Bacon in the oven is the easiest way to cook a whole pound at once. The strips lie flat, they cook side by side at the same pace, and nothing spits at you across the stove. For breakfast tacos, a pot of frijoles charros or a tray of BLTs, it frees the burners for everything else.
The pan matters more than most people expect, though. Bacon gives off a lot of fat, so the rim has to be tall enough to hold it, the pan has to stay flat when that fat gets hot, and a rack has to survive the oven temperature you cook at. This guide looks only at rimmed sheet pans and pan-and-rack sets suited to that job, and says plainly where a maker leaves a detail out.
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Quick verdict: which pan to buy for oven bacon
For most kitchens, the Nordic Ware Half Sheet with Nonstick Grid is the one to buy: an aluminum half sheet with a nesting nonstick grid, sold with bacon in mind, and a 400°F recommendation from Nordic Ware that matches the usual bacon temperature. If you cook thick-cut bacon or big batches and worry about fat near the rim, choose the Nordic Ware Naturals High-Sided Half Sheet with rack, an uncoated set rated to 500°F. If you want all stainless steel, the Wildone Stainless Steel Baking Sheet and Rack Set gives you two uncoated pans and racks, though it does not state an oven limit.
Below, five of the seven picks side by side, then each one in full.
Five bacon pans side by side
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of cook, with the details each maker or listing states. All seven pans are reviewed in full below.
| Pan | Best for | Pan & rack | Oven limit (per maker) | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nordic Ware Half Sheet with Nonstick GridBest overall
|
Everyday oven bacon | Aluminum pan, nonstick steel grid | Grid: 400°F (Nordic Ware) | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Naturals High-Sided Half Sheet with RackBest for thick-cut
|
Thick-cut, lots of fat | Uncoated aluminum pan and rack | 500°F, broiler safe | View on Amazon |
![Baking Sheet with Rack Set [2 Pans + 2 Racks]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wCIj9zgSL._SL500_.jpg)
Wildone Stainless Steel Baking Sheet and Rack Set, 2 Pans + 2 RacksBest for two batches
|
Two batches, no coatings | 18/0 stainless pans and racks | Not stated | View on Amazon |
USA Pan Half Sheet Pan and Bakeable Rack SetBest coated set
|
Easy release and cleanup | Aluminized steel, silicone coating | 450°F | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Naturals Quarter Sheet with Nonstick GridBest for small batches
|
A few strips, small ovens | Aluminum pan, nonstick steel grid | Grid: 400°F (Nordic Ware) | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Temperature limits are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best baking sheet bacon setup
Every pick here is a rimmed pan sold with a rack that nests inside it, because that pairing is what oven bacon needs: the rim holds the fat and the rack lifts the strips out of it. We chose sets rather than repeating the single pans on our best baking sheets page or the loose racks on our best cooling rack page, and where a brand appears on those pages too, the product here is a different, matched set.
1. Nordic Ware Half Sheet with Nonstick Grid – A Pan and Rack Sold for Bacon
Nordic Ware sells this two-piece set with this job in mind. Its listing names crisping bacon first among the uses, and describes the setup the way a cook would: the natural aluminum half sheet catches the drippings while a nesting nonstick steel grid lifts the food so air circulates underneath. Used apart, the pan bakes and the grid cools.
The cooking surface is 17.1 by 12.1 inches, a standard half-sheet footprint that fits most full-size home ovens and gives a typical package of regular-cut bacon room to lie flat. The pan is about 1 inch deep outside, and the grid measures 16.9 by 11.5 inches. Nordic Ware’s own answers for its oven-safe nonstick grid give a 400°F maximum recommendation, so the common 400°F bacon setting sits right at the limit. Set the oven at 400°F or a little below.
Care is where you need to follow the maker. This listing gives no cleaning instructions, but Nordic Ware says to hand wash its bare aluminum crisping tray, and warns that aluminum reacts with acidic ingredients such as vinegar and tomato, which can darken or pit the pan over time. That matters less for bacon than for a tray of roasted tomatoes, but it is worth knowing before you use it for salsa roja ingredients too.
The set is made in the United States of domestic and imported materials, according to the listing, which also gives a lifetime warranty.
Why we like it
- Sold as a matched pan and grid, with bacon named as a use
- 17.1 x 12.1-inch cooking surface, a full half sheet
- Lifetime warranty, per the listing
- Grid lifts food so air circulates underneath, per the maker
- Made in the USA of domestic and imported materials
Key specifications
| Model | 43172AMZM |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Natural aluminum, uncoated |
| Rack | Steel grid with nonstick coating |
| Size | 17.1 x 12.1-inch cooking surface |
| Rim depth | About 1 inch (outside) |
| Oven limit | Grid 400°F (Nordic Ware) |
| Cleaning | Not stated; hand washing advised |
| Made in | USA, domestic and imported materials |
Why we recommend it
It is the most straightforward answer to the question: a half sheet and a grid made to nest together, from a maker that sells them for bacon and publishes a temperature recommendation at the usual bacon setting. For a household that cooks a pound at a time on weekends, it covers the job without extras.
Skip it if you want to put everything in the dishwasher or finish bacon under the broiler; hand washing is the safe choice, and the coated grid is the part to protect from very high heat.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Pan and grid sold as a fitted pair
- Published 400°F grid limit
- Standard half-sheet size
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Hand washing advised
- Grid limit sits at the usual bacon setting
- Bare aluminum reacts with acidic foods
2. Nordic Ware Naturals High-Sided Half Sheet with Rack – Deeper Walls for Rendered Fat
A pound of thick-cut bacon can leave a surprising amount of liquid fat in the pan, and a standard one-inch rim is the part of a sheet pan that limits how much you can cook at once. This set answers that with a high-sided half sheet, sold with Nordic Ware’s multi-purpose oven and cooling rack.
Both pieces are uncoated aluminum, which Nordic Ware describes as naturally nonstick without added coatings. That has a practical upside for bacon: the maker rates the set to 500°F and says it is safe for broiling, so you can push the heat up at the end without worrying about a coated rack. The rack has a grid pattern with diagonal stiffening ribs and cut-out corners for lifting, and the listing says it holds small foods without letting them fall through.
Nordic Ware does not give the wall height for this uncoated set in the listing. Its coated high-sided half sheet is listed at about 2 inches deep, so expect something in that range, but measure your oven rack spacing if you plan to stack pans.
Like the half sheet with grid above, it is made in the United States of domestic and imported materials.
Why we like it
- High-sided half sheet holds more rendered fat
- Uncoated aluminum pan and rack, per Nordic Ware
- Rated to 500°F and broiler safe
- Ribbed grid with cut-out corners for lifting
Key specifications
| Model | 44730AMZM |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Uncoated aluminum |
| Rack | Uncoated aluminum grid |
| Size | Half sheet (exact dimensions not stated) |
| Rim depth | High-sided; exact height not stated |
| Oven limit | 500°F, broiler safe |
| Cleaning | Not stated |
| Made in | USA, domestic and imported materials |
Why we recommend it
If you cook thick-cut bacon, cook more than a pound at a time, or like to finish strips under the broiler, the deeper pan and the uncoated, higher-rated rack make this the safer choice. It doubles as a roasting pan for a chicken or a tray of carnitas.
Skip it if your oven is small or you want exact measurements before buying, because the listing leaves the dimensions and care instructions out.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deeper walls than a standard half sheet
- No coatings on pan or rack
- 500°F and broiler safe
Cons
- Exact size and wall height not stated
- Care instructions not in the listing
- Bare aluminum discolors with use
3. USA Pan Half Sheet Pan and Bakeable Rack Set – Silicone-Coated, Easy Release
USA Pan’s set pairs its corrugated half sheet with a bakeable cooling rack, both in heavy-gauge aluminized steel with the maker’s Americoat coating. USA Pan describes Americoat as a proprietary silicone coating that is free of PTFE, PFOA and BPA, and says it gives easy release and easy cleanup.
For bacon, the coating’s main benefit is on the rack, where fat bakes onto the wires. A coated rack wipes clean far more easily than bare wire. The trade-off is the temperature limit: USA Pan rates both pieces to 450°F, comfortably above a 400°F bacon setting but not a set for the broiler. The rack has a crosswire design and six raised feet.
Dimensions are given in full: the outer pan measures 17.75 by 12.75 by 1 inch, the baking area 17.25 by 12.25 inches, and the rack 16.75 by 11.5 by 0.5 inches. The sheet pan is made in the USA and the rack is imported. USA Pan’s instructions are to wash with hot water, mild soap and a gentle sponge.
Why we like it
- Silicone-based coating stated to be PTFE-, PFOA- and BPA-free
- Coated rack is easier to clean after bacon
- Full dimensions published for pan and rack
- Both pieces rated to 450°F
- Pan made in the USA; limited lifetime warranty
Key specifications
| Model | 1606CR |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Aluminized steel, Americoat silicone coating |
| Rack | Aluminized steel, Americoat coating, six feet |
| Size | 17.75 x 12.75-inch pan; 16.75 x 11.5-inch rack |
| Rim depth | 1 inch |
| Oven limit | 450°F |
| Cleaning | Hot water, mild soap, gentle sponge |
| Made in | Pan USA; rack imported |
Why we recommend it
If scrubbing a greasy rack is the reason you have avoided oven bacon, this coated set is the easiest of the group to clean, and USA Pan is clear about what the coating is and what it is not.
Skip it if you want to broil, cut on the pan or use steel wool; the coating sets a 450°F ceiling and needs gentle cleaning.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easiest rack to clean
- Coating type stated by the maker
- Complete published dimensions
Cons
- 450°F limit, not for broiling
- One-inch rim limits big batches
- Coating needs gentle tools
4. Nordic Ware Naturals Quarter Sheet with Nonstick Grid – Sized for a Few Strips
Not every breakfast needs a pound of bacon. This is Nordic Ware’s natural aluminum quarter sheet with a nesting nonstick steel grid, and the maker pitches the quarter size at one or two personal-sized meals, which is about right for four to six strips.
The pan measures 12.9 by 9.6 by 1.1 inches outside, with an interior of 12.2 by 8.8 inches. That smaller footprint is the main reason to choose it: it heats faster in a full oven, fits a larger countertop oven, and leaves room on the rack beside it for a tray of potatoes or a pan of chilaquiles. Check your countertop oven’s interior before you count on that, since Nordic Ware does not list compatible models.
Watch the grid’s limit. Nordic Ware’s own answers for its oven-safe nonstick grid give a 400°F maximum recommendation, so set the oven at 400°F or a little below rather than higher. The pan itself is uncoated aluminum, made in the United States of domestic and imported materials, and the listing gives a lifetime limited warranty.
Why we like it
- Quarter-sheet size for a few strips at a time
- Grid nests inside the pan
- Full outside and inside dimensions published
- Lifetime limited warranty, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 45383 |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Natural aluminum, uncoated |
| Rack | Steel grid with nonstick coating |
| Size | 12.9 x 9.6 inches outside; 12.2 x 8.8 inside |
| Rim depth | 1.1 inches (outside) |
| Oven limit | Grid 400°F (Nordic Ware); pan not stated |
| Cleaning | Not stated |
| Made in | USA, domestic and imported materials |
Why we recommend it
For one or two people, a half sheet is more pan than the job needs, and this quarter set is the simplest way to cook a few strips without heating and washing a big tray.
Skip it if you like your bacon cooked hotter than 400°F or you regularly feed a family; the grid’s limit and the size work against both.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Small, quick to heat and wash
- Fits beside another pan in the oven
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Grid limited to 400°F
- Only a few strips per batch
5. Wildone Stainless Steel Baking Sheet and Rack Set, 2 Pans + 2 Racks – Two Batches at Once
Cooking bacon for a crowd usually means two trays in the oven at the same time. Wildone sells its stainless set as two 18 by 13 by 1-inch sheets and two racks of 16.5 by 11.5 by 0.6 inches, so you get both trays and both racks in one box.
Everything is 18/0 stainless steel with no chemical coating, according to the listing, and the racks are described as fully welded. Wildone says both pieces are dishwasher safe and that the sheets have a mirror finish and rolled edges. The listing calls the sides deep and full, though at one inch they are the standard sheet-pan height rather than extra deep.
Wildone does not state a maximum oven temperature or where the set is made. There is no coating to limit it, but without a stated figure keep to normal bacon temperatures and avoid the broiler. The listing also gives no thickness or gauge for the sheets.
Why we like it
- Two half-size pans and two racks in one set
- 18/0 stainless steel with no coating, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Fully welded racks
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Pan material | 18/0 stainless steel, uncoated |
| Rack | 18/0 stainless steel, welded |
| Size | 18 x 13-inch pans; 16.5 x 11.5-inch racks |
| Rim depth | 1 inch |
| Oven limit | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
For a weekend brunch or a big batch of breakfast tacos, two matched trays mean everything comes out at once, and an all-stainless, dishwasher-safe set keeps cleanup simple.
Skip it if you want a stated temperature limit, a known pan gauge or a brand with published care instructions beyond the listing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two pans and two racks
- No coatings
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- No temperature limit stated
- Pan thickness not stated
- Country of manufacture not stated
6. Checkered Chef Baking Sheet and Cooling Rack Set – A Matched Dishwasher-Safe Pair
Checkered Chef’s set is one 18 by 13-inch aluminum sheet and one 17 by 12-inch stainless steel wire rack, sold as a matched pair that fits inside the pan. Our cooling rack guide recommends the brand’s racks on their own; this listing adds the pan, which is what oven bacon needs.
The listing describes the pan as heavy-gauge aluminum and the rack as sturdy cross-wire stainless steel that supports heavy roasts without sagging. Unlike most bare-aluminum pans, Checkered Chef says both the pan and the rack are dishwasher safe. Nordic Ware, by contrast, tells owners to hand wash its bare aluminum crisping tray, so if the pan’s finish matters to you, hand washing the aluminum and sending only the stainless rack through the dishwasher is the cautious route.
The listing gives no maximum oven temperature, rim depth or country of manufacture. Neither piece is coated, so there is no coating limit to worry about, but without a stated figure keep to normal bacon temperatures.
Why we like it
- Aluminum pan and stainless rack sold as one matched pair
- Rack built with cross-wire construction, per the listing
- Both pieces dishwasher safe, per the listing
- No coatings on either piece
Key specifications
| Model | 14187930 |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Heavy-gauge aluminum, uncoated |
| Rack | Stainless steel cross-wire |
| Size | 18 x 13-inch pan; 17 x 12-inch rack |
| Rim depth | Not stated |
| Oven limit | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It is a plain, uncoated pan-and-rack pair for cooks who want a stainless rack they can put in the dishwasher after every batch of bacon.
Skip it if you need a stated temperature limit before you trust a pan at 400°F and above.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stainless rack, no coating
- Pan and rack sized to fit together
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Cons
- No temperature limit stated
- Pan depth not stated
- Only one pan and one rack
7. GoodCook Nonstick Carbon Steel Pan and Raised Rack, 15 x 10.5-inch – A Rack That Locks in Place
GoodCook’s set is a little smaller than a half sheet, at 15 by 10.5 inches, and its listing names crispy bacon among its uses. The detail that sets it apart is the rack: GoodCook says there is a rim inside the pan that holds the raised rack in place, so it does not slide around when you pull the tray out with a pound of hot fat underneath.
The pan is carbon steel with what GoodCook calls a PFOA-free nonstick coating; the listing does not say what the coating is made of. Read the two temperature limits before you set the oven. The pan is rated to 450°F but the rack only to 410°F, so 400°F is the highest sensible setting with the rack in place.
GoodCook says both pieces are dishwasher safe, and the set comes with the maker’s lifetime guarantee. The listing does not state a rim depth or where the set is made.
Why we like it
- Inner rim holds the rack in place, per GoodCook
- Bacon named as a use in the listing
- Both pieces dishwasher safe
- Lifetime guarantee, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 04139 |
|---|---|
| Pan material | Carbon steel, PFOA-free nonstick (type not stated) |
| Rack | Raised wire rack (finish not stated) |
| Size | 15 x 10.5 inches |
| Rim depth | Not stated |
| Oven limit | Pan 450°F; rack 410°F |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
For a smaller household, or an oven where a full half sheet is a tight fit, this is a compact coated set whose rack stays put, which is the part that makes moving a tray of hot fat less nervy.
Skip it if you cook above 400°F or want to know exactly what the nonstick coating is; GoodCook states only that it is PFOA-free.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Rack locks into the pan
- Dishwasher safe
- Compact for smaller ovens
Cons
- Rack limited to 410°F
- Coating type not stated
- Smaller than a half sheet
How to choose a sheet pan for bacon
A pan that is fine for cookies can be the wrong pan for bacon. Five things decide whether it suits the job.
1. A rim that holds the fat
Flat cookie sheets with one raised lip are out: rendered fat runs straight off the open edges onto the oven floor, where it smokes. Use a rimmed half sheet at the very least. A standard one-inch rim is enough for a pound of regular-cut bacon; for thick-cut or two pounds on one tray, a high-sided pan such as the Nordic Ware Naturals set gives you more margin.
2. A rack, or no rack
A rack holds the strips above the fat, so they crisp on both sides without turning and come out less greasy. Cooking straight on the pan, which many cooks prefer for chewier bacon, needs no rack but does need parchment or foil if you want easy cleanup. Every set here includes a rack, so you can do either.
3. The temperature limit of the rack
This is the detail most buyers miss. Bacon is usually cooked at around 400°F, and some coated racks are rated barely above that: GoodCook’s rack is rated to 410°F and Nordic Ware gives 400°F for its nonstick grid. Uncoated aluminum and stainless racks have higher limits or no coating to worry about. If you want to finish under the broiler, choose the uncoated Nordic Ware high-sided set (500°F, broiler safe).
4. Material and flatness
Aluminum heats fast and evenly but reacts with acidic food and dulls over time. Aluminized steel with a coating, like USA Pan’s, releases easily but needs gentle cleaning. Tri-ply stainless is the heaviest and the most resistant to warping. Whatever the material, the pan has to stay flat: a pan that twists in the oven sends all the fat to one corner, where it can spill when you lift it.
5. Size and your oven
A half sheet, about 18 by 13 inches, fits most full-size home ovens and gives a typical package of bacon room to lie flat. Check the overall size with handles, though, since some pans run longer than their cooking surface. Quarter sheets and the GoodCook’s 15 by 10.5 inches suit small ovens and small households.
How we picked these seven bacon pans
We started with what a kitchen needs from a bacon pan: a rimmed sheet that holds rendered fat, a rack that fits inside it, a stated temperature limit, and a material that cleans up after grease. We looked only at pan-and-rack sets sold on Amazon in the United States and in stock when we checked, and avoided repeating the single sheets on our baking sheets and baking sheet set pages and the standalone racks on our cooling rack page. Specifications come from each brand’s Amazon listing and, where a maker publishes more, from the maker’s own pages; each review says when a detail is not stated. We left out sets from sellers with no identifiable brand, sets whose listings disagreed with their photos, and near-identical stainless sets from different sellers. We have not cooked on every set here; where we describe how a material behaves, it comes from the maker’s own statements.
Oven bacon, start to finish
- Line the pan with foil or parchment under the rack if you want the easiest cleanup. It catches the fat so the pan needs little more than a rinse.
- Lay the strips flat on the rack in a single layer. They can touch, because bacon shrinks as it cooks, but should not overlap.
- Start in a hot oven at around 400°F, kept within the rack’s rated limit. Cooking time depends on thickness and on your oven, so check early and pull the pan when the strips are as crisp as you like them.
- Lift the pan out level with both hands and oven mitts. The fat is very hot and moves to whichever side you tilt.
- Drain the strips on paper towels and let the fat in the pan cool before you deal with it.
Keep the fat out of the sink. The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department asks residents to pour cooled cooking grease into a container with a lid, let it harden and put it in the trash, because grease that cools in sewer pipes causes clogs and overflows. Many cooks keep some for frying beans or tortillas instead; strain it and keep it in the refrigerator.
Bacon pan questions, answered
What is the best baking sheet for bacon?
A rimmed half sheet with a rack that fits inside it. The Nordic Ware half sheet with nonstick grid is the simplest choice, the high-sided Nordic Ware Naturals set suits thick-cut and big batches, and the Wildone stainless pair suits cooks who want no coatings.
Do you need a rack to bake bacon?
No, but it changes the result. On a rack the strips crisp on both sides and sit out of the fat; flat on the pan they cook in their own fat and come out chewier and a little greasier. Cooking flat works best on parchment, turning once.
Can you cook bacon on a nonstick rack at 425°F?
Only if its maker rates it that high. Nordic Ware gives its nonstick grid a 400°F recommendation and GoodCook’s rack is rated to 410°F, so neither of those qualifies. When in doubt, cook at 400°F or choose an uncoated or stainless rack.
Is foil or parchment better under bacon?
Either works under the rack to catch fat. Parchment has its own temperature limit printed on the box, so check it before cooking above 400°F; foil has no such limit. Neither should touch the oven’s heating element.
What is the best way to clean a greasy bacon rack?
Soak it in hot, soapy water while it is still warm, then scrub with a brush rather than steel wool if it is coated. Stainless racks can take a firmer scrub. Follow the maker’s instructions: Nordic Ware says hand wash for its bare aluminum crisping tray, while Checkered Chef, Wildone and GoodCook say their sets are dishwasher safe.
Our last word on bacon pans
Buy the Nordic Ware half sheet with nonstick grid if you want a pan and rack made for bacon at the usual 400°F. Choose the high-sided Nordic Ware Naturals set for thick-cut and big batches, the Wildone pair if you want all stainless, and the USA Pan set if an easy-clean coated rack matters most. Whichever you choose, check the rack’s temperature limit before you set the oven.
Related guide: Best microwave bacon tray.
For sheet pans without a rack, see our guide to the best baking sheets; for bacon with a purpose, our guide to charro beans versus refried beans explains the pot where bacon matters most. And if you would rather someone else did the cooking, see the menu or call to order.