The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Bacon in the Microwave

Microwaving bacon might sound like a risky move, but trust us, it's totally possible! In just a few minutes, with no mess to clean up, you can cook bacon that's crispy and flavorful—just layer it between paper towels for the perfect texture.

Is Microwaving Bacon Possible?

It's been proven that cooking bacon in the microwave is possible, and there are several benefits to doing so:

Advantages

• When bacon is cooked in layers of paper towels, all the fat is absorbed and there's little to no mess for you to clean up.
• It only takes minutes.
• Because the bacon is cooked for so much less time, and the fat is absorbed into the paper towels, the lingering grease smell is much less persistent.

Like any cooking method, microwaving bacon has its drawbacks:

Disadvantages

• It's not the most environmentally friendly option, as it requires a lot of paper towels.
• It's easy to overcook if you don't check on it frequently.
• You don't get to save any of the rendered bacon fat for future use.

Microwaving Bacon: How Long Does It Take?

Typically, it takes between 3 to 6 minutes to cook bacon in the microwave. The exact time will depend on your microwave's wattage, the thickness and type of bacon (turkey bacon cooks faster), the amount you're cooking, and your preferred crispiness. Bacon packaging usually includes microwave times, but we suggest checking on it after a few minutes to avoid overcooking, as microwaves cook bacon quickly and it can burn easily.

How to Microwave Bacon

What You'll Need:

• Microwave-safe plate or dish
• Paper towels
• Bacon

Step 1: Place Paper Towels on a Plate

Cover a microwave-safe plate with two layers of paper towels.

Step 2: Arrange the Bacon on the Paper Towels

Place as many slices of bacon as you can in a single layer on the paper towels, ensuring that they don't overlap.

Step 3: Add More Paper Towels on Top

Cover the bacon with two more layers of paper towels.

From the Editor

Step 4: Microwave the Bacon

Microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Check the bacon's progress; if it's still slightly translucent, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until it reaches your desired crispiness. With practice, you'll get a better sense of the ideal cooking time for your microwave.

Step 5: Drain Excess Fat

Carefully take the plate out of the microwave (using oven mitts or a towel), then transfer the bacon to a fresh paper towel. Let it drain for about 2 minutes, or pat with another towel to soak up any remaining grease.