven?
Yes, add a couple extra minutes to the cook time if starting from frozen.
What oven temperature is best for cooking bacon?
400°F is ideal, producing crispy bacon without over-cooking.
What causes bacon to stick to the pan?
Be sure to line the pan with parchment paper or foil. Overcrowding slices can also cause sticking.
Can you reuse bacon grease after baking?
Absolutely! Drain and store it in the fridge for cooking eggs, potatoes, etc.
The Next Level of Bacon
Baking bacon in the oven is hands-down the easiest, least messy cooking method with crispy, consistent results every time. By following Martha Stewart’s technique, you’ll never have to suffer through splattering grease on the stovetop again. Say goodbye to sad, unevenly cooked bacon and hello to bakery-style crispness and flavor. Once you’ve mastered the basics, experiment with different flavors and creative ways to enjoy your oven-baked bacon. Happy baking!
Why You Should Cook Bacon in the Oven
Besides the amazing fact that cooking bacon in the oven almost never makes a mess, this method has a few other benefits as well:
It Makes More Bacon: You can cook a lot more bacon on a sheet pan than on a skillet, which is great when you need to feed a lot of people.
It’s Hands-Off: You don’t have to flip the bacon while it’s cooking because the heat from the oven moves around the sheet pan, so you don’t have to use your hands. I use this time to make myself another cup of coffee.
Not only is bacon cooked in the oven crispier than bacon cooked in a skillet on the stove, the cooking is more even. The bacon sits in its rendered fat and essentially fries in it, becoming crispy more quickly.
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How To Cook Bacon in the Oven
To make oven bacon the way Martha suggests, line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper (you could also use aluminum foil) and lay slices of your favorite bacon flat on top, being careful to space them out to prevent any overlap.
In a 400°F oven, cook the bacon until it is well-browned and crisp. Depending on how thick your bacon is, this should take 15 to 18 minutes. To follow Martha’s method to a T, you’ll need to rotate the sheet pan halfway through. Although Ive accidentally forgotten to do this countless times and my bacon still turns out great.
Carefully transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain. Itll get a little crispier as it cools.
HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
FAQ
How does Martha Stewart cook bacon in the oven?
Do you oven bacon in aluminum foil or parchment paper?
What is the best temperature to cook bacon in the oven?
Does Martha Cook Bacon in the oven?
Martha is a fan of cooking bacon in the oven. She loves the hands-off technique (no flipping required!) and always uses a wire rack so the bacon is crisper, and she can drain the bacon fat from the baking sheet. She collects the bacon fat in a jar, which she stores in the fridge—it’s wonderful for cooking eggs or roast potatoes.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
How do you cook bacon in the oven?
Compared to cooking on the stovetop, the oven will expose the bacon to heat from all sides, ensuring it cooks more evenly. To use this technique, follow these steps: Heat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the bacon slices to the sheet. Place in the oven.
How do you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
Arrange the bacon on the baking sheet. Arrange 12 ounces bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer. The slices can be close together or touching, but don’t let them overlap or they’ll stick together during cooking. Bake the bacon.