Diva Musing: Bacon!!!!!!!

The joy of every Southern Cook is bacon in a recipe.  This is the cleaner way I like to do mine….Namaste, The Queen Cronista

Oven Bacon is Best Thank you Allrecipe.com

Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?

So much win, we have to count the ways:

1. Cook a whole pound of bacon at one time in just minutes
2. Baked bacon cooks flat and doesn’t curl up
3. No need to turn the bacon
4. No grease burns on your skin
5. No grease stains on your clothes
6. No grease splatters all over your stove
7. Free up space on your stovetop for other foods
8. Super-easy cleanup
9. Baking makes it possible to make candied bacon
10. Bacon is it’s own best reason to cook bacon

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Adapted from The Easiest Way to Cook Bacon
Ingredients
1 pound thick-cut bacon

Equipment
Large rimmed baking sheet
Aluminum foil
Baking rack (Optional: Cooking the bacon on a rack makes the bacon crisper, and lets the grease drip off the bacon as it cooks.)

Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 400° F. You won’t be broiling the bacon, so put your oven rack in the middle of your oven to distribute the heat evenly.
1. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Make sure the foil extends up the sides of the pan so it captures all the bacon grease and clean-up is easier.
2. Arrange bacon strips directly on the foil. It’s okay if the bacon overlaps slightly, because it will shrink slightly as it bakes. OR place the bacon on a rack. Place the baking pan in the oven.
3. Cook bacon for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how chewy or crispy you like your bacon.
4. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined platter. The extra grease will be absorbed by the paper towels, and the bacon will crisp up a bit as it cools. You can then transfer it to a clean plate to serve.

Notes From Home Cooks

• No baking rack? No problem. Line the baking sheet, then crumple up some more foil and lay the bacon on that to hold it up out of the grease.
• Your baking time may differ. No two ovens bake at exactly the same temperature. You’ll probably need to do this a few times to find the right time/temperature that works for you.
• Prevent oven splatters. This from Cindy Capps Lepp: Lay a layer of foil over the bacon; this will keep grease from spitting all over the oven. Remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking for “final crisping.”
• Clean up is a snap. Just let the bacon grease cool in the pan (save it if you want), then roll up the aluminum foil and toss it.