Name: Slow Cooked Bacon
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Bacon (roughly 12 slices fit well on our baking pan)

When it comes to cooking the most consistently perfect piece of bacon, this slow cooked bacon method in the oven is the way to go. Just the right crispiness without being burned and almost no hands-on time required!

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For most of my life, the only way I ever considered cooking bacon was on the stove. But as our family grew, making several batches of bacon on the stove no longer made sense. So, I turned to experimenting with cooking it in the oven.

All the recipes that I found called for cooking it at a high temperature, around 400°F (205° C) or above, for a short time (around 15-20 minutes). Every time I tried cooking bacon this way, I wasn’t crazy about the result. Some pieces were burned and too crispy while others weren’t done quite enough.

And when it comes to bacon, it’s too good to not get it just right. There had to be another way.

My preferred method for cooking many cuts of meat is low and slow, so why not try the same method with bacon?

The result was perfection. Melt in your mouth bacon every time.

Factors to Consider when Slow Cooking Bacon in the Oven

1. Resist the urge to overlap the bacon. I completely understand wanting to cram as much bacon on that pan as possible. But, don’t overcrowd that bacon, believe me, it’s worth it!

When the bacon is overlapped, the covered parts trap moisture and fat, keeping them from rendering properly. The result? Soggy, unevenly cooked, rubbery bacon.

2. Thickness Matters for Cooking. Maybe this can go without explanation, but the cooking time of this recipe will vary significantly based on the thickness of the bacon you are cooking. Thicker slices cook longer. I’ve slow cooked bacon in the oven anywhere between 30 and 50 minutes. Most standard bacon from the store is thinner and will achieve the ideal crispiness after about 30-35 minutes in the oven.

3. Quality Matters. High quality bacon contains about a 60/40 fat to meat ratio and is cut more thickly. Look for bacon with lean red meat that is marbled with fat and the bacon does not look papery thin. Our favorite bacon is sourced directly from our local farmer and made at a local butcher.

How to Make Slow Cooked Bacon in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150° C).

Lay bacon out on a single layer—avoid overlapping—on a rimmed baking sheet. Our favorite pans are these stainless steel rimmed baking sheets.

Place pan in the oven and cook for 30 minutes for regular slices of bacon. Add time as needed until desired crispiness is achieved.

If the bacon is on the thicker side, you can start by cooking it for 35-40 minutes.

I like to err on the side of caution, starting with less time to avoid overdoing it, but the beauty of cooking it low and slow is that it will not burn nearly as quickly as a hotter oven will.

And don’t forget to reserve the bacon fat. We like to store it in a mason jar and use it to cook with.

Slow Cooked Bacon in the Oven Recipe

Ingredients:

– Bacon (roughly 12 slices fit well on our baking pan)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150° C).

2. Lay bacon slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking pan.

3. Cook for 30-50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon. I always start with 30 minutes and add time as needed until desired crispiness is reached.

4. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Favorite Recipes to Use that Bacon:

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