How To Cook Perfect Crispy Bacon In The Oven Like Jamie Oliver

Bacon is a staple breakfast food that most people love. There’s just something so satisfying about that savory, salty crispy treat. But cooking bacon on the stovetop can be messy and tedious. That’s why more and more home cooks are switching to baking their bacon in the oven. It saves time and minimizes the mess.

One celebrity chef who loves cooking bacon in the oven is Jamie Oliver. He has a simple yet effective method for getting perfect crispy bacon every time. In this article we’ll walk through Jamie Oliver’s technique step-by-step so you can enjoy restaurant-quality bacon without ever leaving your kitchen.

Why Bake Bacon In The Oven?

There are a few key reasons why cooking bacon in the oven is preferable to pan-frying it

• It’s hands-off. Once you pop it in the oven, you can walk away. No need to constantly watch and flip it.

• It cooks evenly. The indirect heat of the oven prevents undercooking or burning.

• It minimizes splatter. Containing it in the oven cuts down on grease popping all over your stovetop.

• It can cook large batches. Pan size is limited on the stove, but you can fit a lot more bacon on a sheet pan.

• It yields crispy bacon. The hot air circulating in the oven dehydrates and crisps up the bacon beautifully.

For these reasons, oven-baked bacon is Jamie Oliver’s go-to preparation method. Let’s look at how he does it.

Jamie Oliver’s Oven-Baked Bacon Method

Ingredients:

• Bacon slices
• Olive oil

Equipment:

• Rimmed baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack (optional)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). This high heat will help the bacon get crispy.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. The parchment prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.

3. Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the sheet. Make sure they aren’t overlapping. This allows the bacon to cook evenly.

4. Brush lightly with olive oil. The oil promotes even browning.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes. After 15 minutes, check the bacon and continue cooking until it’s golden brown and crispy looking.

6. Transfer to a cooling rack or paper towels. This drains excess grease and keeps the bacon crispy.

And that’s it! With this simple oven method, you’ll get bacon that’s crisped to perfection with no hassle or mess.

Tips For Oven-Baked Bacon Perfection

Follow these tips and tricks to get the best results when cooking bacon Jamie Oliver style:

• Use thick-cut bacon. Thicker slices hold up better in the oven. Regular sliced bacon can overcook quickly.

• Leave space between slices. This prevents them from sticking together as the fat renders.

• Use a rimmed baking sheet. This catches any drippings and prevents oven mess.

• Rotate the pan midway. This ensures even cooking and browning.

• Blot post-baking. Press bacon between paper towels to soak up excess grease.

• Flavor it up. Brush slices with brown sugar, maple syrup, or spices before baking for a twist.

• Make baked bacon bits. Crumble and sprinkle over salads, baked potatoes, pastas, etc.

Troubleshooting Oven-Baked Bacon

If your oven-baked bacon turns out less than ideal, here are some common problems and solutions:

Bacon isn’t getting crispy: Try baking at a higher temp (425°F) and increase cook time. Also make sure your bacon is spread out in a single layer.

Bacon is curling: That’s normal, but if you want flatter bacon, try adding a baking rack on top of the bacon to weight it down during cooking.

Bacon is sticking to the pan: Make sure you’re using parchment paper and that slices aren’t overlapping. Brush more olive oil if needed.

Bacon is burnt: Decrease your oven temp and cook time. Check it earlier next time.

Bacon is undercooked: Increase oven temp and cook time. Check regularly until bacon is browned and crispy.

Bacon tastes too salty: Try soaking in water for 5 mins before baking to reduce saltiness.

Jamie’s Favorite Ways To Use Oven-Baked Bacon

Once you’ve mastered the art of oven-baked bacon, here are some of Jamie Oliver’s favorite ways to use it:

• Crispy BLT sandwich

• Bacon, lettuce, and tomato salad

• Bacon and avocado breakfast tacos

• Bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches

• Bacon and onion quiche or frittata

• Baked potato with bacon bits and sour cream

• Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers

• Cobb salad with bacon crumbles

• Bacon and kale pasta carbonara

• Bacon and Brussels sprouts

• Bacon jam or baked beans

As you can see, the possibilities are endless when cooking with oven-baked bacon. It adds a smoky, salty, umami flavor to anything it touches.

Take Your Bacon Game To The Next Level

Now that you know Jamie Oliver’s tricks for perfect oven-cooked bacon every time, it’s time to try it yourself!

Be sure to preheat your oven, line your baking sheet, leave space between slices, and keep an eye on it as it cooks. Follow the recommended bake time, but check for doneness a few minutes early.

Once mastered, oven-baked bacon can be a game changer for easy breakfasts, delicious sandwiches, salads, and more. Take your bacon experience to a whole new level of convenience and flavor with this hands-off Jamie Oliver method.