How to Precook Bacon in the Oven Ahead of Time

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Bacon makes a delicious addition to nearly any meal, but how can you cook it ahead of time to use later on? If you always want some mouth-watering bacon on hand, you can easily precook the strips and save them in your fridge or freezer for later. Keep reading to learn the best way to make bacon a few days beforehand and reheat it when you’re ready to enjoy it!

1

Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C).

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    is the easiest and cleanest way to precook it. Set one of the cooking racks in the middle position before turning on your oven. Let it heat up completely before you start cooking your bacon. [1]
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2

Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper or foil.

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    Use a rimmed baking tray that has enough space for all of the bacon strips in the package. Rip off a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil that’s large enough to cover the bottom of the tray. [2]
    • If you’re using aluminum foil, wrap it around the edges of the tray. That way, you have an easy cleanup because the foil traps the grease without getting it on the actual tray.
    • Avoid using wax paper since it will leave a waxy residue on your bacon once it cooks.
3

Lay the bacon strips evenly on the tray.

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    Start laying a strip of bacon flat on one end of the tray. Line the strips across the pan so they’re touching each other but not overlapping. [3]
    • If you want crispier bacon, put a wire rack on the tray and lay the strips on it. The heat will cook the bacon from all sides evenly and get a nice crispy texture. [4]
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4

Cook your bacon for 15–20 minutes.

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    Once your oven is fully heated, set your tray of bacon on the center rack. After about 15 minutes, check on your bacon to see how crispy it is. If it’s still soft and you want it a little crispier, put it back in your oven for another few minutes before checking it again. [5]
    • Keep the bacon a little on the softer side when you’re par-cooking it, especially if you’re using it to wrap around other ingredients. That way, it’ll still be flexible and juicy when you reheat it.
    • If you have thick-cut bacon or want the strips extra-crispy, you may need to cook it for 25–30 minutes instead.
5

Drain and cool the cooked bacon on paper towels.

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    Line a plate with a few layers of paper towels. Pull your bacon out of the oven and transfer the strips onto the paper towels with a pair of tongs. Pat the bacon with another paper towel and let the strips cool to room temperature. [6]
    • You can save and store bacon grease if you want to incorporate it into other dishes, like eggs, potatoes, or veggies.
    • If you’re throwing out bacon grease in the pan, wait for it to cool before wiping it up with a paper towel. Avoid pouring it down the sink since it could harden and clog your pipes.
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6

Store precooked bacon in your fridge for up to a week.

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    Keep your bacon in a resealable plastic bag, in an airtight container, or on a plate wrapped with foil. Label the container with the date so you know when to use it by. Your bacon will taste the best if you use it within a day of cooking it, but it will stay fresh and safe to use for one week. [7]
    • Keep a paper towel inside the bag or container to help absorb the grease so your bacon stays crispy.
7

Keep cooked bacon in the freezer for 1 month.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Precook Bacon
    Make sure your bacon has cooled down to room temperature before you freeze it. Wrap each strip in a piece of wax paper or parchment paper before putting them into a resealable plastic bag so the pieces don’t stick together. You’ll have the best flavors if you thaw and use the bacon within the next month. [8]
    • You can keep bacon in your freezer for up to 3 months, though you may notice a slight change in flavor. [9]
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8

Reheat the bacon when you’re ready to use it.

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    If you froze your bacon, let it thaw in your fridge overnight before you want to use it. You can use your stove, microwave, or oven to reheat your bacon to give it a delicious crispy texture. [10]
    • Microwave : Put your bacon on a plate and cook it for 30–60 seconds on medium power. You can set the strips on paper towel to absorb any excess grease.
    • Stove : Heat a skillet over medium heat and add your bacon. Let the strips warm up for 2–3 minutes until they're sizzling.
    • Oven​​ : Set your oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and heat the bacon strips on a baking tray for 8–10 minutes.

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      Tips

      • While cooking bacon in your oven should keep your home from smelling, open windows and turn on the vent fan in your kitchen to help get rid of any lingering odors. [11]
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      Warnings

      • Make sure the rimmed baking tray you use has a deep lip so grease can’t spill over, or else it could cause a fire. If you see flames, turn off your oven and keep the door closed. If that doesn’t put out the grease fire , then use a fire extinguisher or call the fire department. [12]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-cook-bacon
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/dGixcqWD7Qk?t=294
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/HWHd1J8C04Q?t=34
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-perfect-bacon-in-the-oven-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-107970
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/HWHd1J8C04Q?t=79
      6. ↑ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_bacon_in_the_oven/
      7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/can-i-cook-bacon-ahead-how-long-will-it-keep-good-questions-200731
      8. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/bacon-and-food-safety
      9. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-long-does-bacon-last/
      1. ↑ https://cookingchew.com/reheat-bacon.html
      2. ↑ https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/how-to-make-your-house-stop-reeking-of-bacon
      3. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/how-to-put-out-kitchen-fire

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To precook bacon for later use, start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, then lay out the bacon strips side by side on the sheet. Let each new strip overlap about half of the previous strip. Bake the strips for 20 to 25 minutes. They should still be a bit tender when you take them out, so they can crisp up more when you reheat them later. Lay out the strips of bacon on a dish lined with paper towels to soak up excess grease while they cool. Scroll down for tips on storing your precooked bacon!

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