Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Place bacon side-by-side on the tray, leaving some space between each piece. Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper, if desired. Bacon may need to be cooked in batches or use two trays.
Place tray in the oven, and cook the bacon for 18-20 minutes or until it has reached desired level of crispness.
Remove the tray from the oven, use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
Notes
Because each oven is slightly different, cook times may vary.
Check bacon after about 10 minutes, and continue to watch until cooked to desired crispness.