MICROWAVING BACON IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET YOUR FIX

Bacon is necessary on Saturday mornings and who doesn't want a way to cook it faster? Not only is microwaving bacon the fastest way to cook it, but it also leaves you with less grease to clean up afterward. No messy skillets and grease splattered stoves or dangerously hot baking sheets to clean up. It's 100% the way to go. Plus, it's perfect for these Bacon Bourbon Jell-O Shots. Of course, if you have more time and want to cook bacon for a crowd our oven-baked method is a success every single time.

Can I get crispy bacon in the microwave?

Bacon cooked in the microwave will be a little bit chewier, but it will also be crispy! Start with cooking the bacon for 4 minutes and cook for an additional minute at a time until it's as crispy as you like. But remember, the bacon will get crispier as it cools. We like ours after 5 minutes.

How long does it take?

We landed on 4-6 minutes but keep in mind that your cook time will vary with your microwave wattage. A higher-end 1,000-watt microwave will likely take 4 minutes or even less time whereas a 700-watt or less microwave will cook slower and not as evenly.

Are there any downsides to microwave bacon?

There are a few trade-offs when it comes to microwave bacon but we feel it's ultimately worth it for the amount (or lack) or effort that's required.

Pros 😎🥓

- No oil splatter - cook bacon without fear of being popped by a stray drop of oil.

- Easy clean-up - all of the fat is absorbed by the paper towels. Wait for them to cool and toss the paper towels in the trashcan.

- Healthier - well, relatively. The bacon won't be sitting in excess fat as it cooks.

- It only takes minutes.

- Your house won't smell like bacon for hours - quickly cooking in the enclosed microwave will contain the fried bacon smell.

- Free up stovetop space - breakfast is already enough of a juggling act, free up stovetop space for a pot of cheese grits or a skillet for fluffy pancakes.

- You can also do this with turkey bacon!

Cons 😕

- Cook time will vary based on microwave wattage - see our note above about cook time!

- Uses a lot of paper towels - this method requires more paper towels than you would typically use to cook bacon.

- Occasional stickage from cheap paper towels - the paper towels should peel off easily when cooled but this is still a bit of a hassle.

- Bye-bye bacon fat - while this can also be a pro, it's certainly a con for those of us who like to save bacon fat. If you want to save bacon fat and cook hands-off, try air fryer bacon instead.

Can I cook a lot of bacon at once?

Yes! You can cook bacon in layers in the microwave. Just remember to place a layer of paper towels between each layer of bacon. We don't recommend doing more than 3 layers of bacon at a time. If you have half-sized sheets of paper towel, use two half sheets to make each layer.

Do I need a microwave tray?

Nope! A microwave-safe plate is all you need. Careful as you remove your plate from the microwave as it may be hot. We use the paper towels that are lining the plate to take it out of the microwave safely.

Don't stop at bacon! Put your other hands-off appliances to work to make the ultimate easy breakfast. Try French toast sticks and hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer to make effortless sides for your bacon. Need more insanely easy breakfast ideas? Check out our breakfast and brunch headquarters!

Tried microwaving bacon? Let us know how it went and don't forget to rate below!

Editor's note: Due to reader comments concerning overcooked bacon, we recommend cooking per our recommended amount of 6 strips of bacon in one go. If you are cooking fewer strips of bacon, a good rule of thumb to follow is cooking for 1 minute per piece of bacon. (Depending on different models of microwaves and their respective heat strengths, it might take less time to reach your desired doneness!). The introduction to this recipe was updated on May 5th, 2022, to include more information about the dish.

Yields: 3 servings

Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 6

    slices bacon

Directions

  1. Line a microwave-safe plate with 3 layers of paper towels. Place bacon on top, without overlapping. Cover with another 2 layers of paper towels.
  2. Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes for crispy bacon. Pause and check on your bacon halfway through—depending on your bacon thickness and microwave model, you may need less time.

2022-05-19T19:31:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd