Sheet Pan Oven Bacon

Ingredients

• 1 lb sliced bacon (about 16 regular-cut strips)

Before you cook

• Line a rimmed 18-by-13-inch sheet pan with heavy-duty foil, pressing it into the corners.
• Separate the bacon strips.

Steps

1. Arrange the bacon strips on the lined sheet pan in a single layer, with the edges just barely touching.
2. Slide the pan into a cold oven on the middle rack.
3. Turn the oven to 400°F and set a timer for 17 minutes.
4. Check the bacon at 17 minutes; the strips should be sizzling in a shallow pool of fat and browning at the edges.
5. Continue baking in 2-minute increments until the bacon is as dark as you like it, up to about 22 minutes total for regular-cut.
6. Pull the pan out and set it on a trivet.
7. Lift the strips with tongs onto a paper-towel-lined platter and let them stand 2 minutes to firm up.
8. Let the fat on the pan cool for 10 minutes, then pour it through a fine strainer into a jar and refrigerate it for cooking potatoes and greens.