How to Cook Bacon (all methods with video)

There are many ways you can cook bacon and we’re going to cover them all here! Whether you are cooking it up as a breakfast protein, a side snack, or as the topping on a dish – knowing how to cook bacon easily and crispy, is an essential skill for any home chef.

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Choosing Bacon

Bacon comes in many varieties. Even just from the local grocer you can get flavors such as maple, regular cut, thick cut, thin cut, and even reduced sodium. In all our years purchasing bacon from the local grocer, I can tell you that even 10 packages of regular cut bacon can all be different thicknesses. This will depend on brand and lot number. It is what it is and there’s not much you can change about that. The directions you’ll find below on how to cook bacon, are all meant to be general directions for regular cut bacon you purchase from the local grocer. But let’s talk about other bacon choices as well.

Other bacon types you might not be as familiar with are Woodland or Farm-raised bacon, bacon ends, Canadian bacon, slab bacon, lardons, and even pancetta. The general differences in these bacon types comes down to thickness and fat content. While American Bacon and Woodland/Farm bacon in the United States is cut from the same section of the pig, you’ll notice a difference in thickness (woodland is thicker) and typically in seasoning (fresh farm bacon is not as salty). To learn more about the types of bacon available click here.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Cooking bacon in the oven can be a game-changer for those that don’t want to deal with as big of a mess on their stovetop or have the need to prepare large quantities of bacon all at once. If you’re like me and have a large family, going through 1-2 pounds of bacon just for breakfast isn’t unusual. If you’re going to be serving up a brunch menu to friends and family, this will certainly save you time and possibly money. Cooking bacon in the oven ensures that all pieces get an equal cooking time and cook evenly. No one gets stuck with the burnt or rubbery piece.

To cook bacon in the oven, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You can choose to add a cooling rack on inside and on top of the lined baking sheet or not. Some say this will result in a faster, more crispy bacon due to heat circulating fully around the bacon. Lay the bacon out evenly, without overlapping, and bake between 350F and 400F for 25 – 14 minutes depending on your desired crispness.

The range in time and temperature here allows you to accommodate for any other dishes you may be cooking in the oven at the same time. There is no need for flipping the bacon. Once done, remove the sheet pan(s) from the oven using oven mits and transfer the perfect bacon using tongs to a paper towel lined plate to drain of any excess grease. Check the bacon frequently as it cooks and take it out as soon as it looks like good, crispy bacon. You’ll be set.

How to Cook Bacon on the Stovetop

Cast Iron is by far the superior product for cooking bacon on the stovetop. While you can use non-stick pans and even stainless steel pans, we highly suggest cast iron for it’s longevity. Not only that, but you will actively season the cast iron as you cook your bacon in it and can then reserve the bacon fat for later use.

To cook bacon in your cast iron skillet, start with one that is large enough to handle your bacon. You’ll want at least a 12-inch skillet to handle five pieces of full-length bacon at a time. If using a smaller skillet, you’ll need to cut your bacon in half for best results. Preheat the skillet over low heat. Cast iron is known for it’s heat retention and even heat distribution. You’ll want to exercise patience here as too hot of a pan will result in blackened bacon and a lot of bacon smoke. Check out this article on troubleshooting heat distribution in a cast iron skillet.

You’ll know the skillet is ready when it reaches an infrared temperature of 375/380F, the seasoning/oil on the skillet becomes wet looking, and/or hovering your hand about 3 inches above the center, gives off a good heat. Carefully, using tongs, lay the bacon away from you. You should hear an immediate sizzle and start to see fat render and sparkle off of the bacon.

Repeat the laying in of the bacon quickly, for as many strips as you can fit in your skillet whilst not crowding the pan. Cover the skillet with a mesh splatter guard. This will help to contain the grease from the bacon as it cooks. Allow the bacon to remain undisturbed for about 5 minutes. Remove the screen and act quickly, using oven mits to hold the cast iron steady and tongs to flip over the bacon to the uncooked side. Return the mesh splatter guard and allow to cook for another 5 minutes. Repeat as needed for 1-2 additional minutes until you’ve reached your desired crispiness.

Remove the bacon from the skillet and set on a paper towel lined plate. Allow about 5 minutes to cool and repeat the process for remaining bacon. A full pound of bacon will typically take about 20 minutes to cook in it’s entirety. Allow the skillet to cool about 10-15 minutes after turning off the heat before reserving any bacon fat in a mason jar for future use.

How to clean a skillet after cooking bacon

Clean the skillet once cooled and empty by running under hot water in the sink and scrubbing with a soft bristled skillet scrubber. For tough, stuck on messes, boil some water in the skillet and use a wooden spatula to help get the burnt on mess loose. Allow to cool and clean as directed previously. Then take a paper towel, dampened with a bit of reserved bacon grease and rub on the dried skillet. Place over low heat for about 3 minutes, long enough for the oil to be absorbed into the skillet. Skillet will still look shiny and slightly wet. Allow to cool fully before storing.

How to Cook in the Air Fryer

Cooking bacon in the Air Fryer is possibly the easiest method. If you only need crispy, crunchy bacon enough for two and want to truly contain the mess and smell – this is the method for you! Most Air Fryers have a grate within the basket, giving you the same method and outcome of an oven but on a smaller, more contained scale. If you’re not concerned with saving the bacon grease, add a piece of bread under the basket. This will help to absorb any bacon grease as it cooks.

To cook the bacon, layer slices in the basket as flat as possible. Overlapping slightly here is okay. The bacon will shrink a bit as it is cooked. Air Fry at 380F for about 8 minutes with the shake reminder on. When the shake reminder sounds, use tongs to flip the bacon strips if needed and return the air fryer basket to the air fryer to complete the cooking. Simple, quick, and by far the least messy of the options.

How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave

To make bacon in the microwave, line a plate with about 4 paper towels. You want a nice thick bedding for as much grease to be absorbed as possible. Add the slices of bacon, careful not to overlap. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes, flipping half way through. Check the bacon for desired crispiness. Add another 30 seconds to 1 minute as needed. Do note that your microwave could become a bit of a mess this way as there is no paper towel on top to catch any bouncing grease.

How to Cook Bacon Video

What to do with bacon grease?

DO NOT pour it down the drain! This is not good for your pipes. A few options are letting it cool slightly and storing in a mason jar with a lid, which can then be stored in the refrigerator and constantly added to. Or wait until it has completely cooled and solidified, then scrape into a trash can. When saving the bacon grease you can use cheesecloth to strain any hard or thick bits out. We typically just save it all, but for a “cleaner” look and removing any burnt pieces, you’ll want to strain. Also note that you want to use a thick glass or metal can for storage and not a thin glass that could shatter nor a plastic container that could melt.

How to remove the bacon smell after cooking

While some of us love the smell of bacon, they even make candles for it, some do not like how it lingers. To fight the lingering odor, use the oven’s exhaust fan or crack a window while cooking. Once the cooking is done, a bowl of vinegar on the counter near the stovetop can help to capture particles in the air.

How to clean bacon grease splatter

Chances are you’ll always get a bit of splatter from the bacon grease when cooking on the stovetop or microwave. The best cleaners I’ve found to aid in the aftermath are dawn dish soap on a wet sponge or a homemade cleaner using vinegar, lemon essential oils, a pump of dawn dish soap, and water wiped away with paper towels. Of course, please wait until your stove has completely cooled before attempting to clean. These methods also work in the oven. However, depending on how many times this happens between cleanings, you may need to use a legitimate oven cleaner.

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