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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.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Variations
- Instructions
- Expert Tip
- Recipe FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftovers
- More Bacon Recipes
- Foodie Newsletter
- Recipe Card
- Reviews
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
What if I like my bacon chewy?
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):
Why do people microwave bacon?
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.
Why do you use paper towels?
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.
Do I need a special cooker?
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 the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. 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
- Beef Bacon
- Duck Bacon
- Bacon Chips
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Recipe Card
4.98 from 511 votes
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Crispy Microwave Bacon
Microwaving bacon is the easiest and fastest way to cook it. It comes out wonderfully crispy and evenly cooked.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time4 minutes mins
Total Time9 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 54kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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.
Video
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
Serving: 2slices | Calories: 54kcal | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 231mg
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Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
About the Author
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Nikki Krakauer
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.Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Sounds great, Nikki!
Reply
