Many will agree that the sweet, tender aroma of bacon tends to usher an irresistible yearning to have a big bite immediately. We just love to have our bacon very crispy or half done in diners. However, when preparing by yourself, this is easier said than done. Not everyone wants to go through the hectic procedure of frying bacon in a pan or putting it in an oven knowing fully well that grease is going to splatter everywhere and leave a mess so horrendous that it takes forever to properly wipe it clean. This rightfully sucks the amusement and fun out of eating bacon for many people.
Fret not for all hope is not lost. Microwave bacon cookers have been invented to relax your stress, keep the mess to a minimum, eliminate softness and ensure your bacon is extra crispy, juicy, and sweet. Microwave heaters are very robust to use. They are mostly simple plastic tools where bacon strips are either hung or placed and then put inside the microwave for cooking. Now, many brands have taken many, diverse approaches. Some went with rack or tray type while others went for duo approach or a completely innovative approach. All have different limits in capacity (number of strips).
If you are tired of the hassle of cooking bacon and willing to purchase a microwave bacon cooker, look no further. After delving countless hours into researching microwave bacon cookers from the deepest, darkest corner of the web along with reading hundreds of Amazon user reviews, we compiled a list of 5 great and viable microwave bacon cookers followed by providing an in-depth assessment.
The 5 Best Microwave Bacon Cookers of 2024 Reviews
| Name | Details | See Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prep Solutions Microwavable Bacon Grill | Capacity: Max 6 strips Vented lid Very affordable Multi-purpose cooker | Buy Now |
| Nordic Ware Microwave 2-Sided Round Bacon and Meat Grill | Capacity: Max 5 strips 2 lid options Cook both sides Can bake pizza, sausage too | Buy Now |
| Makin Microwave Bacon Cooker | Capacity: 12 strips of bacon are recommended but can accommodate more Bacon is hanged and cooked in the air Very dishwasher friendly Can cook more than 12 strips of bacon if bacons are smaller in size | Buy Now |
| Sistema Microwave Easy Bacon Cooker | Capacity: Max 5 strips Splatter proof lid Small compact design Dishwasher safe | Buy Now |
| Presto 05101 Microwave Bacon Cooker | Capacity: Max 12 strips Rack Design More juicy and crispy bacon Easy to use | Buy Now |
1. Prep Solutions Microwavable Bacon Grill: Best Overall
The top choice for microwave bacon cooker according to a staggering 20639 global ratings at the time of writing is Prep Solutions Microwavable Bacon Grill. Only costing $10, this microwave gadget consists of a 2 piece set, tray, and cover, which is considered to be the standard in the bacon cooker industry. Equipped with a vented lid for keeping the grease to a minimum, this bacon cooker is somewhat designed like a grill. You will immediately notice that the bacon is actually kept to a degree of elevation. This helps to drip away the fat ensuring the bacon is cooked crisp. The cover has vented holes in it and you may think that is a terrible idea as fats will leak. However, let us assure you that ventilation helps prevent food from becoming dry and soggy. Since we want our bacon extra chewy or crisp to the max, this is not a big issue. This particular bacon cooker can accommodate 4-6 strips of bacon when placed flat in the tray. You can definitely use this for other foods such as pizza or sausages. However, there is room for improvement. The lid is not only small but shallow which causes users to accidentally touch the hot surface and external handles are not very usable. You will also require bigger microwaves to use this properly as in smaller ones, the trail may fail to rotate which will cause uneven cooking.
You cannot certainly go wrong with Prep Solutions Microwavable Bacon Grill. The design is very straightforward but effective. It’s very affordable and is the best suitable candidate for the best overall position.
Key Features:
- Multi-purpose cooker
- 4-6 strips of bacon can be cooked
- Safe to touch lid and handles
Pros:
- Affordable
- Vented lid is splatter free
- Can be used to make other items
- Bacon is cooked in an elevated position
Cons:
- Max 6 strips bacon
- Handle gets hot
2. Nordic Ware Microwave 2-Sided Round Bacon and Meat Grill: Best Premium
There is certainly merit in using a round-shaped cooker and that is that it rotates together with the microwave’s inner rotating plate. Although typical rectangular cookers dominate the industry, the Nordic Ware Microwave 2-Sided Round Bacon and Meat Grill is a fierce competitor in the scene and has built a prestigious reputation for itself. Just like our recommended overall best (see 1), this tray cooker also comes with a vented lid. However, it improvises as it offers two options – a regular lid and a deluxe version. Now both serve well to protect the microwave against grease splatters. The cooker has two sides. The ridged side is for cooking bacon as well as any type of meat while the other side with a smooth surface is baking pizza and such. The only caveat here is that the tray has no handles. So you must use a potholder to take the bacon cooker out of the microwave. Expect no problems when cleaning and washing. The tray has low walls to avoid fat dripping. It can accommodate from 4 to 5 strips depending on size.
Above all else, this would be a great purchase. We would have put this gadget in our number 1 category but we did not because the lid is not dishwater safe and despite already being expensive, the deluxe lid costs more.
Key Features:
- One of the best tray style cookers
- Accommodate up to 5 strips
- Double-sided cooking option available
- Vented lid
Pros:
- 2 lid options
- Good at preventing grease splatter
Cons:
- The lid is not dishwasher safe
- It will not work in smaller microwaves
- No handles
3. Makin Microwave Bacon Cooker: Best Unique Design
As earlier mentioned, conventional rectangular microwave bacon cookers are most popular. Enter the Makin Microwave Bacon Cooker. Although the maximum number of bacon strips it can hold is 12, you will likely put more strips cuz it does have room for more. This is the single most essential reason one is likely to use this Makin Microwave Bacon Cooker. Interestingly, the cooker cooks bacon up in the air (not in it). This drips the entire fat away by capturing it in the tray which can later be used to fry other things if necessary. The bacon strips take about a minute to be perfectly cooked and since cooking is done above the fat, it ensures the bacon is more crispy. And we like our bacon as crispy as it can get which is a bonus. Use the middle drip when cooking 4 to 6 strips and use the front and back when cooking 12 strips. Otherwise, use all the drips if cooking more. The Makin Microwave Bacon cooker is made of high-heat plastic. Grease splatters inside the microwave are of no concern here and the gadget is dishwasher safe. It does possess some caveats though. Many users have reported on Amazon that their unit’s plastic has melted off when exposed to too much heat. Since the bacon is cooked in the air capturing all the fat in the try, this can also leave the bacon losing some its flavor. As aforementioned, the hanging part of the bacon is cooked to a crisp however the part residing in the support bar remains somewhat undercooked and this is also the reason excess heat melts the plastic of the support bar. However, such cases are varied and you may not have any problem with your unit if you do not heat in excessive temperatures.
Key Features:
- Bacon is hanged
- Cooking in air ensures faster cooking
- Can cook even more than 12 srips if cut smaller in size
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Dishwasher friendly
- No grease splatter
Cons:
- Fat drained from the bacon can make it lose some flavor
- Excessive heat leads to melt of plastic
4. Sistema Microwave Easy Bacon Cooker: Best Budget
In order to make healthy bacon snacks without putting a hole in your wallet, we recommend Sistema Microwave Easy Bacon Cooker. It has a groove base that helps to cook evenly and separate the excess fat and grease from bacon. To bake nutritious bacon, Sistema’s clever design of pouring the drained fat via the spout is actually commendable and handy. It also comes with a splatter-proof lid which helps to maintain the moisture of the bacon as well as prevents the mechanical smell of the oven from going into the bacon. Along with that, the lid saves our valuable time and effort from the hassles of cleaning the microwave. Sistema’s Bacon Cooker is also handed proof for bare touch and easy to carry the hot tray with handles.
Key Features:
- Base is grooved
- Ensures even cooking
- Lid is splatter proof
Pros:
- Robust design
- Freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe
- Sprout for convenience
- Easy to hold handles
Cons:
- Cannot accommodate many bacon strips (max 5)
5. Presto 05101 PowerCrisp Microwave Bacon Cooker: Best Innovative Performer
Another bacon cooker which can accommodate a total of 12 bacon strips with better performance while employing a great infrastructure than our recommended budget model (check 4) is the Presto 05101 PowerCrisp Microwave Bacon Cooker. It does not feature any lid. Rather this particular bacon cooker has three sturdy and durable plastic racks where the strips are hung. The fat collects underneath the tray when the bacon is kept hung over the racks. The strips come out as V-shaped but ensure evenly cooked The tray is also cool to touch underneath. Furthermore, when baking is done, the racks can be stored inside the tray. It is not without its flaws though. Since Presto went with a rack-shaped design, grease is more than likely to splatter inside the microwave. Also, users have reported that the portion of bacon which hangs over the racks is often undercooked. However, for what $20 is worth, the Presto 05101 PowerCrisp Microwave Bacon Cooker is definitely a top pick as suggested by enormous user reviews from Amazon. Undoubtedly. It is one of the most friendly-to-use types of bacon cooker for smaller microwaves.
Key Features:
- Robust excellent microwave bacon cooker
- Three vertical rack design
- Safe to touch tray
Pros:
- Racks can be stored inside the tray
- Easy to use
- Up to 12 strips
- Works in small microwaves
Cons:
- No vented lid
- Grease can splatter inside the microwave
- Hanging portions of bacon could be undercooked
Selection Criteria
As you are aware by now, microwave bacon cookers come in two types. One of these types is the standard plastic tray typically with elevated ridges. The other type contains a rack where bacon is hung onto. Now manufacturers brag about their bacon cookers cooking up in under a minute or two. But this sentiment is widely discarded by actual users. After scouring the internet for user reviews on Amazon, we have compiled the above list. The reason being user reviews share similar concerns. Consider an instance where we found many users sharing photos of their microwave bacon cooker’s plastic tray either melted or attached to bacon. Hence, we thought this is the best source for information which is genuine. Afterward, we narrowed down our search for those microwave bacon cookers that not only had satisfactory user reviews but stood out and also had high global ratings.
Things to Consider and Look For
- Build Quality – All manufacturers have opted for plastic microwave bacon cookers. The problem here is microwaving and plastic items don’t do that well together. This is because plastic contains chemicals such as Phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), which are often added to plastic to help it keep its shape and elasticity. Anyway, just seek out those microwave bacon cookers with sturdy and more durable build quality.
- Dimensions – Always ensure that your microwave’s capacity is bigger than the microwave bacon cooker you will purchase. No use in buying one that you cannot fit inside. Normally, most rack styled microwave bacon cookers are very compact enough to easily accommodate inside. However, the square and rectangular styled tray type may not or not properly rotate in the rotating plate of the microwave.
- Lid – Having a vented lid and a means to drip the fat should always be a concern when choosing microwave bacon cookers. It also makes them easy to clean without leaving much mess.
- Ease-of Use – Among the two types of microwave bacon cookers, the rack style is more convenient. This is because the racks can be stored inside the tray as the design is sleek and compact.
Final Verdict
Needless to mention, microwaving is an efficient way to swiftly cook bacon. Based on our findings in the matter, there are two who really stood out among the rest. Those willing to spend $20 should definitely pick up the rack-styled Presto 05101 PowerCrisp. Its efficient stand-up rack design not only ensures fat drips in the tray for more crispy cooking but allows easy disposal of fat and is completely dishwasher friendly.
Those willing to spend only $10 should purchase Prep Solutions Microwavable Bacon Grill. While tray-shaped and can accommodate 4-6 pieces, you will immediately observe it is more designed like a grill and has all the necessary features you would expect from the best overall microwave design.
Interested in other products? Check out our review of