When cooking bacon in the oven, one of the most common questions is whether or not you need to flip the bacon partway through cooking. The simple answer is that flipping bacon when baking it in the oven is not strictly necessary, but it can help the bacon cook more evenly and prevent it from curling up. While you can get perfectly cooked bacon by just laying it out on a baking sheet and cooking it without touching it, flipping the bacon midway through does offer some benefits.
Why Flipping Bacon Helps It Cook More Evenly
Flipping bacon when oven-baking helps it cook evenly for a few reasons:
- Heat distribution – Oven heat is rarely perfectly evenly distributed. One area of the oven may be slightly hotter than another. Flipping the bacon redistributes it and exposes all sides to high heat.
- Pan conduction – Baking sheets and pans conduct heat differently. Flipping the bacon helps compensate for uneven pan heating.
- Fat renders – The fat rendering from bacon can pool slightly while cooking. Flipping helps the fat redistribute over the meat.
- Crisping – The first side down often crisps up more than the top side. Flipping crisps both sides.
Overall, flipping the bacon midway through oven baking allows for more even exposed of the meat to the heat source in the oven, helping prevent under or overcooked spots.
How to Flip Bacon When Baking
Flipping oven-baked bacon is simple:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet, making sure there is space between each slice.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the bacon begins to sizzle and render fat.
- Remove baking sheet and use tongs to carefully flip each slice of bacon.
- Return to oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes, until both sides are crisped and browned.
- Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
The halfway point is a natural time to flip the bacon, but you can also keep an eye on it and flip sooner if the underside is cooking faster than the top layer. Flipping earlier, around the 6 minute mark, can help prevent the first side from overcooking.
Tips for Even Bacon Cooking
In addition to flipping, here are some tips to help bacon cook evenly in the oven:
- Use thick-cut bacon – Thinner bacon is more likely to burn if not flipped.
- Elevate the bacon on a rack over the baking sheet – More air circulation promotes even cooking.
- Bake at 400°F – The high heat helps render fat quickly.
- Space out slices – Leave space between each slice to allow heat flow.
- Use foil-lined pan – The reflective surface helps distribute heat.
Should You Flip Thicker Bacon Cuts?
For thick, artisanal-style bacon slices that are very meaty, flipping midway through baking may be even more important. Thicker bacon takes longer to cook through. Flipping the bacon over exposes the top side to more direct heat in the oven, helping the middle of the bacon cook through.
Here are some guidelines for flipping extra thick-cut bacon when baking:
- Cook longer before flipping – Bake for 12-15 minutes per side, instead of 8-10.
- Check temperature – Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm bacon reaches 195°F.
- Drain fat – Pour off excess fat during cooking to prevent burning.
- Finish lower and slower – Cook at 350°F once bacon is nearly done to prevent burning.
How to Keep Bacon Flat When Baking
One downside of oven-baking bacon is that it can cause the bacon to curl up as it cooks. This happens because the fat causes the bacon to contract and the meat to buckle. Here are some tips to keep bacon flat when cooking it in the oven:
- Use a baking rack – Elevating the bacon allows more air circulation underneath.
- Place bacon between sheets – Put bacon between 2 sheets of parchment paper pressed down by another baking sheet.
- Brush with syrup – Lightly brushing maple syrup or brown sugar syrup will weigh down the bacon.
- Add weights – Placing another baking sheet or oven-safe weights on top will press it flat.
- Cook from frozen – Starting with frozen bacon can reduce initial curling.
Flipping the bacon can also help redistribute the rendering fat and prevent excessive curling on one side. But for best results, use one of these simple tricks to weigh it down as it cooks.
How to Keep Bacon Flat When Microwaving
If you are microwaving bacon, the best way to keep it from curling is to place a layer of paper towels over the top:
- Line a microwave-safe plate with 2 paper towels.
- Arrange bacon in a single layer, making sure slices do not overlap.
- Cover bacon with 2 more paper towels.
- Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes for thin bacon, 4-5 minutes for thick bacon.
- Check periodically and microwave in 30-second increments until fully cooked.
The paper towels will both absorb excess fat and weight down the bacon slices evenly to prevent drastic curling. Just be careful when removing the plate, as it will be very hot and could splatter grease.
Comparison of Cooking Bacon Methods
Bacon can be cooked in different ways, each with their pros and cons regarding even cooking and reduced curling:
| Cooking Method | Heat Distribution | Fat Draining | Curl Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skillet | Uneven – hotter over direct heat | Minimal – sits in grease | Poor – excessive curling in pan |
| Oven | More even | Good if elevated on rack | Better, can be weighed down |
| Microwave | Fairly even | Absorbed by paper towels | Good if covered by paper towels |
In the oven or microwave, flipping is not essential, but still provides added assurance of even cooking. Overall, the oven tends to provide the best results for flat, evenly cooked bacon.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Bacon
Cooked bacon keeps well for 3-5 days stored properly in the refrigerator. Here are some storage tips:
- Allow to cool completely before refrigerating.
- Drain off excess grease.
- Store in a sealed container between sheets of wax paper.
- Or freeze in an airtight freezer bag for 1-2 months.
To reheat bacon:
- Oven – Place in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet and warm in a 400°F oven for 4-5 minutes.
- Microwave – Place on a microwave-safe plate between paper towels, microwave on high in 30 second intervals.
- Skillet – Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side to crisp up.
Serving and Using Leftover Bacon
Cooked bacon left over from breakfast keeps for several days and can be used in various dishes:
- Crumble into salads, soups, baked potatoes.
- Make bacon bits for sprinkling.
- Add to grilled cheese, quiche, omelets.
- Use in pasta, green beans, brussels sprouts.
- Top baked potatoes, pizza, nachos.
- Mix into dips and spreads.
- Crumble over casseroles and roasts.
The uses for leftover bacon are endless! With proper storage in the fridge or freezer, cooked bacon keeps well and can be reheated and incorporated into many types of recipes.
Common Questions
Should I flip bacon when baking it in the oven?
Flipping bacon when oven baking is not essential, but recommended for more even cooking and preventing excessive curling on one side. Simply flip the bacon slices over midway through the cooking time.
Does flipping bacon make it more evenly cooked?
Yes, flipping bacon redistributes the fat and exposes all sides directly to the heat, helping avoid under or overcooked spots.
Should you flip thick-cut bacon in the oven?
Yes, flipping thick-cut bacon is especially important, as the meatier slices take longer to cook through. Flipping ensures even cooking.
Is there any disadvantage to flipping bacon when baking?
There’s minimal disadvantage to flipping bacon when baking it. The only added effort is briefly removing the hot pan from the oven midway through cooking.
How can I keep bacon from curling in the oven?
Use a baking rack to elevate it, place a sheet pan or weights on top, cook it between parchment paper, lightly oil it, or brush it with syrup before baking to keep bacon flat.
Conclusion
While not absolutely necessary, flipping bacon halfway through oven baking does promote more even cooking. Allowing each side of the bacon to get direct heat exposure prevents undercooking and overcooking. It also helps redistribute fat and reduce excessive curling. When cooking thick-cut bacon, flipping helps ensure the center cooks through. While bacon can be cooked in the oven without flipping, it is generally recommended to flip at least once for better results. This simple step helps bacon come out evenly browned and crisped on both sides.