How to Cook Crispy Bacon in the Microwave: 5 Easy Steps
Bacon is amazing. Cleaning up bacon grease? Not so amazing. If you’re sick of the stove popping and splattering, the microwave is the lazy-smart move.
But here’s the thing: microwave bacon has a reputation… because most people cook it like chaos. They pile it up, blast it too long, and end up with chewy, rubbery strips (or burnt edges).
In this guide, we’ll share five simple steps on how to cook crispy bacon in the microwave. You’ll get the basic paper towel method first, then the microwave bacon tray method for even crispier results with less mess.
What You’ll Need
You don’t need anything fancy for this. Just a couple of basic kitchen items, and you’re set:
- Bacon (regular or thick-cut)
- Microwave-safe plate
- Paper towels
- Optional: Microwave Bacon Tray / Crisper Pan (extra-crisp + less mess)
- Tongs (nice to have)
5 Easy Steps for Cooking a Crispy Microwave Bacon
Crispy microwave bacon is real; you just need the proper setup so it doesn’t sit in its own grease. Here are five simple steps to make crispy bacon in the microwave fast.
Step 1: Line the plate
Grab a microwave-safe plate and cover it with two layers of plain white paper towels. The towels soak up grease as it cooks, which is what helps bacon turn crisp instead of “wet and chewy.”
Quick safety note: Skip printed or recycled paper towels (some can spark or burn). Stick to plain white ones.
If you’ve ever had a paper towel stick to bacon, there’s an easy tweak: put parchment on the bottom and a paper towel on top. It helps with sticking, but keep in mind that parchment doesn’t soak up grease as paper towels do so the results can be a bit softer.
Step 2: Lay the bacon flat
Lay the bacon in a single layer. No stacking, no overlap. Overlap is where you get the annoying combo of rubbery middles and overcooked edges.
If the strips are too long for your plate, it’s totally fine to cut them in half so they fit flat. (Flat bacon cooks better. Folded bacon cooks weird.)
Step 3: Cover it
Place one paper towel on top of the bacon (use two if your microwave splatters a lot). This keeps grease from popping everywhere and helps the bacon cook cleaner. Don’t press down, just lay it over the top like a loose cover.
Need to cook more than one plate’s worth? You can stack layers, but only if you separate each layer with paper towels. Just know: a single-layer is usually the most even.
Step 4: Microwave it, then check
Cook on HIGH to start. A solid rule is about 1 minute per slice, but treat that as a starting point; microwave wattage and bacon thickness change everything.
A few timing truths that save bacon:
- Thin bacon cooks faster. Thick-cut takes longer.
- Start a little short if you’re unsure, because you can always add time. (You can’t un-burn bacon.)
- If your microwave heats unevenly, rotate the plate halfway so one side doesn’t get toasted while the other side is still floppy.
Step 5: Finish in short bursts + rest
After the first round, don’t run it for a long stretch. Bacon goes from “almost perfect” to “burnt” fast at the end. Instead, cook in 30-second bursts until it looks almost as crispy as you want.
Then let it sit for about 1 minute. Bacon firms up as it cools, and that rest is part of the crisp.
Last move: slide the bacon onto a fresh paper towel to drain off extra grease before serving. And if a towel ever sticks, peel it off right away (that’s a known issue with this method).
Want It Crispier With Less Mess?
If you often make bacon in the microwave, a microwave bacon tray is the easiest upgrade. It helps the bacon cook crispier and more evenly, without soaking your plate in grease.
With the paper towel method, bacon can still end up sitting in hot grease. A tray helps because the grease drains away, so the bacon isn’t basically “boiling” in it.
It also cuts down on paper towel waste and makes cleanup way simpler. Most of the mess stays on the tray, not your plate (or your microwave).
Tray method (quick steps)
- Preheat the tray (only if the tray instructions say to).
- Lay bacon in a single layer. No overlap.
- Microwave based on slices (start with the tray’s guide, then adjust).
- Check, then add 30-second bursts until it’s almost as crisp as you want.
- Rest 1 minute, then serve. Bacon crisps up as it cools.
Quick note: Use the tray exactly as directed. Don’t let it touch the microwave walls, and don’t use random metal pans. If your tray has specific rules (preheat time, maximum slices, cleaning), follow them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid for Cooking Crispy Bacon Properly
Bacon is easy to microwave, but it’s also easy to mess up in small ways. Most “microwave bacon is chewy” problems come down to crowding the plate, using the wrong timing, or skipping the last-minute checks. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:
Overlapping slices: If strips overlap, the covered parts stay soft while the exposed edges overcook. Keep everything in one flat layer, even if that means doing two quick batches.
Trying to cook the whole pack at once: A full package won’t cook evenly in a microwave. You’ll get a weird mix of burnt pieces and floppy pieces, so it’s better to cook smaller batches that actually crisp.
Skipping the top paper towel: That top towel is your splatter shield. Without it, grease pops everywhere, and the bacon can cook greasier instead of crisping cleanly.
Going “full time” without checking: The last minute is where bacon turns from “almost perfect” to “oops.” Start with a base cook, then finish in short bursts so you stay in control.
Judging it too early: Right out of the microwave, bacon can look softer than it will be. Give it about a minute to cool; this is when it firms up and gets that crisp bite.
Letting it sit in grease after cooking: If the bacon is done but still sitting on soaked towels or pooled grease, it can soften fast. Move it to a clean spot (fresh towel or a rack) if you want it to stay crisp.
Storage and Reheating
If you’re not eating the bacon right away, let it cool first. Hot bacon + a closed container = steam, and steam is how crispy bacon turns soft. Once it’s cooled, stash it in an airtight container in the fridge and try to eat it within 4-5 days.
Want to keep it longer? Freeze it. Lay the strips flat, with a bit of parchment or paper towel between them so they don’t turn into a single solid bacon brick. Frozen leftovers keep best for a few months (safe longer, but quality drops).
To reheat, think “warm and crisp,” not “cook again.” Put bacon on a plate lined with a paper towel and microwave in 10-20-second bursts, checking each time
If you’re reheating a few slices, spread them out in a single layer so they heat evenly. Don’t overdo it, because bacon goes tough fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
People always have a few common questions about making crispy bacon in the microwave. Here are the most common ones, with straight answers so you don’t have to guess.
How long does bacon take in the microwave?
Most of the time, it’s about 1 minute per slice on HIGH as a starting point. Thin bacon finishes faster, thick-cut takes longer, so start a little short and add time in 30-second bursts.
Do you have to flip it?
Nope, u can, but you don’t have to. Flipping (or rotating the plate) just helps it cook more evenly if your microwave has hot spots.
Can you microwave bacon on a paper plate?
You can if it’s a microwave-safe paper plate, but it’s not the best option. Paper plates can get soggy from grease and can warp. So, using a microwave-safe ceramic/glass plate is safer and gives more even results.
Why is my bacon rubbery?
Usually it’s one of these: the slices overlapped, the bacon sat in pooled grease, or it just needed a little more time. Keep it in one layer, use the towel setup, and finish with 30-second bursts, then let it rest a minute to crisp up.
Can you save bacon grease with microwave bacon?
With the paper towel method, not really, most of the grease gets absorbed into the towels. If saving grease matters, cook bacon so the fat collects in a container (or use a tray setup that lets grease drip and be poured off).
Can I cook a whole package at once?
Not in one go on one plate - microwaves cook unevenly, so you’ll end up with some burnt pieces and some floppy ones. It’s better to cook in batches, or switch to the oven if you need the whole pack done at once.
Final Thoughts
Microwave bacon is one of those things that sounds wrong… until you try it the right way. Keep the strips flat, soak up the grease, and finish in short bursts. That’s how you get crispy instead of chewy.
If you’re doing bacon once in a while, the paper towel setup is excellent. But if bacon is a weekly thing in your house, a microwave bacon tray just makes life easier with less grease and less paper towel waste.
Either way, once you nail the timing for your microwave, you’re basically done forever. Crispy bacon in minutes, and your stove stays clean. That’s the win.
