Bacon is a staple for many types of dishes in the UK. It can be found on a full English or sandwiched between slices of white bread with lashings of ketchup or brown sauce. Depending on who you ask, everyone will have their own favourite way of cooking bacon, whether in the oven, in a sizzling hot pan, or even in the air fryer.
However, the culinary experts at Delish have shared their fool proof method for making the crispiest bacon with ‘best results’ on TikTok. You don’t need any fancy tools, utensils or appliances, just a trusty oven. This is how you can make perfectly cooked bacon every time.
How to cook bacon
First you need to line a baking tray with some tin foil, folding it over the edges of the tray. You could also place a metal baking rack on top of the foil, too.
The expert said: “If the bacon is sitting on the rack, it will crisp up better because the airflow will be able to get under and all around it as it cooks.”
However, a baking rack isn’t required, so there’s no need to stress if you find yourselves without. Just place the bacon streaks directly onto the foil.
Delish continued: “Now you’re gonna lay the bacon on the pan or the rack in a single layer, that will help it cook more evenly.”
Place the bacon in the oven and cook at 400℉ (approximately 200℃) for 15 to 25 minutes. Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of your bacon.
Delish said: “Whatever you like, just keep in mind that thinner bacon will cook faster.”
Experts at The Kitchn also put a variety of cooking methods to the test, including one using a wire rack.
They found that their bacon took slightly longer to cook – between 24 and 29 minutes – and found their results to be the “meatiest” of all the methods.
They wrote: “This is a good technique for cooking a large volume of meaty bacon with easy cleanup of the pan – but be prepared to scrub the rack.”
However, the experts found that the best method for cooking bacon was baking the bacon on a baking paper-lined tray.
This is because the bacon sat in its own “rendered fat” as it cooks, in turn cooking more quickly than when it’s sat on a rack.
They wrote: “I loved the texture and appearance of this bacon, and that it cooks hands-free with no babysitting. I also loved that this method works for a few slices or up to 20, and that, if you use the overhang trick, cleanup is just so incredibly easy…
“Effortless cleanup (that allows you to save drippings), pretty slices, and easy control of the crispiness or chewiness of the bacon. This method has it all.”