How to Pre-Cook Bacon a Day Before Serving

Bacon can be time-consuming -- and messy -- to prepare for a large breakfast or brunch get-together. By precooking the bacon the day before, however, you can serve a large amount, without the hassle of preparing the bacon as your guests arrive. You can add precooked bacon to pasta dishes, casseroles, use it as a topping for soups and salads or tuck it into sandwiches. If you're concerned about your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, choose turkey bacon instead of cured pork bacon. In addition, pick low-sodium brands to keep your sodium intake in check.

Step 1

Cover a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange the raw bacon in a single layer on the foil.

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Step 2

Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven and cook, checking frequently, until the bacon is to your preferred level of brownness and crispness. Pour off any accumulated grease, if needed.

Step 3

Use tongs to place the cooked bacon on a large platter lined with paper towels. Blot any excess grease off of the strips with another paper towel. Allow the bacon to cool.

Step 4

Put the bacon in zip-top plastic bags and store in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, according to guidelines from the USDA.

Things You'll Need

Rimmed baking sheet
Aluminum foil
Raw bacon
Tongs
Large platter
Paper towels
Zip-top plastic bags

Tip

When you're ready to serve precooked bacon the following day, reheat the slices in the microwave.

To precook a larger amount of bacon, use two baking sheets with one positioned in the upper third of the oven and one in the lower third.

Store leftover precooked bacon in the refrigerator for up to five days at 40 F or less, or up to three months in the freezer at 0 F or colder.

Warning

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine cautions that the more processed meats like bacon you consume regularly, the higher your risk of chronic diseases like cancer or diabetes. Limit how often you eat bacon and keep your portion sizes small.

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