Do you love bacon? If so, you’re going to love this easy and delicious recipe for cooking bacon in toaster oven. Not only does this method produce crispy and delicious bacon, but it’s also a lot healthier than frying it in a pan.
If you love bacon but don’t have time to cook it in the oven? Have no fear, the toaster oven is here! This guide will show you all matters related to cooking bacon in a toaster oven and how to cook so that you can have crispy, delicious bacon in a fraction of the time. Let’s get started!
What is A Toaster?
A toaster is a small kitchen appliance that uses electricity to toast bread. To use a toaster, users must first insert slices of bread into the top of the machine and close its door. The user should then turn a dial or press a button on the front of the device to choose how well they want their toast cooked.
Once this setting has been selected, it is simply a matter of waiting for the audible click from inside the machine which indicates that breakfast time has arrived!
A toaster consists mainly of two metal plates with a space in between, called a “toasting chamber.” The bottom plate contains an electric heating element while the top plate stays cool due to the insulation material within it.
When activated, the heating element brings the two metal plates to a high enough temperature that causes the bread’s water content to evaporate, changing the bread color and making it crispy.
Can I Cook Bacon in Toaster Oven?
Yes, you absolutely can cook bacon in a toaster oven. There are several advantages to doing so such as:
- A toaster oven cooks much faster than a conventional oven.
- A toaster oven makes bacon healthier because it drains away excess grease and fat as the bacon cooks.
- You can fit more bacon in one batch with a toaster oven than you can with a conventional oven.
- Best of all, the bacon is crispier compared to when it’s prepared in a pan on the stovetop.
The actual cooking process is simple. All you have to do is spread out your slices of bacon on the rack inside the toaster oven and set the machine to your desired toastiness. The machine will then do the rest of the work for you!
How Much Bacon Can You Fit in a Toaster Oven?
A standard toaster oven can hold up to six slices of bacon without them overlapping. This is because the rack inside each model has at least one bar which separates it from the others, creating a small amount of space.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Bacon in a Toaster Oven?
The cooking time is highly dependent upon the type of toaster oven you have. Generally speaking, however, most models can cook six slices of bacon for around 10 minutes. The exact time will vary from model to model, but 10 minutes is usually a safe bet.
Why Should You Cook Bacon in a Toaster Oven?
There are many reasons why you should cook bacon in toaster oven. Here are four of them.
The first reason is that cooking bacon in the oven takes away the mess of having grease splattering all over your kitchen and countertops. It’s common for grease to splatter on your hands or face when frying bacon, but it rarely happens when baking it in an oven.
All you have to do is place the strips on a cookie sheet and bake until they become golden brown. Another benefit of cooking your bacon this way is that you won’t be exposed to as many cancer-causing agents because they aren’t created during this process like they are with frying.
1). Save time
Cooking bacon in the oven also involves less preparation than frying. You don’t have to flip it or drain the grease because the bacon cooks evenly, and you never have to worry about getting burned by hot oil splattering up at you.
The simplicity of this method especially appeals to people who are less experienced in the kitchen and would rather use a single utensil for preparing their food or washing dishes.
The reason why cooking bacon in toaster oven is better is that it takes less time than frying. When baking your bacon, all you need to do is add water to a tray underneath it so it doesn’t stick while cooking.
It only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish when using this method compared with 15-20 minutes when frying on a stovetop. Once you’ve finished baking your bacon, just remove it from the oven and use paper towels to soak up any excess grease.
2). Easy cooking
Baking bacon is also a lot easier than frying because there’s less cleanup involved. It doesn’t require as many utensils or tools, and fewer dishes will need to be washed afterward. You can cut your preparation time in half by using this method; therefore, it’s perfect for people who are always on the go and don’t have time to prepare their food like they would like to.
3). Can cook more at one time
The third reason why cooking bacon in the oven is better is that you can cook more at one time. You can fit up to 18 strips of bacon at once, whereas when cooking it on the stove, you can only fit about half that many. That’s another advantage of using the oven method, it saves time, not just for one person preparing their food but also for a family preparing their breakfast together.
4). More efficient
Cooking bacon in the oven is more efficient because you don’t have to waste energy standing over the stove or cleaning up grease afterward. You can sit back and relax while your bacon cooks without having to monitor it or keep an eye on how much time is left.
5). Cook healthier foods
The fourth reason why you should cook your bacon in a toaster oven is that you’ll have healthier, crispier results than frying it on the stovetop. When cooking bacon on the stove, most people wait until all of the greases have evaporated before taking it out of the pan. As it cools, the bacon becomes limp and chewy.
When baking bacon in an oven, however, you don’t have to worry about that because most of the grease stays in the tray underneath your food. Furthermore, when you cook your bacon on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil, most of the fat drips through leaving just enough to keep it moist without making it greasy or too crispy.
How to Cook Bacon in a Toaster Oven?
With this article, we will explain how to cook bacon in a toaster oven.
Step 1: Preheat the oven
The oven should be preheated at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius. It is best to use an oven thermometer and adjust the temperature accordingly, as each oven differs slightly.
Step 2: Arrange the bacon
Arrange the bacon on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and place it in the oven propped up on some kind of cooking rack so that air can flow underneath it. This allows for more even cooking than just laying the bacon directly on the pan, which causes grease to pool around your food and potentially makes it taste less than delicious after it has finished cooking.
Putting something under your bacon not only cooks your bacon more evenly but also makes for far easier clean-up after you are done cooking.
Step 3: Set the timer
The bacon will take about fifteen minutes to cook, depending on how much bacon is in your oven at one time and how crispy you like it. It is best to check periodically during this time because every oven heats differently and every piece of bacon cooks differently.
Some people prefer their bacon browned well while others prefer to cook it until it is quite floppy all personal preference so don’t let anyone tell you that one way or another is wrong.
Step 4: Drain the oil
Drain any excess grease by placing the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate or in a colander in the sink over another paper towel for about two to three minutes.
Cooking Tips for Bacon in The Toaster Oven
Cooking tips for bacon in a toaster oven are easy when you know-how. If you’re just beginning or a seasoned pro here is what you need to know.
First things first, there are many different types of toaster ovens appealing in price and convenience. On average most toasters will cook faster than conventional ovens so cooking times will vary by the type of your appliance, size, and thickness of food items such as bacon.
For the best results, evenly cooked bacon is put on an oven-safe wire rack that fits into your toaster oven or on aluminum foil for less mess and hassle. Try both ways and see which works better for you; this way heat can circulate all around the food item.
Putting bacon directly on the pan will allow grease to drip right down below.
Whether you are cooking one piece of bacon or ten places it in your toaster oven for around 5 minutes, if using a rack let it cook approximately 3-4 minutes before rotating food items for more even cooking. Keep an eye on it, taking off as soon as the desired level of crispiness has been reached.
Now that you have cooked perfect bacon without splattering grease all over your kitchen, there are many possibilities for serving this delicious treat besides breakfast favorites like biscuits and eggs. Add crispy bacon pieces to salads, sandwiches, dips, and soups for flavor with no extra calories!
Toaster Oven vs Conventional: Which is Better for Cooking Bacon?
When it comes to cooking bacon, many people argue that a regular oven or a stove is by far better. However, in most situations, a toaster oven can be used instead of the stove and they will provide almost the same quality for cooking bacon.
Although a toaster oven doesn’t work as fast as a conventional oven, most models have a timer on them which allows you to cook your bacon with ease without having to watch over it constantly.
If you’re trying to find out how you’re going to get your bacon cooked from scratch then keep reading this article because we’ll discuss more later on down below!
Do You Need to Add Oil to Cook Bacon?
Bacon cooked without oil is more healthy, you do not need to add oil to cook bacon. The amount of fat in bacon will be enough to allow the meat’s temperature to get up high enough for it to fry. If you are cooking bacon with lots of fatty pieces, use a slotted spoon so that excess grease can drip off the bacon as well as saving it for later uses such as making baked beans or soup.
Everyone has their way of frying bacon and there is no right or wrong way as long as you avoid burning it and losing out on those delicious crispy edges!
Some people like using tongs to hold down the strips while others prefer laying them flat on a pan and flipping them over midway through cooking. You can line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and cook the bacon on there as well. Just keep a watchful eye so that you don’t burn it!
If you would like to avoid adding more fat, especially cholesterol-filled fat from cooking in animal fats, then try microwaving your bacon or using a microwave bacon cooker. It cooks things quickly without the need for any oil at all! Some griddles will cook bacon without needing oil. If you want to make sure the strips of bacon don’t curl up while they’re cooking, use a glass pie plate instead to hold them flat!
Bacon is best cooked crispy but if you find yourself burning it or it ends up being too crunchy, consider cutting off some of the burnt edges. If you like your lighter, blot off some of the excess oil with a paper towel to avoid having it too greasy!
You certainly do not have to use extra fat to cook your bacon but if you prefer that extra crispness or if your bacon is very fatty then feel free to add that oil into the pan before cooking.
If you are concerned about additional calories, try microwaving or using an appliance instead of frying it in oil. There are also ways of cutting off extra fats so your meat will be healthier and can still taste great!
What Are Other Appliances to Cook Bacon?
1). Microwave
In a microwave, bacon can be cooked via two methods: on a plate or in a paper towel. On a plate: For crispier results and less chance of splattering, use metal tongs to break the strip in half and only cook one side at once.
When done, keep bacon warm by covering loosely with foil. In paper towels: Wrap three slices of bacon around thick wooden skewers; place on the microwavable dish (either covered or uncovered).
Using metal tongs, carefully hold the end of the skewer for 5 minutes until browned and crispy. The result is similar to cooking bacon in an oven but cooks faster and more evenly. To avoid burning yourself on splattering oil, wait for all steam to subside before removing the dish from the microwave.
To make bacon in a griddle, “Cooking Instructions” should be followed closely for best results. More information can be found by clicking here.
2). Griddle
Prepare your grill or griddle for medium heat (about 350°F). Place strips of bacon 1 to 2 inches apart, then cook 1 minute per side or until desired doneness is reached. Use metal tongs to turn the bacon over and reduce the chance of burns from splattering grease. Transfer cooked bacon to paper towels to drain, then serve immediately.
For crispier results, brush prepped griddle with oil before cooking each batch of bacon strips. It may take several batches so be sure to let the griddle heat back up in between each one.
3). Convection Oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place bacon strips on a broiler pan or wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet, then bake for 20 minutes or until desired doneness is reached. Use metal tongs to turn the bacon over halfway through cooking time for even crispier results and less chance of burning yourself on splattering grease.
4). Grill
Prepare your grill for medium-high heat (about 400°F). Grill bacon for 14 to 16 minutes or until desired doneness is reached, turning bacon occasionally. Use metal tongs to turn the bacon over and reduce the chance of burns from splattering grease.
Transfer cooked bacon to paper towels to drain, then serve immediately. While grilling, be sure to save the bacon fat for other recipes in your meal or the future. You can find more information about uses for bacon fat below.
5). On the Air Fryer
The Air Fryer is a very popular kitchen appliance and cooks bacon to crispy perfection.
- Lay two slices of paper towels on a microwave-safe plate and cover with 2-3 pieces of bacon, then cover with another set of paper towels and additional 2-3 pieces of bacon. Repeat for one more layer for each slice; you will have triple-stacked bacon.
- Place in an air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 370°F (If your machine has an automatic setting or timer like the Waring Pro, set it to 10 mins).
- Bacon should be fully cooked but still soft to the touch, if it’s too crunchy you can always put it back in for another minute or two.
- Transfer to a plate and enjoy or save for later! Store in an airtight container such as a sealed zip lock bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it safe to put bacon in the toaster oven?
The answer is yes, you can put bacon in the toaster oven. It’s very easy and simple. Just follow our instructions or more of our articles will be helpful.
- What’s the best way to cook bacon in the oven?
It all depends really, you can find some tips here, or check our article that will be helpful for you! How long do you cook bacon wrapped in foil is one of the most common questions when people are looking for how to bake bacon in the oven. It’s very easy and simpler than ever. Just follow our instructions or more of our articles will be helpful.
- Is it possible to bake bacon on a baking sheet?
That’s right, you can bake bacon on a baking sheet also. Of course, it’s much easy and simpler than ever. You just need to follow the instructions or check our article that will be helpful for you.
- How long do you cook thick-cut bacon?
It all depends, check the tips here, or check our article that will be helpful for you! How long do you bake thick-cut bacon is one of the most common questions when people are looking for how to make bacon in the oven. It’s very easy and simpler than ever.
- Can you bake bacon wrapped in foil on a rack?
Yes, that’s right, you can also bake bacon wrapped in foil on a rack. Of course, it’s very easy and simpler than ever. You just need to follow the instructions or check our article that will be helpful for you!
- When you cook bacon in a toaster oven, does the crispy bacon stay crispy?
Yes! The only difference that cooking bacon in toaster oven makes compared to frying it on the stovetop or baking it in an oven is that the grease and fat drain away as it cooks.
Conclusion
Cooking bacon in the toaster oven is a great idea. You can cook it without any oil, and you get crispy pieces of bacon that are less greasy than other methods. The best part? It only takes about 10 minutes!
If you’re interested in this method for cooking bacon in toaster oven, some steps on how to do so will be useful for you. We hope these tips have given you some ideas about what is possible with a little creativity when it comes to cooking delicious bacon!