Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, extending it up the sides to catch grease. Optionally place a wire rack on top for better airflow and crispier bacon. Lay strips in a single layer — close but not overlapping. No oil or extra seasoning needed.

Set oven to 400°F. You can start bacon in a cold oven as it preheats, or wait until fully preheated — both work. Use an external thermometer if your oven runs inaccurate. Start checking at 14–15 minutes. Thin-cut: 10–14 min. Standard-cut: 15–20 min. Thick-cut: 20–22 min. No need to flip. Check every couple of minutes after the first check — overdone happens fast. Pull bacon just before it looks done; it keeps cooking for a minute or two off the heat.

Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate immediately. Rest for at least a few minutes — it keeps crisping as it cools. Don't skip this; slightly underdone bacon on the pan often hits perfect crispiness after resting. To save the fat, let it cool on the foil for ~10 minutes until liquid but not dangerously hot, then pour into a heat-safe jar. Pull bacon slightly early — it finishes cooking off the heat and can go from perfect to overdone fast.