Introduction
This simple kitchen hack delivers perfectly crisp strips with almost no cleanup. By cooking bacon on a lined sheet pan or in an air fryer, you avoid grease splatter while achieving even crispiness every time. It’s ideal for breakfasts, sandwiches, topping salads, or prepping bacon in bulk.
Description
Instead of frying bacon on the stovetop, this method uses the oven or air fryer to cook the strips evenly and render the fat cleanly. The parchment or foil lining makes cleanup almost nonexistent, and the controlled heat prevents burning or curling. The result is crisp, golden bacon with minimal effort.
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Ingredients
8–12 strips of bacon (thick or regular cut)
Optional: black pepper, smoked paprika, maple syrup, or brown sugar for flavor variations
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Instructions
Oven Method
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
3. Arrange bacon strips in a single layer without overlapping.
4. Bake 12–20 minutes depending on thickness and desired crispiness.
5. Remove strips and place on a paper towel–lined plate to drain.
6. Discard or save rendered bacon fat. Remove the lining for instant cleanup.
Air Fryer Method
1. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place bacon strips in a single layer in the basket.
3. Cook 7–12 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway if needed.
4. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel–lined plate.
5. Pour out collected grease once cooled.
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Tips
For the crispiest results, avoid overlapping strips.
Thick-cut bacon needs extra minutes; check often near the end.
Use parchment, not wax paper; wax paper will melt.
If using foil, fold edges upward to create a grease “tray.”
Let bacon cool slightly before transferring to keep pieces intact.
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Variations
Sweet Bacon: Brush strips lightly with maple syrup or sprinkle with brown sugar before cooking.
Pepper Bacon: Add freshly cracked black pepper over the top before baking.
Smoky Bacon: Sprinkle strips with smoked paprika.
Spicy Bacon: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat.
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Correction (Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them)
Bacon curls up: Use a baking rack over the strips, or press down halfway through.
Greasy bacon: Allow strips to fully drain on paper towels.
Burning edges: Lower oven temperature slightly or check earlier.
Not crispy enough: Add 2–3 more minutes; bacon crisps further as it cools.
Uneven cooking: Ensure strips are spaced evenly and not overlapping.
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Enjoy
Serve the crispy bacon as part of breakfast, in sandwiches, crumbled over salads, added to wraps, or saved for meal prep. This quick method ensures clean counters, easy cleanup, and consistently perfect strips.