How to Cook Bacon in Microwave?

On Saturday mornings, bacon is necessary, and who wouldn’t want to know how to make it more quickly? Bacon may be cooked most quickly in the microwave, and less fat is left behind for you to clean up. There are no filthy skillets, greasy stoves, or baking sheets that are too hot to handle. The best course of action is this. It also works well for these Jell-O shots with bacon and bourbon. Of course, our oven-baked approach works flawlessly if you have extra time and want to prepare bacon for a large group. To know how to cook bacon in microwave, read further.

Bacon in Microwave

Although it will be slightly chewier, microwave-cooked bacon will still be crispy. The bacon should be cooked for 4 minutes at first, then 1 minute at a time, or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. But keep in mind that as the bacon cools, it will become crispier. After five minutes, we enjoy ourselves. Although there are certain compromises regarding microwave bacon, we believe they are worth it, given the minimal effort (or lack thereof).

Bacon Nutrition Facts

bacon Nutrition facts

What is Exactly Bacon?

Various slices of pork, usually the belly or less fatty areas of the back, are used to make bacon, a sort of salt-cured pork. It is consumed as a side dish (especially in breakfast dishes), as the main item (such as in a sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomato, or BLT), or as a flavoring or accent (as in bacon bits in a salad). Additionally, bacon can be used to flavor or insulate roast joints by being laid atop the meat, and this is especially useful for game meats like pheasant and venison. The Proto-Germanic root *back on, which means “back meat,” is the source of the name.

It is also possible to chop, cure, or otherwise prepare meat from other species to resemble bacon, such as beef, lamb, chicken, goat, or turkey. This meat may even be called “turkey bacon.” Because both Judaism and Islam forbid the ingestion of pork, these practices are widespread in communities with sizable Jewish and Muslim populations. There are also vegetarian kinds of bacon like “soy bacon.”

Pros & Cons of Cooking Bacon in the Microwave

Here are some basic benefits of using the microwave for cooking bacon that we found to be particularly appealing:

  • Shorter cooking time
  • Easy to cook just a couple of slices
  • Able to get bacon crispy
  • Can cover to reduce mess
  • If there is a mess, microwaves are generally easier to wipe down than an oven or stovetop.
  • No special equipment is required (however, it can be helpful depending on what you want!)

Here are a few downsides to cooking bacon in the microwave:

  • Not able to cook as much at a time, if you need a lot of bacon, you will probably be better off making bacon in the oven
  • Not able to sear edges
  • Some methods bear uneven cooking- Crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle.

How to Cook Bacon in Microwave?

Bacon can be easy, mess-free, and hands-off cooked in the microwave. The most you can microwave at once is 4 to 6 slices; thus, it works best for small quantities of cooking. We advise using the oven method to cook bacon if you require more than a pound and have the family around for brunch. However, the microwave might be your best buddy if you’re craving a BLT.

Ingredients

  • Six slices of bacon
  • Five paper towels

Instructions

  • Line a microwave-safe plate with 3-4 paper towels.
  • Lay bacon on the paper towels so that it is not touching.
  • Cover with an additional paper towel to reduce the mess from splatter.
  • Microwave for 4-5 minutes. Check the bacon and continue to cook for 30 sec-1 minute increments until it is to the desired crispiness.
  • In the end, we cooked six slices of bacon, and it took us 7 minutes to cook them to consistently crispy in my 1000-watt microwave.

How can I Enjoy My Microwave Bacon?

You can enjoy your microwave bacon with:

  • For breakfast! Breakfast for breakfast or breakfast for dinner. You can’t go wrong by pairing it with soft and creamy scrambled eggs and loads of fresh chives.
  • Sandwiches! Bold statement, but there is no better food than a sandwich. A loaded sandwich is incredibly satisfying and will keep you full and fueled for your day. Load your microwaved bacon on a BLT or Club Sandwich.
  • Baked Potato. A loaded baked potato with all the fixings is about as satisfying as it gets! Check out the recipe to cook the perfect potato in the microwave, and then load it up with all your favorite baked potato toppings.

Buying Bacon Made for the Microwave

In the processed meat area of the grocery store, there are varieties of bacon designed expressly for microwave cooking. For the greatest results, meticulously follow the package guidelines and make sure you comprehend the cooking, turning, and standing periods. Also available in select grocery shops and online are fully cooked bacon products that are shelf-stable. It is prepared to eat right out of the container, but you may reheat and crisp it up in the microwave before eating.

Do I Need a Microwave Tray?

Nope! All you need is a microwave-safe plate. Take care when you take your plate out of the microwave because it can be hot. To remove the dish securely from the microwave, we utilize the paper towels lining it. Pass on the bacon! To prepare the ultimate simple breakfast, use your other hands-off appliances. Try air-frying French toast sticks and hard-boiled eggs to make simple sides for your bacon. Want more ridiculously simple breakfast suggestions? Visit the headquarters of our brunch and breakfast menu!

How to Store Bacon?

Bacon

Here are the methods of storing cooked and uncooked bacon:

Storing Raw Bacon

A week after its expiration date, packaged sliced bacon can be kept in the refrigerator in its unopened vacuum-sealed packaging. Use it within a week after it has been opened and keep it tightly wrapped in foil or a zip-top bag. Bacon in sealed packets can be frozen for up to a month before the fat starts to decay. For freezing, you can divide a bacon package into four servings.

Make sure they are tagged with the date and wrapped extremely firmly in plastic wrap before being covered with foil. These individual frozen servings last for several weeks in the freezer. To minimize splatters during cooking, prepare ahead of time to thaw bacon in the refrigerator.

Storing Cooked Bacon

It’s convenient to have cooked bacon on hand for quick breakfasts or for crumbled and adding to recipes. Additionally, it increases the bacon’s freezer life. Cook the bacon until it reaches the level you prefer, drain it on paper towels and let it cool. Refrigerate for up to five days after sealing in a plastic bag.

It’s simple to freeze cooked bacon. To cushion each serving, wrap it in a paper towel. Then put the sections that were wrapped in towels into a zip-top bag. Store for up to six weeks in the freezer. Bacon that has already been cooked and frozen can be heated in a frying pan. Cook for about a minute in a hot pan or until the food is cooked to your liking. The microwave can also be used to reheat it. Depending on the wattage of your specific microwave, the time will vary, but often 30 seconds should be plenty.

Depending on how fresh it is when you buy it, slab bacon should be tightly wrapped and can be stored for many weeks in the refrigerator. Before using, the ends should be chopped off and thrown away because they could turn black and dry. It is not advisable to freeze a slab of bacon; when fat is frozen, the salt accelerates the rancidity process.

How to Reheat Bacon in the Microwave?

The cooked bacon should be quickly placed into an airtight bag or sealed container after being tightly wrapped in a paper towel for storing. Bacon is a potentially dangerous food that must be refrigerated to keep it from spoiling.

Although reheating bacon in the microwave is the fastest method, you must preserve the cooked delicacy’s texture, flavor and preferred degree of doneness.

You can enjoy soft, crispy, and chewy bacon by following the tips to reheat them in a microwave:

  • Spread a single layer of bacon strips onto a microwave-safe plate lined with a paper towel.
  • Cover the bacon with another sheet of paper towel.
  • Put the plate in the microwave and reheat the bacon for 20 seconds.
  • Check whether the pieces are hot enough; if necessary, you can microwave for an extra 20 seconds or until the bacon reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Once they are done to your satisfaction, transfer the bacon strips to another plate with a clean paper towel to drain the excess grease. Serve and enjoy while still hot.

Your reheated chewy, soft, and crispy bacon strips are ready to serve.

Conclusion

Pork, salt, fat, and occasionally additional sugar give bacon its distinctive flavor. The meat’s unrivaled flavor makes it a popular and beloved option. Before it is placed on grocery store shelves, bacon, made from the pig’s belly, is salt-cured and frequently smoked. When bacon is cooked, most of the fat melts off and may be drained by placing it on a plate layered with a few paper towels. To extend the shelf life and enhance the appearance, nitrates and nitrites are added.

Canadian and British bacon differs from American bacon in several ways. Their bacon tastes like ham because it is made from the pig’s back. Protein, fat, and salt levels in both forms are high.

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 three layers of bacon at a time. If you have half-sized sheets of paper towel, use two half sheets to make each layer.