Cody Casey
Bacon is one of the most beloved foods ever, and crispy bacon is a favourite. But cooking it on the stovetop can be messy, with grease splatters and the need to constantly flip the bacon. A better way to cook bacon is in the oven, using a broiler pan, which is quicker and easier, with less mess and more even cooking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pros | Easy, less mess, multitasking in the kitchen, no splattering, quick, evenly cooked, easy cleanup |
| Cons | Requires oven, longer than frying, potential for burning |
| Oven temperature | 350°F-400°F |
| Baking time | 12-20 minutes, depending on thickness and desired crispiness |
| Baking rack | Recommended for even cooking and to prevent splattering |
| Baking sheet | Line with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup |
| Broiling | Faster than baking, requires flipping |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use a broiler pan if you don't have an oven-safe cooking rack
If you don't have an oven-safe cooking rack, you can use a broiler pan to bake crispy bacon. Here's what you need to do:
First, preheat your oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating up, line a broiler pan with aluminium foil. You can also use parchment paper, but some readers have reported that parchment paper can catch fire under the broiler, so it's best to use foil unless you're willing to watch your bacon closely as it cooks. Place the bacon strips on the lined broiler pan in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap so that they cook evenly.
Now, put the pan in the oven. Broiling bacon usually takes about 5-10 minutes to preheat, but the exact time will depend on your oven and how crispy you like your bacon. For regular bacon, aim for around 12-14 minutes, and for thick-cut bacon, go for 15-18 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the bacon to ensure even cooking.
When the bacon is deep golden-brown and has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove the pan from the oven. Be careful when handling the hot pan. Transfer the bacon slices to a plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb the excess grease, leaving you with perfectly crispy bacon.
Using a broiler pan is a great option if you don't have an oven-safe cooking rack. It allows the grease to drip away from the bacon, resulting in crispy, evenly cooked bacon with minimal mess and cleanup.
Sauce Pan: Is It a Pot?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Line the pan with aluminium foil or parchment paper
To make cleaning up easier and help cook the bacon evenly, line your sheet pan with aluminium foil or parchment paper. If you use parchment paper, some readers have reported the parchment catching fire under the broiler, so watch your bacon carefully or just use foil instead.
Extra-wide rolls of both parchment and foil are preferred for this method, but regular rolls can be used when overlapped to cover the baking sheet completely. An overhang on all four sides of the rimmed baking sheet will contain the hot, rendered fat and make cleanup even easier.
When lining the pan, make sure the bacon strips are placed in a single layer and not overlapping for even cooking. Give your bacon a little room to breathe and try not to place them too close together on the baking sheet.
Carbon Steel Pans: Dishwasher Safe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Place the bacon in a single layer, not overlapping
When preparing your bacon for baking, it is important to place the bacon strips in a single layer on the broiler pan. This means that none of the bacon strips should overlap. By doing this, you ensure that the heat can reach all parts of the bacon evenly, resulting in a consistent cook and crispiness.
Although it may be tempting to fit as much bacon as possible on the broiler pan, especially when cooking large batches, it is crucial to avoid overlapping the bacon strips. Overlapping can lead to uneven cooking, with some areas of the bacon remaining soft while others become overly crispy.
Additionally, when arranging the bacon in a single layer, try to leave a little space between each strip if possible. This allows the bacon to breathe and crisps up more effectively. However, if your bacon strips are touching slightly, they will still cook evenly as long as they are not overlapping.
Using a broiler pan is an excellent choice for baking bacon, as it allows the fat to drip down, leaving you with crispy bacon. By placing the bacon in a single layer, you maximize the exposure of each strip to the heat, ensuring that your bacon reaches the desired crispiness.
Remember, the key to successful bacon baking is even cooking, and arranging the bacon in a single layer is a crucial step in achieving this.
Copper Pan Grease: Effective Removal Techniques
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Broil on high for 5 minutes, then flip and broil for 2 minutes
Broiling bacon is a quick and easy way to make crispy bacon without the mess of frying it in a pan. It's important to keep a close eye on the bacon as it cooks, as it can go from perfectly crispy to burnt in a matter of seconds.
To broil bacon, first line a broiler pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This will make cleanup easier and help the bacon cook more evenly. Then, arrange your bacon strips in a single layer on the pan, making sure they're not overlapping or touching. Place the pan on the highest rack setting in your oven, about 3-4 inches from the broiler, and turn the broiler to high.
Now you're ready to start cooking! Broil the bacon on high for 5 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven and flip the bacon strips over. Return the pan to the oven and broil for an additional 2 minutes. Keep a close eye on the bacon during this time, as it can cook very quickly.
Once the bacon has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove the pan from the oven and transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. This will help to absorb any excess grease and ensure your bacon isn't overly greasy.
Lasagna Pan Portion Planning: How Many Does It Serve?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease
To make crispy bacon on a broiler pan, you'll need to bake it in the oven. First, line a broiler pan with aluminum foil. Then, arrange your bacon strips in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap for even cooking. Place the pan in the oven and broil on high for about five minutes. Next, flip the bacon and broil for an additional two minutes. Keep a close eye on the bacon during the last couple of minutes of cooking, as it can quickly burn.
Once your bacon is beautifully broiled, remove the pan from the oven. Now, transfer the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate. The paper towel will absorb the excess bacon grease, leaving you with perfectly crispy and not overly greasy bacon slices. This step is important and should not be skipped! You can also pat the bacon dry with a paper towel to remove any remaining grease after letting it sit for a few minutes.
If you want to save the bacon grease, let it cool slightly, then pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof container and refrigerate. If you don't want to save it, let the grease solidify on the baking sheet, then crumple the foil and discard it.
Now, your bacon is ready to serve! Enjoy your crispy bacon with eggs, pancakes, or any other breakfast favorites.
Steel Pans: Safe or Toxic?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Line a broiler pan with aluminium foil or parchment paper, then lay out your bacon strips in a single layer. Place the pan in the oven on a high broil setting, around 3-4 inches from the heat source. Broil for 5 minutes, then flip the bacon and broil for an additional 2 minutes.
The bacon should be cooked until it is a deep golden-brown colour. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon and how crispy you like it. Thin-cut bacon will take 12-14 minutes at 400°F, while thick-cut bacon will take 15-20 minutes.
After removing the bacon from the oven, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb the excess grease, leaving you with perfectly crispy bacon slices.
