Undoubtedly, after much experimentation, my favorite way to cook bacon to maintain its flavor and offer the best possible texture is to bake it in the oven. It’s a little more time-consuming this way, but it’s worth it. You can fry your bacon on the stovetop or microwave it if you prefer a quicker method, but keep in mind you will need to cook the bacon in smaller batches using one of these methods.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Step 2: Line a large-rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you have a grate or metal cooling rack that will sit inside the baking sheet, you can use this instead of the parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. The grate is especially helpful if you prefer crispy bacon.
Step 3: Lay the bacon slices out one next to the other on top of the grate or directly onto the parchment paper or baking mat. Try not to overlap the slices.
Step 4: Cook the bacon in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the pan from the oven, flip the bacon slices, and cook the bacon for 10 additional minutes.
*Note: If your bacon isn’t crispy enough for your liking, add another 2-3 minutes to your baking time, but keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t get crispier than you want it to be.
Step 6: Remove the bacon with a fork and transfer it to a dish lined with paper towels. The bacon will cool and the paper towels will absorb the excess fat.
Step 7: Serve and enjoy!
* Bonus: To save the bacon fat for future use, simply tip the baking sheet into a heat-proof jar or container and refrigerate. Bacon grease will keep in the refrigerator for up to six months and can be used for a myriad of things to enhance the flavor of your cooking.
*Warning: Never dump bacon grease into your sink or garbage disposal. If you do not want to save it, wait for it to cool and scrape the grease into the garbage.
How to Fry Bacon
Step 1: Lay your bacon slices into a skillet. Be sure not to overlap the slices. I recommend a cast iron skillet, but any good-quality frying pan will do.
Step 2: Cook the bacon over medium heat until it appears partially cooked (about 3-4 minutes).
Step 3: Flip the bacon slices and let them continue to cook until they reach your desired crispness.
Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat and use a fork to gently remove the bacon slices to a paper towel-lined dish.
Step 5: Let the bacon cool for a bit and then serve and enjoy!
How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave
Step 1: Line a microwave-safe dish with two layers of paper towel.
Step 2: Lay your bacon slices on top of the paper towels being sure not to overlap the slices. You should be able to fit 4-5 slices on a dinner-sized plate.
Step 3: Cover the bacon slices with another two layers of paper towel.
Step 4: Microwave on high for one minute per slice (i.e. 5 slices of bacon = 5 minutes of cooking time).
Step 5: Carefully remove the plate from the microwave using an oven mitt. The plate will be very hot.
*If the bacon isn’t crispy enough, microwave it for one minute more at a time until you achieve the desired crispiness.
Step 6: Allow the bacon to cool a bit. Then serve and enjoy!