How To Cook Bacon In The Microwave

Need just a few pieces of bacon for a BLT or a salad? If you’re in a hurry, the microwave is one of the easiest ways to cook bacon. We love this method because it’s quick and makes for easy cleanup. 

Learn how to microwave bacon so you're always just a few minutes away form crispy, meaty slices.

How Long Does It Take To Microwave Bacon?

This depends on a lot of factors:

• the thickness of the bacon
• the wattage of your microwave
• if you choose turkey or beef bacon instead of pork bacon
• the texture of bacon you want

For example, if you prefer crispier bacon, you’ll want to cook it longer than if you prefer chewier bacon.

We tested this recipe using a 1000-watt microwave. If using a lower wattage microwave, the bacon will take longer to cook and may need to be flipped a couple more times to help it cook evenly.

What Equipment Do I Need To Cook Bacon in the Microwave?

Besides the microwave, of course, you don’t need any special equipment to make bacon in the microwave. You’ll need a microwave-safe plate and good-quality paper towels.

How Much Bacon Can I Make at a Time in the Microwave?

This method works best with a single layer of bacon, about 4 to 5 pieces, depending on the size of your plate and your microwave. Be sure the pieces of bacon aren’t touching each other, or they could stick together. If you would like to make a larger amount of bacon, we recommend cooking the bacon in the oven.

How To Store Leftover Bacon

Once the bacon has cooled, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag for three to four days.

The Pros and Cons of Cooking Bacon in the Microwave

Like any method for cooking bacon, cooking it in the microwave has a few pros and cons:

Pros:

• It’s fast: Your bacon will usually be done in 4 to 8 minutes. While the exact amount of time will depend on the wattage of your microwave and the thickness of your bacon, you’ll have bacon ready to eat in under 10 minutes.
• You don’t need any special equipment: While you can use a bacon cooker if you like, this method just uses paper towels and a plate.
• It’s less greasy: The paper towels help absorb the grease from the bacon as it cooks.
• It’s easy to clean: Because the paper towels absorb the bacon grease, you don’t have to worry about hot grease splatters on a stove.

Cons:

• It’s best for just a few slices of bacon at a time: We recommend cooking no more than 4 to 5 slices of bacon at a time in the microwave.
• You’ll go through a lot of paper towels: You’ll need 4 “full-size” paper towels for this method.
• You won’t be able to save the bacon grease: We’re certainly believers in keeping a jar of bacon grease available, but with making the bacon in the microwave, the paper towels soak up all of that liquid gold.
• It can be easy to overcook the bacon: Once the bacon starts to crisp up, it can burn pretty quickly. It’s important to check the bacon frequently while cooking in the microwave.

The Best Bacon for Cooking in the Microwave

When cooking in the microwave, we recommend using bacon that isn’t super thin or super thick. Very thin bacon can burn quickly, and thick-cut bacon can be difficult to get crisp in the microwave.

More Ways To Cook Bacon

• How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
• How to Cook Bacon on the Grill
• How to Cook Turkey Bacon