Cooking Bacon in the Oven: The Perfect Temperature

Bacon is a classic breakfast favorite that is loved by many. Whether it is crispy or chewy, bacon is a great way to start the day. But making bacon just right can be a challenge. Cook it too fast and the result is a plate full of burned, bitter scraps; cook it too slow and you end up with a plate of rubber. So, what is the perfect temperature to cook bacon in the oven?

Preparing the Bacon

Before you start cooking, you need to decide on how you want the bacon to turn out. How thick are the bacon strips? How do you want them cooked? Do you want the bacon super-crisp or just crisp-tender? All of these points should be considered before turning on the oven.

Once you have determined the ideal bacon strips, lay them on a baking sheet lined with oversized paper towels. This helps absorb the fat that is released during cooking and will also help keep them flat while they are cooking.

Cooking the Bacon in the Oven

Now that everything is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to turn on the oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F. This is the ideal temperature to ensure the bacon cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the pan.

Once the oven is preheated, place the baking sheet with the bacon strips in and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Check your bacon frequently as cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the bacon strips.

Serving the Perfect Bacon

When the bacon is done, remove it from the oven and place the strips on a clean paper towel-lined plate. Allow the bacon to cool for a few minutes — this gives it a chance to crisp up a bit more. After a couple minutes, the bacon should be ready to be served. Enjoy!

So, there you have it. The perfect temperature to cook bacon in the oven is 400°F. And with a few simple steps and some careful monitoring, you’ll have perfectly cooked bacon strips each and every time.