Cooking bacon to crispy perfection is a culinary quest for many home chefs, and Chowhound has made it clear: the best way to cook bacon is also the easiest. The method is simple: oven-baked bacon.

Why should you cook your bacon in the oven? First off, oven-baking allows you to cook a large batch of bacon at once, without the splattering mess that often comes with pan-frying. Additionally, this method provides consistent, even cooking, so each strip comes out with that ideal balance of chewy center and crispy edges.

To get started, you’ll need a baking sheet and some parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. An oven-safe cooling rack inserted into the baking sheet is optional but recommended if you prefer extra-crispy bacon. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).

Place your bacon strips in a single layer on the baking sheet or on the rack if you’re using one. If you’re concerned about your bacon sticking or want to make cleanup even easier, line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil before placing the bacon on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, depending on how thick your bacon is and how crispy you like it. There’s no need to flip the strips—they’ll cook perfectly on both sides as the hot air circulates around them.

Once done to your liking, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess fat. That’s it! Cooking bacon in the oven is straightforward, hands-off, and yields consistently amazing results every time. No more standing over a hot stove—this method lets you effortlessly achieve bacon nirvana while you focus on preparing other components of your meal.

So next time when someone asks about the best way to cook bacon, tell them that Chowhound has discovered it’s not just simple—it’s perhaps the simplest culinary task one can undertake with guaranteed delicious outcomes. Oven-baked bacon joins convenience and delectability; an approach that has changed many breakfast tables for the better.