Have some leftover bacon from breakfast? Learn how to reheat bacon so you can enjoy your favorite breakfast item for the second time around!
Mornings are never complete without crispy and smoky bacon for breakfast. If you want to try a new way to achieve perfectly crispy bacon, you might want to give this Oven Cooked Bacon Done Right recipe a try. On the other hand, if you love turkey bacon, you can check out this post to discover the different methods to cook it perfectly as well.
However, like any other food, sometimes you will have leftovers. If you are worried because you don’t know what to do with your leftover bacon, this post is here to guide you on how to reheat bacon easily and quickly.
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How to keep bacon warm:
If you’re having some guests over, you’ll be glad to know that there are ways to keep your bacon warm and crispy so you don’t have to reheat it. The best method you can try is by using the oven.
Start by preheating the oven to 200°F. Line your baking sheet with foil before placing a cooling rack on top. Transfer your cooked bacon pieces to the rack, arranging them in a single layer.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and use a folded towel or wooden spoon to keep the oven door slightly ajar. This method will allow your bacon to be crispy and warm without drying out. You can keep this process going for about two hours.
If you want to keep your bacon warm all morning, you can use a slow cooker instead. Simply set your slow cooker to the lowest setting, spray it with cooking spray, and pop your bacon in.
How do you heat up already cooked bacon?
If you end up with leftovers, there are different ways you can try to reheat bacon. You can use an air fryer, the microwave, a skillet, or the oven.
Before you proceed with storing your leftovers, you might want to check out these recipes first. You can use up any leftover bacon to whip up new dishes that the whole family will love with the help of these quick and easy bacon recipes.
- Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Garlic
- Bacon Cheeseburger Flatbread Pizza
- 3 Cheese Bacon Campfire Potatoes
- Maple Bacon Cupcakes
- 15 Crowd Pleaser Bacon Wrapped Appetizers
Useful Kitchen Tools for Reheating Bacon
Before I introduce the best methods on how to reheat bacon, you should check out some of these shopping links. These kitchen essentials will come in handy not only in reheating bacon but in whipping up other awesome recipes as well.
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- Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer
- Cast Iron Skillet Set
- USA Pan Bakeware Half Sheet Baking Pan
- Reynolds Kitchens Pop-Up Parchment Paper Sheets
- Airtight Food Storage Containers
How To Store Cooked Bacon:
First things first, you will only be able to achieve a crispy and delicious leftover bacon after reheating it if you have stored it properly. Like any other food, cooked bacon should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.
To store leftover bacon for four to five days, as soon as it has cooled down, put it in a shallow airtight container or wrap it with aluminum foil tightly before placing it in the fridge.
If you want to prolong the shelf life of your leftover bacon, you can also freeze it. Place your cooled down leftover bacon on a baking sheet in a single layer. Once that is done, cover the sheet with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours.
This step, initially freezing the bacon in a single layer, keeps it from freezing in big clumps!
Once frozen, transfer the bacon strips into an airtight container before freezing again. Your frozen cooked bacon will last in the freezer for up to three months but it’s highly recommended to use it within a month.
How to reheat bacon in the air fryer:
If you have an air fryer, reheating bacon is as easy as pie. This gadget can easily make anything crispy and delicious!
All you have to do is to arrange the bacon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket then heat them for about 4 to 5 minutes at 360°F.
How long to reheat bacon in the microwave?
You can reheat your leftover bacon in the microwave in as little as 45 seconds. Start by adding some paper towels to a microwave safe plate or container then place the bacon strips on top.
Put it in the microwave and let it heat for about 30 to 45 seconds on the highest setting.
Since microwaves have different temperatures, the heating time may vary slightly.
How to reheat bacon in the oven:
Using the oven is best when you have a large amount of leftovers to reheat. For this method, start by preheating your oven to 400°F.
To prevent the bacon from drying out, line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or a silicone mat. Arrange the bacon pieces on top and cover the tray with aluminum foil.
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and wait for about five minutes until you hear the bacon sizzling. Remove it from the oven and serve hot!
Reheating bacon in a skillet:
To reheat bacon on the stove, start by warming up your skillet to about medium heat. Place the leftover bacon strips in the skillet making sure they’re not touching.
Heat one side of the bacon strips for 2 to 3 minutes then flip them up and heat again for another minute or two until crispy. Serve right away.
Looking for more breakfast ideas?
Hopefully, this guide was able to help you learn how to reheat bacon successfully. But aside from having bacon for breakfast, you might also want to give these ideas a try to change up your morning meals a little bit.
These collections of easy breakfast ideas are not only simple to prepare but are family friendly as well!