I tried this method today with some pastured bacon, and I gotta say, it’s a game changer! Unless I’m cooking over a fire, I will never go back to frying!
It’s best to use some kind of cast iron cooking device that has sides at least one inch high, to prevent spilling the grease that is rendered.
Finding High Quality, Pasture Raised Meat
I used some fantastic quality bacon from Buy Ranch Direct, which I picked up at Fermentation Farm in southern California. They ship and also have pickup locations across the western U.S.
Looking for local pastured animal products in the U.S. and Canada? Try the EatWild site. On browsing, it looked like some entries were out of date on that site, but it’s a good starting point. Also, Local Harvest is a great resource.
Oven Baked Bacon
Equipment
- 1 10" or larger sized cast iron skillet, griddle or Dutch oven
Ingredients
- Pasture raised bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C.
- Lay thawed bacon strips in one layer in the skillet or dutch oven. No need to leave a lot of room between strips; they will shrink significantly.
- Bake uncovered in oven 15 (less crispy) to 18 (more crispy) minutes, turning pan once halfway through. Keep an eye on it those last few minutes, as some ovens vary in temperature.
- Remove bacon from pan and enjoy!
- Reserve bacon grease for another purpose, or render into lard. Let skillet cool slightly and then pour into a metal or glass container and seal tightly. Store fat in refrigerator up to a week, or freeze for longer.
What bacon magic tips do YOU have, Fermenters? Please share below!
Inspired by the Cook’s Illustrated concept (but I changed just about everything they did!)
