How to cook mess-free bacon in the microwave

• Microwaving bacon can produce a variety of textures, from crunchy to chewy.
• You'll seldom need to cook bacon for more than 4 minutes when using the microwave method.
• The ideal way to prevent a mess in your microwave is to use a microwave-safe tray and paper towels.

Bacon is delicious and super easy to make in the microwave - it's quick and leaves behind way less of a mess than other cooking methods.

Chef Matthew Stockard (aka ChefLuvv or Chef Matt), who has spent time cooking in restaurants across the US and worked as a private chef for celebrities and athletes, has a special place in his heart for microwaved bacon. "It's one of the first ways my parents allowed me to cook [bacon]," says Stockard. Cooking this flavorful breakfast favorite is a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen, he says.

"I like to cook with bacon because it very quickly and easily adds a lot of smokey, meaty, and salty flavor to a dish," says Christine Pittman, founder of COOKtheSTORY. While the microwave isn't her go-to for breakfast bacon, she finds it useful for cooking the protein in a pinch. "With the microwave, it's more of a set and forget it task," says Pittman.

It's crucial to start with a high-quality product, even if you're zapping it in the microwave. "All bacon is not created equally," Stockard says and suggests trying several brands to find bacon that you like.

There's also a bit of a technique to cooking bacon in the microwave. Below, Stockard and Pittman walk us through their tips to getting flavorful bacon out of your microwave without making a mess.

How long to microwave bacon

It can take around one to four minutes to cook bacon in the microwave, depending on the thickness of the bacon you're using, explains Stockard. When Pittman microwaves bacon, she usually cooks three to four slices at a time for about two and a half minutes. More pieces will take more time - about 30 seconds more per additional strip.

She recommends checking the bacon after one minute and then again every 30 seconds until it's almost ready. Remember: you're looking for golden brown strips with no pale pink color left.

Microwave wattage can also impact cook time. Bacon might need the full 4 minutes in a small appliance. But when using a high-wattage microwave (1,200+ watts), you'll need less time.

You might not get the same crispiness in the microwave as you do in a pan, but you can still achieve some crunchy texture with this cooking method.

"Based on the cooking time, the bacon could be soft, chewy, or crispy," says Stockard. Pittman explains that thicker bacon tends to be chewy when cooked in the microwave. If you want that crunch factor, try using thinner slices and cooking it for longer. "I think after making it a few times, you'll find that sweet spot that you like," says Stockard.

Quick tip: You can use any microwave-safe dish, but Stockard recommends investing in a microwave bacon tray. It has ridges that elevate the bacon for better air circulation, and it catches the grease, which helps keep your microwave clean. "[Bacon] still needs to be covered with paper towels to avoid popping," says Stockard.

How to make bacon in the microwave

1. Place bacon on a microwave bacon tray. If you don't have a bacon-specific tray, you can use any microwave-safe dish. Avoid overlapping the strips. This can prevent them from cooking evenly.
2. Put into the microwave and cover with a paper towel. Covering the bacon with a paper towel prevents bacon fat from popping all over your microwave.
3. Cook for 1 to 4 minutes. How long you need to nuke bacon depends on the wattage of your microwave, the number of strips you're cooking, and their thickness. You may need to experiment a bit to find a cook time that delivers the texture and doneness that you want. If you're unsure, start checking after one minute, then continue cooking in 30-second increments until your bacon is done to your liking.
4. Shuffle the strips (optional). There's no need to flip your bacon, according to Stockard. Just set the time and hit start. But if you're cooking many bacon slices, Pittman recommends moving them around the tray about halfway through cooking since not everything cooks evenly in a microwave.
5. Be careful. Watch out when removing bacon from the microwave. Even if you're using a microwave-safe dish, any bacon grease will be extremely hot.

Quick tip: It's up to you whether to save bacon grease for later. If you do, Stockard suggests storing it in an airtight glass jar and keeping it in the fridge to prevent spoilage. If you need to get rid of any leftover grease, wait for it to solidify and dump it in the trash.

Insider's takeaway

The microwave is a great way to quickly prepare this salty, savory delight. It's quick, simple, and relatively mess-free. Cook bacon for one to four minutes, sticking to longer timing if you're using thick slices or want the bacon to come out crispy. It may take a few tries, but you should be able to achieve your perfect bacon slice with a little bit of experimentation.