5 Secrets To Perfectly Crisp Bacon Every Time

1. Make cleanup easy by lining your baking sheet or baking dish with aluminum foil. That way you can fully enjoy your bacon without worry about washing dishes!

(Credit: Flickr/Meal Makeover Moms)

2. Don't stretch the bacon. We know we're being picky, but the bacon needs some room to breathe. Place it on the baking sheet gently, letting it lay naturally. 

(Credit: Flickr/Geoffrey Gilmour-Taylor)

3. Don't preheat the oven. As strange as it sounds, place your tray of bacon into a cold oven and close the door. Once the bacon is in the oven, turn the temperature to 400 degrees.

(Credit: Flickr/Jennifer)

4. Be patient. Oven-baked bacon takes time, but is well worth the wait. The exact cook time will depend on the thickness of the bacon but, using this method, you'll have to wait approximately 20 minutes for your bacon to cook. You'll know it's done when it's golden brown and not overly crisp. It will crisp up further even after you take it out of the oven.

(Credit: Flickr/Val D'Aquila)

5. Know when to use paper towels. Most people put the finished bacon on paper towels to absorb the excess fat. This is ok if your bacon is wavy but, if it cooked up much flatter, drain it on a wire cooling rack set over a second aluminum foil-lined baking sheet instead; lots of contact between the bacon and paper towel can trap steam and make the bacon soggy.

(Credit: Flickr/Didriks)

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.