The 4 Best Ways to Cook Bacon So It's Perfectly Crispy

We all know that crispy bacon is superior in every possible way, so what's the best way to make sure you have perfectly crispy bacon every time? We spoke with experts for four different methods, including the oven, stovetop, microwave, and air fryer. They shared what they like about each method and when to use each one for best results.

Oven Method

This is our favorite method to achieve crispy bacon; there are several benefits to cooking bacon in the oven. "There's no need to babysit the pan like you do when you fry bacon on the stovetop," says Ashley Lonsdale, chef-in-residence at ButcherBox.

There is less to clean up because the oven method is much cleaner than frying on the stovetop; there's less splatter from frying the grease, and no need to worry about the stovetop and countertop being covered in tiny pools of oil. Cooking it in the oven means you can cook more bacon at one time and to the same level of doneness in the same amount of time

Because the bacon cooks in a single layer on a baking sheet, each piece gets cooked efficiently and evenly. Oven baking ensures that every slice of bacon receives consistent heat distribution, resulting in even cooking throughout, says Chris Mattera, chef and culinary innovation and sales lead at North Country Smokehouse. "This means no more burnt edges and undercooked centers."

Use a Baking Sheet and Wire Rack

The most essential equipment for cooking bacon in the oven is a nonstick rimmed baking sheet. We like to place a wire rack on the baking sheet so that air circulates above and below the bacon, helping it to crisp up from all sides and allowing the grease to drip down onto the baking pan. If you don’t have a wire rack that fits into your baking sheet, use parchment paper instead. The bacon sits on the parchment paper and cooks in its own fat, which creates very crispy bacon.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a plate with paper towels.
2. Prep a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack or sheet of parchment paper. Lay the bacon in a single layer; do not overlap the slices. 
3. Bake until the bacon is crisped and browned on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Check halfway through cooking, rotating the pan if any parts of the bacon are cooking faster than others. (Lonsdale recommends rotating the sheet every eight minutes to prevent hot spots and burnt bacon.)
4. Transfer the bacon to the paper towel-lined plate and drain.

Stove Method

Frying bacon on the stovetop is a more hands-on process than cooking it in the oven. Mattera says his favorite part is the smell, which is much stronger than when you cook bacon in the oven—and can draw people into the kitchen.

When you cook bacon in a skillet on the stovetop, you can control how dark and crunchy each strip gets. If you're feeding people who have different bacon preferences—maybe someone who wants it gently cooked and someone else who only likes it extra dark—the skillet method allows you to cook bacon to a wide range of doneness.

The Best Pan for Cooking Bacon on the Stove

We recommend using a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. It will provide a deep, crisp caramelization and prevent sticking. Plus, the rendered bacon grease helps season the skillet. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, use a stainless steel skillet. It is more difficult to cook bacon in a stainless steel skillet than in a cast-iron skillet as bits tend to stick to the surface of the pan and break apart, no matter how much grease coats the bottom of the pan. 

Aways Cook Bacon Low and Slow

The most important part of cooking bacon on the stovetop is managing the heat, says Mattera. Starting with a cold pan and using a low and slow cooking approach ensures each strip of bacon reaches the level of doneness you desire. The low temperature also helps prevent burning; bacon is thin so it tends to burn quickly. The skillet can quickly become too hot when you cook bacon, producing burnt edges with soggy centers. Remember to flip the bacon a few times to ensure even browning. 

How to Cook Bacon on the Stove

1. Lay the bacon in an even layer in a cold cast-iron skillet. Do not crowd the pan—leave enough space between each piece to be able to flip the pieces.
2. Turn the heat to medium low, and let the bacon cook until it begins to brown to the desired doneness.
3. Use tongs or a spatula to flip the bacon once or twice to make sure each strip is crispy and brown on both sides. 
4. Remove the bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate.

Microwave Method

If you want speed and ease, the microwave is the way you should cook bacon. Unlike the stovetop method, the microwave is hands-off so you don’t have to mind it while it cooks. It’s also easy to cook a small amount of bacon in the microwave, and there's no need to worry about grease splattering all over the stovetop.

However, you can’t cook as much bacon at one time as you can with the skillet or stovetop method. If you’re cooking a whole pack or several packs of bacon for a big brunch, the microwave is not the method to use. And the end result is not as crispy as bacon cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. Lonsdale says it is hard to get crispy edges with the microwave.

How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave

1. Line large dinner plate with paper towels.
2. Arrange bacon on top of the paper towels in one single layer: Make sure the pieces don't overlap or touch one another.
3. Place another layer of paper towels on top of the bacon. 
4. Microwave on high for one minute per slice.

Air Fryer Method

Air fryers are countertop convection ovens, which means air circulates quickly from all sides via a system of fans and that’s a good thing when you cook bacon. The quick-moving hot air helps foods crisp up quickly and efficiently, and it can be a great way to cook extra-crispy bacon.

On the downside, keep the size of your air fryer in mind. Most can only accommodate about four to six pieces of bacon, and you may need to cut the strips to fit inside your air fryer. 

How to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer

1. Cut bacon to fit the basket of your air fryer. Each strip should be able to sit in the fryer in one even layer without being folded or overlapped.
2. Line the basket or rack of air fryer with foil to catch grease drippings and prevent smoking. 
3. Air fry bacon at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 9 minutes for thin-cut bacon or 10 to 12 minutes for thick-cut bacon. 

Safety Precautions

Whether you choose the oven method or the skillet method, cooking with hot oil is dangerous.

• Cook low and slow: On the stove, be mindful of splatter and keep the heat at a low, consistent temperature. Letting the pan get too hot creates smoke and splatter, which can burn your hands or arms, so always moderate your cooking temperature and use oven mitts. Keep others, especially children, away from the stove while the bacon is cooking. Use your overhead fan or vent hood to help disperse the smoke and oil.
• Watch out for grease: When cooking bacon in the oven, always use a rimmed baking sheet or a pan with a lip to prevent oil from dripping onto the heating element of your appliance. Dripping grease can cause an oven fire, so it is vital to prevent any grease from dripping off your baking sheet.
• Cook to the proper temperature: Always make sure the bacon is fully cooked before serving it. Maintaining a low, slow temperature rather than cooking at high heat will ensure that the inside of the bacon is cooked at the same level as the outside and avoid any undercooked spots.

How to Dispose of Bacon Grease

We usually collect the bacon grease from the skillet or baking sheet and save it in a jar in the refrigerator so we can use it for cooking. If you don’t want to use the bacon grease, never dump cooking oil down the drain as this can lead to sewer backups. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, dispose of bacon grease with your regular garbage.