How to: Cook Bacon in the Oven

I, like many of you, have been victim of the pinterest ‘nailed it’ – you know where you see a gorgeous / super cute / nifty idea on pinterest, it seems simple enough, but in real life – ends up a mess…

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Pinterest, and I am inspired daily by the gorgeous food photography and delicious recipes. But I have generated a certain reluctance to try some of the grander ideas I see.

I have however had two great successes:

1. Make-ahead pancake mix for camping: you make your pancake batter, store in a plastic sandwich/freezer bag knotted at the top, and nip the corner with a pair of scissors to pour onto your hot skottel or frying pan over gas cooker when ready to cook. Works like a charm. Only trick is to keep any monkey’s by your campsite from stealing your banana fillings ;).
2. Aaaand… Cooking Bacon in the Oven

To cook your bacon in the oven, you will need, a baking sheet, tinfoil, a metal cooling rack, non-stick cooking spray and paper towels.

I just love the simple genius of this idea – no standing over a hot stove dodging sputtering bacon grease – crispy, hassle-free bacon!

I usually opt for rindless back bacon. And a cooling rack on a baking tray allows excess fat to drip away (the tin foil is there to limit clean up).

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Hot to: Cook Bacon in the Oven

A hands-free, hassle-free method for cooking perfect bacon, all in the oven.

Author: Cheryl Meyer, Registered Dietitian

Ingredients

• pack of bacon
• non-stick cooking spray
• baking sheet - one with edges to contain the bacon drippings and that your cooling rack fits within the sides.
• tinfoil
• metal cool rack
• paper towels

Method

1. Line the baking sheet with tinfoil. Place the metal cooling rack on the lined baking sheet and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the rack (no overlaps).

   

3. Oven bake at 200°C for 17 - 20 minutes. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the bacon and how crispy you like it. Turn once after about 12 minutes.

   

4. Remove from the oven and transfer to paper towels to soak up any excess fat.