Mmm… bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon? I mean, I’m sure there are some people out there that do, but it’s pretty hard to pass up that first thing in the morning smell of bacon, that crispy, full-fat flavor that’s one of a kind. I feel like our current generation has a thing with bacon, and you know why I think this? I think it’s because we’re all about being fat-burners, and not fat-storers. We’re not scared of fat, and for good reason - fat doesn’t make you fat. So today, we’re going to teach you how to make bacon in the oven and why you’ll never go back to making it on the stovetop. Let’s get sizzling!

How To Make Bacon In The Oven - Swolverine

How Is Bacon Made

Loaded question, friend. The manufacturing process varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but for all intents and purposes, we’ll make it simple. Bacon is made from pork. Yeah, there’s turkey bacon, but who wants that. Bacon goes through what’s called a ‘curing’ process. In this process, the meat is dumped in a mixed solution of things like nitrates, salt, and maybe some sugar. Then, most often, the meat is smoked.

Why cure bacon? Well, curing the meat not only helps preserve the meat and it’s color, but it gives bacon it’s ooh-la-la taste, if you know what I mean. Pork isn’t exactly kept long when it’s not cured and has a pretty short shelf life. Since bacon is cured, it is still technically considered a processed meat, and bacon has a longer shelf life than many other pork products.

Is Bacon Bad For You?

Bacon is about 50% monounsaturated fat and for the most part, oleic acid. Before you jump to conclusions here, mono’s are the same type of fats that olive oil is herald for. The downside on bacon is that it does roll with a solid amount of cholesterol, making it not exactly the thing you want to eat every day, but you can eat it often.

As mentioned in the introduction, fats have been blamed for years for the obesity epidemic that we’re experiencing here in the states, but the effects of saturated fats are relatively controversial. [R] Some physicians believe they’re a direct cause of heart disease, one of the top issues here in the states, while others believe it’s just the opposite. Most, if not all studies, have failed to show direct links between saturated fats and heart disease. [R] So that being said, if you have a pretty well rounded, healthy lifestyle, bring on the bacon, baby!

Is Bacon Good For You?

For the most part, bacon packs a pretty solid nutrient profile. Here’s what 100g of bacon [R] has in it:

70% fats, 29% protein, 1% carbs
Good source of protein, niacin and selenium
37g protein per 100g
541 calories
Vitamins: niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid
Minerals: phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, selenium

How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Now that we have a good understanding of how bacon is made and what is in it, let’s get to the real reason why you’re here: you want to know how to cook bacon in the oven like a BOSS. We don’t blame you! After all, like we said, once we teach you this, you’re never going back to stovetop cooked bacon again. Don’t believe us? Don’t knock it until you try it!

Perfecting Oven Bacon

Baking bacon in the oven is so simple, dare we say, it is a revelation? Seriously, it’s the easiest way to make it. Oven baked bacon doesn’t make a mess, it doesn’t take up space on the stove or on the griddle so that you can focus on the other things, like pancakes and eggs. You hungry yet? We are just talking about it!

How To Cook Bacon In The Oven Step By Step:

Step 1: get yourself an 8-ounce package of bacon and either parchment paper or a roll of foil (dealers choice here, we like thick cut!)
Step 2: Once you have your bacon, preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with a sheet of either parchment paper or foil (we like foil, less things to catch on fire)
Step 4: Line the pieces of bacon in a row nice and flat in a single layer
Step 5: Bake 20 to 25 minutes or so in the oven or until it reaches your desired crispiness
Step 6: Remove from oven and serve, dab with paper towel to remove extra grease

How To Make Bacon In The Oven - Swolverine

Oven Baked Bacon

In conclusion, it doesn’t really get more simple than this. Baking bacon in the oven makes life so simple, and who knows, maybe you’ll eat more bacon now. If you like/use this recipe, then tag us on social media with the handle —> @theswolekitchen and check out all the other recipes here on the Swolverine blog.

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