Yes, you can cook bacon in the microwave! It's actually one of the easiest ways to cook it. As long as you follow a few simple instructions, your bacon will come out wonderfully crispy and evenly cooked. And you don't need a special cooker!
This bacon is absolutely amazing. I resisted the idea for a long time, thinking it couldn't possibly be as good as pan-fried or oven bacon. Happily, I was wrong! Using the microwave to cook bacon is just as good as using the oven or a frypan. The bacon cooks evenly and comes out perfectly crispy. And it's a fast method - faster and easier than any other.
Ingredients
This recipe requires only one ingredient: a package of bacon. My instructions work best with medium-thickness, medium-width slices.
Variations
The best way to vary this recipe is to season the bacon slices before cooking them. You can sprinkle them, for example, with a bit of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika.
But I usually don't bother. Bacon is so inherently flavorful that I don't feel it needs any extra help. And if you use spices, there's always the risk that they'll burn.
Instructions
Cooking bacon in the microwave is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here's an overview of the steps:
Your first step is to place the bacon slices on a microwave-safe plate lined with paper towels. Make sure the slices don't overlap.
Next, cover the strips with more paper towels. This is important - it will prevent splatters.
Microwave the bacon on high until crispy. In my microwave (1000 watts), it takes four minutes for four slices of bacon.
Be careful when removing the plate from the microwave! It will be very hot. Use the edges of the paper towels to hold it, or use oven mitts. Be sure to quickly remove the bacon slices from the paper towels, as they tend to stick to them.
Expert Tip
Start checking the bacon after three minutes. Bacon types (thickness, wideness, and fat content) vary greatly, and so do microwave ovens. You can always add another minute if needed.
For example, when I used narrow bacon slices, the bacon shrunk quickly in the microwave. This is what it looked like after just three minutes (for four slices)! It was very crispy. It would likely have burned if I had microwaved it for the entire four minutes.
Recipe FAQs
No problem! My daughter prefers hers chewy, so when I make it for her, I simply cook it for a shorter time.
I suggest you start with two minutes for four slices, check the bacon, and add one more minute if needed. But please ensure the bacon is fully cooked.
These slices were wide, so I microwaved them three at a time. They were soft and chewy after two minutes (top image) and crispy after three minutes (bottom image):
It's the fastest way to cook it - faster than pan-frying or baking. It saves you the trouble of cleaning a skillet or a baking sheet. And if you like your bacon crispy, it's also a reliable way to achieve that.
The paper towels are a must. The bottom layer soaks up quite a bit of the rendered fat, which helps ensure the bacon turns out crispy. The top layer is also essential, as it prevents splatters.
Of course, there's a drawback. Unlike pan-frying or baking, this method doesn't produce delicious bacon grease that can be later used in cooking. In addition, because the paper towels soak up the fat, microwave bacon is dryer than baked or pan-fried.
No. There are special microwave cookers on the market, but they are unnecessary. The paper towels achieve the same goal as those special cookers - draining the rendered fat and preventing splatters.
Serving Suggestions
You can use this bacon like any other bacon! It's an obvious breakfast choice, and I often make life super easy by serving it with microwave scrambled eggs, as shown in the photo below.
Microwave bacon is also excellent in lettuce wrap sandwiches. It makes a great burger topping - check out this bacon burger recipe. And you can chop it and add it to salads like this arugula salad, as shown in the image below:
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Once they are cool, I store them in a resealable food storage bag, as shown in the photo below.
Reheat the leftovers gently, covered in a paper towel, in the microwave. Or enjoy them cold! Cooked bacon is surprisingly delicious when served cold.
More Bacon Recipes
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Recipe Card
Crispy Microwave Bacon
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bacon - 1 package, 8 medium-thickness slices
Instructions
- Place two paper towels on a microwave-safe dinner plate.
- Arrange four slices of bacon on the paper towels, not touching each other.
- Place two more paper towels on top of the bacon slices.
- Microwave the bacon on high until crispy. In my microwave (1000 watts), it takes 4 minutes. However, it's a good idea to check after three minutes.
- Remove the plate carefully from the microwave. It will be very hot. Use the edges of the paper towels to hold it, or use oven mitts. Remove the bacon slices from the paper towels quickly, or they will stick to them.
- Repeat with the four remaining slices. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Start checking the bacon after three minutes. Bacon types (thickness, wideness, and fat content) vary greatly, and so do microwave ovens. You can always add another minute if needed. For example, when I used narrow bacon slices, the bacon shrunk quickly in the microwave. It was very crispy after just three minutes. It would likely have burned if I had microwaved it for the entire four minutes.
- If you like your bacon chewy, I suggest you start with two minutes for four slices, check the bacon, and add one more minute if needed. But please ensure the bacon is fully cooked.
- You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. I store them in a resealable food storage bag. Reheat the leftovers gently, covered in a paper towel, in the microwave. Or enjoy them cold! Cooked bacon is surprisingly delicious when served cold.
Nutrition per Serving
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Kevin says
This worked way better than I expected. The bacon came out very crispy, not burnt, and the clean up was so much easier.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Glad it worked, Kevin! Thanks for the review.
Albert Theobald says
The recipe shown is for streaky bacon, can back bacon also be cooked in a microwave satisfactorily.?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Albert,
Back bacon is lean. I don't think you can successfully cook it in the microwave.
Annette says
Perfect for when I decide to upgrade my cheeseburger at the last minute. The bacon comes out great.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Yay! I'm so glad you like this recipe, Annette. Thanks for the comment!
Anne says
Believe it or not, I ‘learned’ the microwave bacon trick from Prince Harry, c/o Queen Elizabeth’s royal chef. The story was, one day the little boy, unhappy with a limp rasher, walked into the royal kitchen, and asked to show the chef how to perfectly crisp the bacon. Not one to deny a royal family member, the chef acquiesced, and Harry put several raw strips in the microwave. Minutes later, every piece was perfectly crisp yet still almost nearly flat. After learning this, I tried his technique. Low and behold! Sometimes I still use my cast iron for bacon, but it’s usually because I want to save the valuable highly-flavored bacon fat to use for subsequent dishes, plus the fat aids in seasoning the iron skillet.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Great story, Anne! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Carol says
Easy as can be, crispy, flavorful.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Glad you liked it, Carol! Thanks for the comment.
Heidi Lynn Huber says
Can you layer bacon / paper towel / bacon if you want to cook a lot?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Great question, Heidi! Sadly, I don't think this would work. When I want to make a larger amount, I make oven bacon. You can also make a few microwave batches and keep the ones that are ready in a warm (170°F to 200°F) oven while you make more batches.
Sandra says
Delish and easy to do in the Microwave but is it ok to eat regular bacon instead of Turkey bacon?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Sandra,
I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe!
What type of bacon to eat is a personal decision. 🙂
Nikki Krakauer says
I weave my bacon since I usually only use it in sandwiches. I cut the package in half vertically to fit a slice of bread. Then, I use six half slices, weave them, and cook. I do the whole package in the microwave, one weave at a time. If storing, I place a weave on parchment paper, put another on top, then put them into a Ziploc gallon bag, flat. Store in the fridge or freezer. The package is thin enough to slide on top of other frozen foods.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Sounds great, Nikki!