Bacon in Oven 425 (Crispy Bacon in Oven)

Crank up the heat and get ready for sizzling crispy Bacon In The Oven. 1 pound for 10 minutes at 425 degrees—math has never tasted so good!

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I love to host brunch… except for all the work involved, that is.

But seriously, I love to greet my friends at the door on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee then welcome them into the kitchen where the scent of bacon wafts by their noses and pretty much has them drooling before they’ve even had a chance sit down and pop a grape in their mouths.

The problem, as I’m sure you’ll attest, is that brunch is rarely a one-dish special. It takes numerous foods, compiled for a cornucopia of flavors and textures, which means I usually stretch myself trying to attend to everything at once. That’s where this recipe comes in.

Oven-baked bacon is a life saver (well, a brunch saver, at least). The strips go into the oven and do their thing while you prepare the other dishes. It’s low in maintenance but high in taste, which means you can cater to your guests without sacrificing the range of your brunch. Perfect for a Sunday morning!

Is Bacon in Oven 425 Healthy?

Bacon in general isn’t exactly what you would call a “healthy” food. That’s because it’s high in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat. (There’s a reason brunch is limited to the weekends!) It does, however, contain lots of protein, which your body needs to build muscle, which is why those on keto/low-carb, gluten-free, and paleo diets incorporate it into their menus regularly. (Just don’t use bacon with added sugars!)

Do I Need To Start With A Cold Oven?

Some people will tell you that you need to put the bacon in a cold oven and THEN turn on the heat. The thinking is that the gradual rise in temperature renders the fat slowly and makes for crispier bacon. I’ve never found it makes a difference. My bacon always turns out crispy, provided you keep an eye on it in the oven. Plus, I find it’s easier to keep track of cooking times when you preheat the oven—an important factor when you’re making several other dishes for brunch.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. bacon

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a cooling rack onto the foil-lined tray, then lay the bacon across the wires. Make sure they aren’t touching.

Cook

Place the tray in the oven to cook for 15–20 minutes, depending on how crispy you want it to be and the thickness of your bacon.

DEVOUR!

Bacon in Oven 425 (Crispy Bacon in Oven) close up view

FAQs & Tips

How do I Make the bacon Ahead of time?

One of the benefits of cooking bacon like this is that it won’t distract you and consume so much of your time; however, if you like, you can bake it until most of the fat has been rendered then remove it from the oven. Pat it dry with paper towel, wrap it in foil or more paper towel, and keep it in the fridge until it’s showtime; at which point, you can finish it off in a frying pan. Alternatively, you can zap it in the microwave for a quick reheating.

How do I store the bacon?

Let the bacon cool completely and soak up the excess grease with a paper towel. Fill an airtight container or resealable plastic bag with the strips, making sure you space them out so they don’t stick together. Once in the fridge, they should last 4–5 days. You can also freeze the bacon. I usually lay the strips out on a baking sheet then put the entire thing in the freezer to flash-freeze them. This prevents them from sticking. Then I put them in a freezer-safe bag until it’s time to reheat, which I usually do in the microwave.

Do I have to use the wire rack?

Using the wire rack results in crispier bacon, as it allows heat to access the strips from all angles and doesn’t require the bacon to sit in its own grease during the cooking process. Yes, it means another dish to clean but I think the extra effort is worth it.

Do I need to flip the bacon?

Nope. Regardless of whether you use a wire rack or not, flipping the bacon is not necessary.

Can I use parchment paper?

Sure. In fact, parchment paper may result in less mess. Plus, brown parchment paper is compostable, which is always a plus.

Serving Suggestions

The great thing about brunch is that you can use any number of foods to compose your morning feast. First things first: a mimosa. Your guests will be parched from their travels, right? Next are the pancakes. I do a healthy version with cottage cheese that everyone can indulge in. Hosting brunch in the winter? No problem. Have a bowl of Blueberry Oatmeal with Cheesecake Swirl on hand to warm everyone up.