Making bacon in the microwave is a quick and easy way to cook up a delicious breakfast. With just a few simple steps, you can have perfect crispy bacon in minutes right from your microwave.

Benefits of Microwaved Bacon

Cooking bacon in the microwave has a few advantages over cooking it in a skillet on the stovetop:

It’s faster – Microwaved bacon takes just minutes to cook, while skillet bacon can take 10+ minutes. The quick cook time makes it easy to add bacon to a weekday breakfast routine.

Less messy – Microwaving bacon minimizes splatter and messy clean up. The bacon grease stays contained on the plate or paper towels. With a skillet, grease can pop and splatter on nearby surfaces.
Fewer dishes – Cooking bacon in the microwave means there are no pans to wash afterward! You only need a microwave-safe plate or paper towels.
More consistent results – The confined environment of a microwave often means the bacon cooks more evenly. No flipping required.

So if you’re looking for crispy, tasty bacon in record time, the microwave is the way to go!

Microwaving Dos and Don’ts

Microwaving bacon is a bit different than throwing any old food in the microwave. Follow these tips for best results:

DO use thin sliced bacon. Thick cut bacon won’t crisp up well in the microwave. Look for bacon labeled “thin sliced.”

DO line the microwave plate or pan with paper towels. The towels absorb excess grease, preventing the bacon from sitting in a puddle of its own fat.
DO cook the bacon in batches if needed. Overcrowding the plate prevents proper crisping.
DO let the cooked bacon rest for 1 minute before eating. This allows the strips to finish crisping.

DON’T use microwave bacon cookers with water reservoirs. They dilute the bacon flavor.
DON’T cover the bacon while cooking. Covering steams the bacon, making it limp instead of crispy.
DON’T microwave thick cut bacon. It requires skillet frying.

Follow those guidelines, and you’ll turn out picture-perfect bacon from the microwave every time.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking bacon in the microwave is so easy, anyone can do it! Just 6 simple steps and you’ll have a plate of crispy, ready-to-eat bacon.

What You Need

Thin sliced bacon

Microwave-safe plate
Paper towels

Step 1: Line the Plate

Place 2-3 paper towel sheets on a microwave-safe plate. The paper towels will soak up the excess bacon grease.

Step 2: Arrange the Bacon

Lay the strips of bacon out on the paper towels in a single layer without overlapping. Bacon needs room around each strip to crisp up properly. Break up pieces of bacon as needed to avoid overlaps.

Step 3: Microwave in Batches

Microwave in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook just 2-4 strips of bacon at a time. Trying to fit more will result in flabby, unevenly cooked bacon.

Step 4: Cook the Bacon

Microwave the bacon for 2 minutes to start. After 2 minutes, check the bacon’s doneness. If not crisp enough, microwave in 30 second increments until the desired crispness is reached. Cook times vary based on microwaves but will likely be 2-4 minutes.

Step 5: Drain and Blot

When the bacon is cooked to crispy perfection, carefully remove the hot plate from the microwave. Transfer the cooked bacon from the wet paper towels to a clean paper towel lined plate.

Step 6: Repeat and Enjoy!

Repeat the cooking process with any remaining bacon slices. Let the cooked bacon rest for 1 minute before serving to allow any last sizzling to subside. Now enjoy your freshly microwaved bacon!

Bacon Amount	Cook Time
2-4 slices	2-4 minutes
8 slices	3-5 minutes
12 slices	4-6 minutes

Cooking times are based on 1000W microwave. Adjust accordingly for higher or lower wattages.

The next time you’re craving bacon, skip the mess and time of the stovetop and make it fast and easy in the microwave. In just minutes, you can have a plate of crispy, mouthwatering bacon ready to crumble over salads, breakfast sandwiches, baked potatoes, and anywhere else this salty cured pork delicacy is called for. Give microwaved bacon a try – it might just become your new go-to bacon cooking method!

Troubleshooting Microwaved Bacon

While microwaving bacon is typically easy, sometimes things can go wrong. If your bacon turns out limp or undercooked, try these troubleshooting tips:

Use Thinner Bacon – Thick cut bacon requires a skillet. Opt for thin sliced bacon when microwaving.

Cook Less Bacon – Overcrowding prevents even crisping. Try cooking only a few slices at a time.
Increase Cook Time – Add 30 seconds to the cook time until the desired crispness is reached. Microwaves vary in power.
Blot Excess Grease – Blot bacon during cooking and after with clean paper towels to remove excess grease.

Skip Specialty Bacon – Flavored or coated bacons don’t always crisp up as well. Stick to classic bacon.
Allow Rest Time – Let the bacon rest 1 minute out of the microwave to finish crisping.

With a few minor adjustments, limp microwave bacon is easy to remedy. You’ll be back to perfectly cooked bacon in no time.

Pairing Bacon with Other Foods

Once you’ve mastered the art of microwaved bacon, it’s time to enjoy it! Bacon’s smoky, salty, savory flavor pairs well with so many foods.

Breakfast Pairings

For breakfast, bacon is of course a natural match for eggs and pancakes. Some tasty pairings include:

Bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches

Bacon and pancake roll-ups with maple syrup
Bacon baked into waffles or crumbled over yogurt and fruit
BLT’s made with bacon, lettuce, and tomato

Lunch and Dinner Pairings

At lunch and dinner, bacon adds a crunchy, salty accent to sandwiches, salads, and more:

Club sandwiches with bacon, turkey, lettuce, and tomato
Bacon on burgers or hot dogs

Potato soups or baked potatoes topped with crumbled bacon
Salads with chopped bacon and creamy dressings
Bacon wrapped chicken breasts or shrimp

Dessert Pairings

Believe or not, bacon also pairs deliciously with sweets by offsetting the richness:

Chocolate chip cookies with sprinkled bacon crumbles
Bacon milkshakes with maple syrup

Candied bacon on top of brownies or cupcakes
Bacon brittle and bacon caramel sauces over ice cream

So next time you make bacon in the microwave, think beyond just breakfast. Bacon’s versatility makes it right at home in lunches, dinners, and even desserts.

Storing and Freezing Leftover Bacon

Got leftovers after microwaving up a batch of bacon? Here are some storage tips:

Store cooled bacon in a zip top bag for 2-3 days in the fridge. The bacon fat will solidify and help preserve it.
Wrap servings in wax paper before storing in bags. This prevents them from sticking together.

Freeze extra bacon in muffin tins lined with wax paper for easy reheating later.
Freeze bacon fat to use later for cooking. Bacon grease adds great flavor to recipes.

With proper storage in the fridge or freezer, leftover bacon stays fresh and ready for your next recipe. Just reheat frozen bacon in the microwave until hot and crispy.

Quick and Easy Microwave Bacon Recipes

Once you have perfectly crispy microwave bacon, it’s easy to turn it into delicious meals and snacks. Here are some quick bacon recipe ideas:

Bacon Egg Cups

Line a muffin tin with bacon slices

Crack an egg into each cup
Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes

Bacon BBQ Chicken Skewers

Thread chicken and bacon cubes onto skewers

Brush with BBQ sauce
Broil until chicken is cooked

Cheesy Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Toss halved Brussels sprouts in olive oil and garlic

Top with bacon crumbles and Parmesan
Roast at 400°F until browned

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Boil quartered red potatoes until tender

Toss with ranch dressing, bacon pieces, and green onions

Candied Bacon

Brush bacon with brown sugar and maple syrup
Bake at 400°F, flipping once, until caramelized

The possibilities are endless when you always have a stash of crispy microwave bacon ready to go. Get creative with sweet and savory bacon recipes.

Why Make Your Own Microwave Bacon?

After reading all about the ease and versatility of microwave bacon, you may be wondering why bother making it yourself. Why not just buy pre-cooked microwave bacon? Here are some benefits to cooking your own:

Better flavor – Pre-cooked microwave bacon often has a floppy, watered down flavor from the preserving process. Home cooked has a crisp, porky taste.

No preservatives – You control what goes in your food. Store-bought microwave bacon contains sodium, sugar, and preservatives.
Cheaper – Pre-cooked bacon is often 2-3x more expensive per ounce than raw bacon.
Customizability – You choose the thickness, flavorings, and degree of crispness.

Food safety – You avoid risks of any factory contamination of mass produced food.

Though it only takes minutes longer to cook your own bacon in the microwave, the benefits for flavor, health, and budget make it worthwhile. So skip the pre-cooked stuff and try making your own!

Conclusion

Bacon cooked right in your microwave offers a quick breakfast treat or easy addition to any dish. With crispy texture and big bacon flavor, microwaving brings out the best attributes of this beloved food without the mess or hassle. For those short on time but longing for the salty crunch of bacon, the microwave is the way to cook up this breakfast staple.

Follow the guidelines in this article for microwave bacon success every time. Troubleshoot common issues like limpness or uneven cooking. Then explore the myriad ways to enjoy bacon’s versatility in snacks, meals, and even desserts. With proper storage, microwave bacon is there when you need it. So discover the convenience of cooking your own bacon in the microwave.

How to Make Bacon in the Microwave: 5-Minute Breakfast Hack

Benefits of Microwaved Bacon

Microwaving Dos and Don’ts