Comparison: Best Microwave Bacon (Updated | Jul 27th)

There is something undeniably clever about the vertical design of The Original Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Dish. Instead of letting the meat sit in a pool of its own rendered fat, this gadget uses T-shaped bars to hang the strips, allowing the grease to drip down into a deep collection well. It is honestly the most effective way I’ve seen to achieve that “skillet-crispy” texture without the heavy oiliness. Because the bacon is suspended, heat circulates around both sides simultaneously, which usually means no flipping and significantly less grease on your plate—up to 35% less, according to the specs.

I’d recommend this for the health-conscious breakfast lover or the person who hates how soggy microwave bacon can get on a flat plate. It’s also great for smaller kitchens because the plastic bars pop right out and store flat in the base, taking up almost no cabinet space. It’s a BPA-free, high-heat resistant tool that feels like it was designed by someone who actually eats bacon every morning.

The trade-off here is the cleanup process. While the tray itself is dishwasher safe, the vertical bars can be a bit of a puzzle to scrub by hand if you don’t have a dishwasher, as grease tends to bake onto the plastic. Also, you absolutely must drape a paper towel over the top to prevent a vertical splatter-fest inside your microwave, as this unit doesn’t come with a hard lid.

If you are looking for the absolute path of least resistance, HORMEL BLACK LABEL Bacon Thick Cut is the ultimate shortcut. This isn’t a piece of hardware; it’s a ready-to-serve product that bridges the gap between raw meat and instant satisfaction. The standout feature here is the Microwave Ready Pouch. You aren’t just buying bacon; you’re buying a mess-free experience where the grease stays trapped inside the disposable packaging. It’s naturally smoked over wood, so you still get that complex, savory aroma that defines a good breakfast.

This is the perfect choice for office workers who want a high-protein snack in the breakroom, or for college students in dorms who don’t have the space or desire to wash greasy plastic trays. It’s also a lifesaver for busy parents who need four grams of protein for a kid’s sandwich right now without firing up the stove. Since it’s gluten-free and shelf-stable until opened, it’s incredibly convenient to keep in the pantry.

The obvious downside is the cost-to-quantity ratio. You are paying a premium for the convenience of the packaging and the pre-cooking process. While the flavor is solid, you won’t get that same “custom” crispiness you might achieve by timing raw bacon yourself, and the 12 oz package disappears very quickly if you’re feeding more than one or two people.

The Joie Piggy Microwave Bacon Tray is clearly designed for those who appreciate a bit of whimsy in their morning routine, but don’t let the cute “piggy” aesthetic fool you—it’s a functional little workhorse. Its standout feature is the grooved cooking tray paired with a matching lid. The ridges are high enough to keep the bacon elevated out of the fat, which is the secret to getting that crunch. The lid is the real hero, though, as it saves you from wasting paper towels and keeps your microwave interior pristine.

I think this is an ideal gift for a student moving into their first apartment or for a single person who just wants a few strips of bacon without the hassle. With a 9 x 8 inch surface, it’s compact and doesn’t hog space in the dishwasher. It’s simple: one minute per strip, and you’re done. It’s a great entry-level kitchen tool that makes the process feel less like a chore and more like a quick task.

The main limitation is the capacity. It only holds 4 to 5 strips at a time. If you are trying to cook a full pound of bacon for a family brunch, you’ll be running cycles all morning. The tray is also relatively small, so if you buy extra-long premium cuts, you might find yourself trimming the ends to make them fit inside the piggy-themed perimeter.

The ONEMORE Microwave Bacon Tray with Lid stands out because it rejects the typical plastic construction of most microwave gadgets in favor of high-quality ceramic. This gives the dish a much more premium, substantial feel. Because it’s ceramic, it’s incredibly versatile—you can start something in the microwave and finish it under the broiler, or even use it as a serving platter because it actually looks nice on a table. The 11-inch round design provides plenty of surface area for several strips of bacon to lay flat on the raised ridges.

This is the right buy for the “buy it once” shopper who prefers sustainable materials over plastic. It’s for someone who wants a tool that can transition from the microwave to the oven without melting. The inclusion of a silicone splatter lid is a thoughtful touch, as it keeps the grease contained while allowing steam to escape, ensuring the bacon doesn’t just steam but actually crisps up.

However, there is a specific caution with that lid: it is temperature-sensitive. You have to be careful not to use it for more than five minutes at high heat, or it can deform. Also, because it’s ceramic, the tray gets significantly hotter than plastic versions and is much heavier, meaning you’ll need to handle it with care and use oven mitts when pulling it out of the microwave.

The Jillmo Silicone Microwave Bacon Cooker is all about durability and ease of maintenance. Unlike hard plastic trays that can crack or ceramic that can chip, this food-grade silicone tray is virtually indestructible. What really makes it stand out in a crowded market is the integrated grease reservoir with pour spouts at the corners. It makes disposing of hot bacon fat—or saving it for cooking later—much safer and less messy than trying to balance a flat tray over a jar. The large 9.85-inch square footprint easily accommodates 5 to 6 slices, making it one of the roomier options available.

I’d suggest this for the practical home cook who values easy cleanup above all else. Silicone is naturally non-stick, so even if you overcook the bacon, the residue usually just wipes away with a paper towel. It’s also a great multi-purpose tool; you can use it to reheat leftovers or even as a draining rack for fried foods. The built-in handles are a major plus for stability when the tray is full of hot grease.

One trade-off is the structural integrity. Because it’s flexible silicone, the tray can feel a bit “floppy” when it’s loaded with hot fat. You have to be very deliberate when moving it from the microwave to the counter to avoid spilling the liquid gold inside. It lacks a dedicated lid, so you’ll still be relying on paper towels to keep your microwave walls clean.

The Nordic Ware Microwave Bacon Tray & Food Defroster is a classic example of American-made utility. Its standout feature is the slanted design. While most trays use ridges to keep the meat up, this one uses a gentle slope to ensure that as the fat renders out, it immediately migrates to one end of the tray. This prevents the bacon from “stewing” in its own juices and helps it achieve a more consistent browning. The rectangular shape is also much more natural for the shape of bacon strips compared to round plates.

This is the best choice for someone who wants a large capacity tool that can do double duty. Since it’s flat and ridged, it works exceptionally well as a defrosting tray for frozen meats, allowing the meltwater to drain away so your food doesn’t sit in a puddle. It’s a no-frills, Made in the USA product that feels sturdy and reliable for daily use.

The downside is the lack of a cover. Without a lid, you are 100% responsible for covering it with a paper towel, or you will be cleaning grease off the ceiling of your microwave. Also, because the tray is quite long, you’ll want to measure your microwave interior first; in some smaller units, the rectangular corners might hit the walls as the turntable rotates.

The ONEMORE Microwave Bacon Tray (the lidless ceramic version) is essentially the “pro” version of a bacon cooker. By utilizing sturdy white ceramic, this tray offers a level of heat retention that plastic simply can’t match. This heat retention is the secret to getting that deep, even browning that makes microwave bacon actually taste like it came off a griddle. Its 11-inch round profile is elegant enough that you could honestly use it as a breakfast serving plate once the cooking is done, which saves you from washing an extra dish.

This is perfect for the home cook who alternates between the microwave for speed and the oven for large batches. Because it’s oven-safe, it’s a versatile roasting rack for more than just bacon—think sausages or even small portions of roasted vegetables. If you are trying to move away from plastic kitchenware for health or environmental reasons, this high-quality ceramic piece is a top-tier alternative.

The honest trade-off here is the mess factor. Since this specific model does not include a lid, the open-air design means you’ll be dealing with significant splatter if you don’t use a heavy layer of paper towels. Additionally, ceramic is porous to thermal shock; you can’t take this from a cold fridge and pop it into a hot oven or microwave without risking a crack, so it requires a bit more mindfulness than plastic.

The Nordic Ware 11-inch Microwave Bacon/Meat Rack is the quintessential “old reliable” of the microwave world. It’s a simple, square, BPA-free plastic rack that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The standout feature is its sheer simplicity and the generous 11×11 inch surface area. It’s one of the few trays that can actually handle a substantial amount of bacon without overlapping the strips, which is crucial for getting an even cook. The ridges are deep and well-spaced, ensuring that the grease stays far away from your food.

This is the best option for the budget-conscious shopper who just wants a basic, effective tool that works. It’s lightweight, easy to store, and fits perfectly on most standard microwave turntables. Because it’s a Nordic Ware product, you know the plastic is formulated to handle high heat without warping or releasing odors, which can be an issue with cheaper, off-brand alternatives.

The main drawback is that it’s a very basic piece of plastic. It doesn’t have a lid, it doesn’t have a pour spout, and it doesn’t have a slope. It’s just a flat, ridged plate. This means you have to be very careful when removing it from the microwave to keep the rendered fat from sloshing over the sides, as there isn’t a deep reservoir to “lock” the liquid in place.

The MKYSAIL Quick-Heat Microwave Bacon Cooker is a completely different beast. It features a patented metal-core technology that allows it to act more like a grill than a standard microwave tray. This is the standout: it actually sears the meat. While other trays just heat the bacon, this pan gets hot enough to create a genuine crust, giving you that “fried” texture that is usually impossible in a microwave. The PFOA-free nonstick coating and the tight-fitting silicone lid make it a high-performance piece of cookware.

I would recommend this for the “solo diner” or the office worker who wants restaurant-quality results in a breakroom. It’s perfect for someone who wants to cook a personal-sized steak or a grilled sandwich in the microwave. It’s incredibly portable and rugged, making it a great fit for RV living or dorm rooms where a stove isn’t an option. The 39 oz capacity is deep enough to contain all the mess.

The trade-off is the capacity and the learning curve. You can really only cook 2 to 3 slices at a time if you want that “patented” sear; crowding the pan ruins the effect. You also have to be extremely careful with the silicone ring and ensure it’s properly attached to avoid metal-to-metal contact with your microwave, and the unit gets extremely hot, requiring heavy-duty oven mitts to handle safely.

The Microwave Bacon Cooker Tray with Splatter Lid offers an interesting hybrid design by incorporating a removable silicone mat inside a hard plastic tray. The standout feature is the triangular high ridges on that mat, which are specifically engineered to prevent the bacon from “drowning” in oil. The silicone mat makes the base much easier to clean than integrated plastic ridges, as you can peel it out and toss it in the dishwasher, while the hard outer tray provides the stability that all-silicone cookers sometimes lack.

This is a great choice for people who are tired of the “grease ghosting” that happens on white plastic trays over time. Since the bacon sits on the silicone insert, the plastic tray itself stays cleaner and lasts longer. The included splatter lid is a major selling point for anyone who wants to stop buying rolls of paper towels just to cook breakfast. It’s a compact, 9-inch design that fits even the smallest “apartment-sized” microwaves.

One potential downside is the size. At 9 inches long, many standard bacon strips will be too long to lay flat. The instructions even suggest cutting the bacon rashers to size, which adds an extra prep step that some might find annoying. If you prefer long, unbroken strips of bacon, this tray might feel a bit cramped for your needs.