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The Kitchen Table

How do you cook lots of bacon?

15 years ago

Kids are coming this weekend...have lots of tomatoes...gonna have BLTs...What's the best way to cook lots of bacon? We like ours nuked and crispy, but it will take too long to do it this way. Besides, it must overheat the microwave after 3 uses because it won't start again until it cools off.

Can I bake it at high heat? I don't like to broil...or pan fry more than one pan, either. But I'll do what I have to do because we love the kids and the BLTs ;-)

TIA,

Leslie/KS

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Comments (23)

bunny_lover
15 years ago
Last time I had to cook a good amount of bacon, I used the grill. I lined the grates with foil. Sure kept the mess outside!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
15 years ago
I have fried it up ahead of time, good and crispy, and then just frozen it, one pound (before fried) per package.

When ready to use, just let thaw a bit, and heat in the microwave. I found it was as good as freshly fried, and often do it just to save having the greasy frying mess so often.

Sue
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My friend does 3 or 4 pounds or more at a time. She lays about 6 or 7 sheets of newspaper in a sheet cake pan, covers with paper towel and lays a rack on top of that, lays on the bacon, covers the bacon with another layer of paper towel (to cut out the oven spatters) and bakes it at 400...the length fo time depends on the thickness of the bacon. Then she removes the bacon and puts it in a plastic bag and freezes it for quick sandwiches and tosses the whole greasy mess into the garbage. I have never needed to cook that much bacon at once, the most I do is a pound...but I will say it's nice when for example I take a salad to ehr house for dinner, she'll say..."Want some bacon on that?" and quick as a 15 second microwave zap there is hot crisp bacon! Linda C
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grittymitts
15 years ago
When cooking it for a bunch I put it in a 400 degree oven in a large (rim sided) oblong pan. Usually takes only one turning to get crisp & is drained on paper towels. (Oven does get spattered but is easily wiped clean if done while still warm.)

Suzi
lilliepad
15 years ago
I do mine like Sue only I cook it in the oven.I have a huge stainless steel baking pan,(restaurant type) that I use. cook in a preheated 400* oven.I cook it just under "crisp" then freeze it in portions.Then it's just right when I nuke it.I just open the bag and nuke it in the bag.That will keep it from drying out too much.Shouldn't take more than a few seconds to heat it up.I always have ready to eat bacon in the freezer.It will keep for a while in the fridge too so if you plan to eat it within a week you wouldn't have to freeze it.
I like bunny lover's idea.No mess in the house and no mess to clean up.I may try that next time I cook bacon.
JoanMN
15 years ago
We've been doing ours in the oven, too. Saw it on the Food Network. Works great! I line the cake pan with foil.
JoanMN
sandy_in_ia
15 years ago
I have made it in the oven, but I think I would line the grill and do it on there! (but then...we do just about everything on the grill!)
whidbeykathy
15 years ago
I make it in the oven too..
lindyluwho
15 years ago
DH cooks our bacon in the oven like Grittymitts. He does it when he has time and stores it in the fridge or freezer for use later. He doesn't cook it all the way. When we heat it the the microwave for a short time it finishes cooking and gets crisp.

Linda
msmarion
15 years ago
I've been cooking mine in the oven for years. The restaurants do it the same way. I line the pan with parchment paper and bake at 400. I don't bother to preheat.
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
oven, oven oven....can't beat the oven...
Marigene
15 years ago
Definitely in the oven, that is the only way to do it!
dilly_dally
15 years ago
Do you own a deep fryer? One quick dip is all it takes.
snap58_in_wi
15 years ago
In the oven....fast & easy! I just now got done with 3 lbs of bacon for BLT's. Yummy.
frazoo
Original Author
15 years ago
Alrighty then...looks like I'll use the oven! So glad to know this. Thanks, everyone!

Leslie/KS
tami_ohio
15 years ago
I use the Pampered Chef bar stone pan. 425Â° for about 15-20 minutes. No turning. Each batch will take a minute or two less if you do consecutive batches. I can usually get about a pound on it at one time, depending on the size of the slices.

Tami
lilliepad
15 years ago
Oh yeah, I forgot about the deep fryer! We cooked it in the deep fryer when we had the cafe.I have one of those counter top ones that looks like the restaurant one. I have used that too but put it up over a year ago because I didn't use it much anymore.Didn't even think of that.LOL
naughtykitty
15 years ago
I do it in the oven but I use a metal grid to keep the bacon suspended above the pan and then the grease all drips into the pan.

Metal grid-- I am blanking on the name. You know the grid thing you cool cookies on..... Cooling rack??
glenda_al
15 years ago
Oven baked on the broiler slotted top , so drippings drip down into the pan.
I make breakfast cookies which includes bacon in the recipe.
wildchild
15 years ago
I use the broiler pan like Glenda.
susanjf_gw
15 years ago
oven here, and have for years...i do it at 350...we're into turkey bacon...
joyfulguy
15 years ago
Lots of good ideas above.

Another alternative - borrow a second microwave from a neighbour ... to be plugged into a different circuit, of course!

ole joyful
lindasc
15 years ago
The only way I cook bacon is in the George Foreman.
sharon_fl
15 years ago
Like naughtykitty..I have baked mine for years in the oven. However-I have cookie sheet sized mesh cooling racks, so I place one of them on my silver baking tray then place the bacon on it. The grease drips into the tray, no need to flip the bacon. Once 2/3rds done, I remove & place on paper toweling.
To reheat-I put whatever amount I need on a tray & place under the broiler for a minute. Hate the microwave & freezer for cooked bacon. Call me old fashioned-I'd rather make it fresh, when needed.

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