To make bacon in the oven, follow these steps for perfectly cooked, crispy bacon:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Optionally, you can place a wire rack on top of the foil so the bacon cooks elevated and the fat drips below, but this is not necessary.

3. Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet or rack. Make sure the slices do not overlap to ensure even cooking.

4. Bake the bacon for 12 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness and desired crispiness:

   • About 12-14 minutes for thinner bacon or chewy texture.
   • 16 minutes for crispy bacon.
   • Up to 18-20 minutes for extra crispy or thick-cut bacon. Check the bacon around 10-12 minutes to monitor progress, as oven temperatures and bacon thickness vary.

5. Remove the bacon from the oven when done and transfer the slices to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.

6. Optional: Save the rendered bacon fat by pouring it through a paper towel-lined sieve into a container for future cooking use.

This method is easy, less messy than stovetop frying, and allows you to cook large batches at once without flipping the bacon