Bacon Method

Make perfect, crispy bacon every time.

I'm Dan Benjamin. I love bacon but I hate mess. Fortunately, I discovered a way to make perfect, crispy bacon every time with the minimum amount of preparation and cleanup.

I podcast at 5by5 and built Fireside to help people host their podcasts.

Find me @danbenjamin on Twitter.

Make Perfect, Crispy Bacon Every Time

It's easy. Here's how:

  1. Line a pan with the bacon. You can use a glass baking pan, a steel or aluminum baking sheet, or even a cast iron pan. Check out the list of tools we like.
  2. Put the pan into a cold, unheated oven. I use the middle rack.
  3. Set the oven to bake at 400°F (204°C).
  4. Set the timer for 20 minutes. It may take a bit more or less time, depending on your oven. You can calibrate your oven for even better results.
  5. Remove the pan from the oven. Place the bacon on a plate (or a plate lined with a paper towel if you’re grease averse).
  6. Enjoy the best, crispiest, most delicious bacon you’ve ever had.

Tips: You don’t need to cover the pan, it won’t mess up your oven. Line the pan with aluminum foil or Silpat for easier cleanup. Don’t use a baking rack to "keep the bacon out of the grease." Instead, put the crispy bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate when it's done.

Officially Sanctioned Supplies

Want to make the Bacon Method even easier? Here are are some of our favorite Bacon Method preparation supplies. Use the links below and we'll get a tiny little kick-back from Amazon.

Pyrex Bakeware 4.8 Quart Oblong Baking Dish

We prefer cooking our bacon in a glass pan, like this one from Pyrex. In fact, this is the exact pan we use for the Bacon Method almost every day of the week.

Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Baking Pan

Sometimes you want a metal pan instead of a glass pan. That's okay, this one works just fine.

Admetior Kitchen Oven Thermometer

Many ovens aren't accurate, and don't correctly set or report their temperature. Find out what your oven's really doing (called calibrating) with this highly accurate in-oven thermometer.

Our relatively new oven was spot-on. The oven we replaced was about 10 degrees lower than what we'd set it to.

Silpat Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat

Some people worry about the bacon sticking to the pan. We've never run into this, but the Silpat will prevent it no matter what.

Grease Keeper

Some people like to cook with bacon fat. These keepers filter out any bits to keep your bacon grease as clean and clear as possible, perfect for long term storage.

Mastrad Silicone Oven Mitt with Cotton Lining

Bacon pans are hot. Get a strong mitt that can take up to 480 degrees of heat, and you won't feel a thing.

Nueske's Applewood Smoked Bacon

If you can't find good bacon locally, check out Neuske's. This is bacon so good it's won national acclaim from The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Cuisine Magazine and been named Gold Award Winner in the Specialty Food Association's national competition an unprecedented four of the last 10 years.

Thank You

I hope this method is helpful to you, and I'd love to hear about your experiences with it. I'm @danbenjamin on Twitter.

Please consider a donation if this method changed your game as much as it changed mine.

© 2018 Dan Benjamin