Baking Bacon - How To and Tips

Just the title of this post makes me happy. My family loves bacon, even my toddler as a treat. It is true that bacon makes it better, but what I don't like is getting left with the clean up, and figuring out to get rid of the grease.

My mom introduced me to baking my bacon in the oven. And besides having lovely, flat, crisp, slices of bacon as the reward, if done right, you have no mess to clean up at all! Too good to be true, right?

You will need:

• a rimmed baking sheet
• parchment paper
• bacon
• timer
• patience to wait to eat the bacon (toughest part).

1. Preheat the oven to 400℉.
2. Line the rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper - make sure it goes up the sides to trap the bacon grease.
3. Cook 20-25 minutes - without turning to desired crispiness.
4. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.
5. Take a few used paper towels and place on top the parchment paper to soak up the grease and after the pan has COMPLETELY cooled (please do not burn yourself) throw the parchment paper away and you should have a clean pan.

My Mom takes it one more step and places a wire rack on top of the parchment paper so that the grease drips down and away from the bacon. This is probably a healthier option, but one more item to scrub.