Forget hovering over a sputtering skillet. For perfectly crisp, evenly cooked bacon, line a baking sheet with foil, lay the strips in a single layer, and slide it into a cold oven. Set the temperature to 400°F and walk away. As the oven preheats, the fat slowly renders, leaving each slice flat, bronzed, and glassy-crisp. In 18–25 minutes, you’ll have a full tray of flawless bacon with the drippings neatly pooled on the foil for easy disposal or saving.
Short on time or cooking for one? Lay bacon between layers of paper towel on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high in 30–45 second bursts until crisp. The towels absorb excess grease, the strips cook evenly, and cleanup is as simple as tossing everything out. Pile your bacon onto sandwiches, crumble it over salads, or eat it straight from the rack while it’s still singing.
