The easiest way to cook crispy bacon is in a convection oven on aluminum foil for easy cleanup of the bacon grease. Use standard or thick-cut bacon to make great crispy bacon strips for breakfast or other uses.
Ingredients
Bacon—thin or thick sliced bacon
Required equipment:
½ size sheet pan or similar large pan with an edge
Heavy duty wide aluminum foil
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Featured Comment from Rosalina:
"This is, hands down, the best way to cook bacon. Thanks for sharing a really helpful post on how to bake bacon the right way!"
No standing at the stovetop flipping bacon, trying to get it flat, and getting splatter burns on your hands. The convection oven will circulate the air to cook faster and crispier.
Baking bacon for two or a crowd could not be easier with these easy step-by-step photo instructions, and clean up is simple with the aluminum boil.
👨🍳How to Oven Bake Bacon in a Convection (or regular) Oven
Preheat the oven to 400° convection bake or 425° conventional. Line an 18-inch × 13-inch rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil.
Place bacon close together but not touching. 8-10 pieces, about ½ pound, will usually fit.
Bake to a crispy brown—about 20 minutes. Time will vary with the thickness of the bacon and your taste.
Drain on paper towels and pat off any fat.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
✔️Tips to make it right every time.
- Use a baking sheet, like a sheet pan covered with aluminum foil. Heavy-duty foil is recommended, and non-stick aluminum foil may be used if you have sticking issues.
- You may use a rack or broiler pan to allow the fat to drain, but the bacon fat renders well without them, and they will add to clean up.
- Use almost any bacon, even turkey bacon. I suggest a thick-cut bacon, and I do like applewood smoked bacon.
- Some bacon will stick more than others, significantly bacon that is thinner sliced, has a higher sugar content, or turkey bacon. Use parchment paper to prevent the sticking, which you may use on top of the foil for easy cleanup.
- Use a conventional or convection oven. Although a preheated convection oven is best, you can even start in a cold oven. Use the convection bake, not the convection roast setting.
⏰How long to bake bacon in a convection oven
18-20 minutes for medium-thick bacon in a 400° convection oven. It will vary by the thickness and type of the bacon, exact oven temperature, and your desired browning level—cook to the crispiness you want and never by time, so always check it a few times early.
Thinner bacon will cook faster, while thick-cut bacon will take a few extra minutes to achieve perfect results. Some brands of bacon are cured differently, and time may vary.
If you use 350° with thick-cut bacon, it may take 25 minutes or more.
🌡️What oven temperature to use
400° convection cooks both thicker and thinner bacon well. But I have used as low as 350° up to 450° in conjunction with baking other dishes simultaneously.
Convection is recommended for crispier bacon that will cook more evenly. So use it if you have it, but cooking without convection or at different temperatures will only have minor effects on your results.
The bacon can go into a cold oven, but it adds time.
Breakfast Recipes
Check out these other great breakfast recipes. Try How To Sausage in the Oven to cook breakfast sausage patties the easy way. Serve with Baked Blueberry Pancakes, Carrot Cake Baked Pancakes, Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake, or Small French Toast Casserole.
❄️Storage of leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Reheat in a microwave wrapped in a paper towel. Cooked bacon can also be frozen for up to a month per the USDA.
❓FAQs
No, it is not needed.
While you can cook turkey bacon in the oven like pork bacon, it is thinner and much leaner. So, it will tend to stick without parchment paper. Cooking time will be 8 to 12 minutes—pay close attention.
You can cook bacon in the microwave. It is much more involved than just hitting the start button. You will need to cook on high for a while, then decrease the power to finish. Total cooking time is about the same with more fuss.
Multiple studies have shown the results of baking bacon are better than microwave or stovetop cooking.
The bacon fat can be strained and refrigerated in a glass container with a lid for 3-6 months. Great for frying an egg or using it to add more flavor to sauteed or roasted vegetables and other places where you want to add a hint of bacon.
The fat can turn bad quickly if unstrained as the food particles decay.
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📖 Recipe
How to Cook Bacon in a Convection Oven
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Ingredients
- 8-10 slices bacon - thick sliced preferred
- aluminum foil - to cover tray
- parchment paper - if needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° convection bake or 425° conventional. Line an 18-inch × 13-inch rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil.
- Place bacon close together but not touching. 8-10 pieces, about ½ pound, will usually fit.
- Bake to a crispy brown—about 20 minutes. Time will vary with the thickness of the bacon and your taste. Thinner bacon will cook faster, and thick-cut bacon may take a few minutes more, so check a few times early.
- Drain on paper towels and pat off any fat.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- A half-pound of bacon or a bit more will usually fit an 18-inch × 13-inch sheet pan.
- You do not have to preheat the oven. It just takes a bit longer.
- Use the convection bake, NOT the convection roast setting. You may also cook in a conventional oven without convection. Even toaster ovens work.
- I have done this with oven temperatures from 350° to 425°. With or without convention. Just adjust the time.
- Thinner bacon cooks faster. Very thick bacon will take a few minutes longer.
- Thinner bacon and bacon with more sugar will tend to stick. Use a layer of parchment paper if you are unsure or have a problem.
- Turkey bacon will cook fast, usually 8-12 minutes but check early. It also tends to stick, so parchment paper is recommended.
- No flipping or rack is needed, although some people will use them.
- It is done when it looks cooked to your taste.
- I generally do two sheet pans at a time in a convection oven. I rotate them front to back and switch the top to bottom at 10 minutes.
- Cooked bacon is good refrigerated for 4-5 days and frozen for one month.
- Reheat bacon in a microwave covered with a paper towel for about 8-10 seconds per piece. If frozen, thaw first.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally published October 8, 2011, it was updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Laura says
The only way to cook bacon! Crumple the foil to prevent the bacon from getting too greasy.
DrDan says
I have seen that. Thanks for the note.
DrDan
Lia says
I was looking for a good oven bacon recipe, since I've never tried it before. I started reading yours, and I was thinking "she knows her bacon." And then you mentioned one of my favorites - Hormel Black Label. I'm an Iowa girl myself, so when you mentioned this, I laughed and wasn't surprised! If you ever get to Kansas City, the only thing I've ever found better than Black Label is Boar's Head. It's at Hen House grocery stores, and I highly recommend it. I haven't tried you're directions yet, but I'm about to for a recipe for my family back in Iowa!
DrDan says
I do believe I've had Boar's Head 35 plus years ago. We spent two years in Kansas City and loved it. We still have Gate's BBQ sauce sent in by the case. I do highly recommend Black Label. An excellent bacon.
Pay attention since there is some variability due to your oven, thickness of bacon and sugar content of the bacon.
And really "she knows her bacon"... hummmm... DrDan
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Jenny says
Why the aluminum foil? I avoid aluminum because of the links to Alzheimers. It the foil necessary?
DrDan says
The foil is for easy clean up only. Not required.
DrDan
DrDan says
This is variable with bacon thickness and your oven. It may stick more if you bacon is high in sugar. I only use thick black label and it take 20-22 minutes every time and almost never has any sticking. I like the "deep fry" effect also and this does it. Some people use a rack or wrinkle the foil. Not for me.
Thanks for the comment and have fun experimenting.
DrDan
fritz buzzard says
This definitely has possibilities. My first attempt went a little too long (~14 minutes) but I used bacon of normal thickness. Next time I will try 10 minutes.
Up until now I had done bacon in the skillet with olive oil. That, plus the fat released by the bacon created an almost 'deep fry' effect and the result was light, crispy bacon - really not too bad. I will have to run the oven method by my wife. She is the bacon lover in the family. Interesting experiment, though. Thanks.
Leslee Florea says
Try tossing in flour then shaking off the excess... Even crunchier :) thanks!
Sarah says
Thank you so much for your amazing recipes. We tried your drumsticks last night and they were the best. I'll try this one soon!
DrDan says
Thanks Sarah
DrDan
Tiwana says
Awesome! I will try this tonight. We are having BLT'S.
DrDan says
I love BLT's
Thanks for the comment
DrDan
Bill says
Most people like BLT's. For a variation, leave off the lettuce an put on a fied egg.
WARNING, you will be hooked forever!!!!!
DrDan says
In my much younger days I would eat bacon sandwiches. Then med school ruined it for me...:(
Aubrey says
Really I never knew i was supposed to eat it
brownsbacker9255 says
Try parchment paper, it won't stick to that. A little messier clean up though.
Dan Mikesell says
Mine rarely stick any. The occasional minimal sticking isn't worth the mess to me. However some of the thinner and higher sugar bacons may stick more and then the parchment might be worth it.
SwampCatNana says
Like e144840, I prefer to put the bacon on a rack in the pan. That way you don't have to use all those paper towels!
Dan Mikesell says
I really do not like cleaning greasy rack. But I could just soak them...
Dan Mikesell says
Rarely. Maybe a sticky one every third or forth pan. I do believe a higher sugar bacon would stick more.
Laura says
Will it stick to the foil? Haven't yet found an oven method where my bacon doesn't stick, but could be the type of bacon I'm using.
Sandie Staub says
I used a cooking stone instead of regular pan and it worked way better (no sticking) and it seasoned the pan in the process.
TexasOllie says
Non-stick foil. I can't live without it.
Dan Mikesell says
great idea if you're worried about sticking. I have done over and over and never had significant sticking.
Lynne says
I put mine on parchment paper on a jelly roll pan....it never sticks and for clean up I just wait to grease is hard.... Well till we have had breakfast and it grease just peels right off pan with just some residual grease left to clean off pan when you toss paper out....I have been doing my bacon like this for years now and my family loves it:)
THester says
You can also get non stick aluminum foil
dan says
Try a silicon pad they are a bit pricey $25 30 but well worth it and last for ever
MollysMama says
Use parchment paper...no sticking ever.
Jtn says
I guess you missed the part about using parchment paper? Every restaurant in the country uses the same method of cooking in the oven, and parchment is the common and best way.
J. R. Horner says
Spray the aluminum foil with Pam before putting
Bacon on it.
Heather O'Gorman says
Use the foil with sides raised and put a layer of parchment paper. The parchment won't burn unless it's over 400°f. The foil keeps the grease in the sheet pan...the parchment keeps it from sticking to pan &/or foil...keep an eye on it...I prefer 375°f so I have the control....Hubby doesn't like his brown & crispy...I do...so I have to watch and pull his bacon out sooner, then I pop it back in to get my desired crispinaess.. . Hone a t...it won't stick to the parchment. ~Heather O
Dr Dan says
This is definitely a "your time may vary" recipe. The bacon, the oven and the crispiness you want dictates the time. Just remember it is done when it looks done.
Joy says
Had too cook it a few minutes longer, but EASY clean up & I didn't get popped with grease or have to stand there flipping bacon! Turned out perfect & was able to cook all the rest of breakfast, while bacon took care of itself :)
d.dale says
The best. Will never 'fry' again.
vinny says
had a deli in nyc the only way i made lbs of bacon was in the oven you can also cook the bacon 3/4 of the way then reheat later!