The Microwave Gadget For Quicker Crispy Bacon

Among carnivores, why is crispy bacon widely considered to be the best kind of bacon? For one, crispy bacon holds its shape and is therefore much easier to handle and serve than greasy, floppy bacon. Plus, thanks to its 60:40 fat to meat ratio that browns perfectly in contact with a hot pan, it has a simultaneously crunchy yet juicy texture — as opposed to overcooked bacon, which is purely dry. Delicious on its own or as the crunchy, salty element in a breakfast sandwich or lunchtime wrap, crispy bacon is always sure to delight.

But what are the best ways to cook bacon for that coveted crispy consistency? Some people prefer using the oven and a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup, while others swear by a cast iron skillet on the stovetop for hot, sizzling perfection. You're likely familiar with numerous ways to cook bacon, but there's another way to get everyone's favorite breakfast side super crisp: in the microwave.

Microwave bacon cookers exist, and they're designed to get you crispy bacon quickly and easily, using the common household appliance from start to finish. Some microwave bacon cookers are designed so you hang the bacon strips on a hook and a tray catches the grease below. An Amazon reviewer who tried one of these gadgets said it "produces evenly cooked, delicious bacon," adding that there's "easy cleanup" in the dishwasher and little splattering in the microwave as long as you place a paper towel over the bacon. Others said it's a convenient way to cook bacon for a small group (up to about nine strips at a time) in under four minutes.

While some microwave bacon cookers feature only a simple tray for cooking your bacon flat, many reviewers seem to appreciate the hang-up design so the bacon fat drips off more thoroughly. "As opposed to greasy bacon from a pan, you get crispy bacon that tastes better," another reviewer wrote. Others point out that the drippings tray serves as an easy way to collect leftover bacon grease "for use of cooking other dishes," from bacon fat cornbread to soups and stews. If you're a bacon lover who's tired of cleaning grease splatters off your stovetop or seasoning your cast iron pan, this may be the key to crispy bacon for you.