Bake-Ahead Bacon - Eckert's (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook bacon ahead of time for a party? ›

Bacon can be baked 3 to 4 days ahead of time. When ready to use, wrap a few bacon slices in a fresh paper towel and re-warm bacon in microwave for approximately 10 seconds just before serving.

To precook bacon for later use, start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, then lay out the bacon strips side by side on the sheet. Let each new strip overlap about half of the previous strip. Bake the strips for 20 to 25 minutes.

Don't fret! Instead, turn to the oven to keep those tantalizing strips crunchy and warm. Whether you prefer to microwave, pan-fry, or bake your bacon, the oven will allow you to keep your bacon crispy for up to a few hours. Set the temperature to 200ºF and center a baking rack.

I cook a batch or two of bacon in my home kitchen and then stash it in our camper fridge so we can easily enjoy it when we are traveling.

Don't bother with racks, crimped foil, or stacked baking sheets; just lay out your bacon strips on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them in a 425°F (220°C) oven until they're as crisp as you like (about 20 minutes was right for me). Drain on paper towels, and you've got a big pile of perfectly cooked bacon on your hands.

Bacon should be cooked at 400°F.

Medium-thick bacon slices will need 18 to 20 minutes to reach the perfect level of crispiness. But check the bacon at 10 minutes, and adjust your cooking time to your preferred degree of doneness.

Shake off any loose flour and lay the strips on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan in a single layer (if you need to stack the bacon, lay parchment between each layer), cover the pan with beeswax wrap or a final layer of parchment, and refrigerate overnight.

Fully cooked, cold bacon is fine. Just as long as it hasn't been sitting out for an extended period.

Using foil retains some of the fat/moisture which will prevent your bacon from drying out. Empty grease before making more batches. Flip the bacon slices half way through. Space bacon out so there is room for the air to circulate.

Place a few layers of paper towels on a microwave-safe plate. Arrange the leftover bacon on the paper towels. Cover the bacon with another layer of paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Microwave the bacon on medium power for 20-30 seconds per slice until heated.

How much bacon do I need for 40 people? ›

Plan for about 1 pound of bacon for every 3 to 4 people, and know that you can fit about a pound of bacon on a half-sheet pan (a.k.a. about the size of your garden-variety cookie sheet).

Yes, when you have a lot to make, cooking bacon in advance is a good idea. I would cook the bacon just until it starts to get crisp. That way when it comes time to reheat it you can reheat it until it's just crisp.

Place both baking sheets in oven and bake until crisp and browned, about 18-20 minutes. Make sure and rotate the pans halfway through the baking process. Remove from oven and transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve immediately or freeze ahead for later.

HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^® fully cooked bacon is ready to eat right out of the package.

Make-Ahead and Storage

You can grill it, place it in a pan and cook over low heat until hot or place back in the oven at 350° for 2 to 3 minutes or until hot. Make-Ahead: You can make bacon up to 1 day ahead of time. Reheat and drain before serving.

You can store raw, opened bacon in its original package, backed up with a large zip-top bag or a few layers of aluminum foil. You can also store bacon in an airtight container for up to a week. Store cooked bacon in an airtight container, immediately after use, for four to five days.

You can keep bacon in the refrigerator at 40 ºF or below for one week. Bacon can also be frozen at 0 ºF for four months (for best quality). For more information about bacon and storage of other bacon products, go to Bacon and Food Safety.