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Microwave Bacon vs Pan Fried Bacon vs Baked Bacon – Which one is best?

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Do you have any doubt about which is the best option for cooking bacon? Well, there has always been a strong battle between microwave bacon and pan fried bacon, so we are going to detail the differences between the two. 

How do you cook bacon? Bacon can be cooked in the microwave, as well as you have the option of making pan fried or oven baked. The quickest and easiest way to cook bacon is in the microwave.

Are you now wondering which preparation method tastes better and more delicious than the other one? If yes, then you will be glad to know that you have landed on the right page. 

Continue reading to reveal all the details and differences between panfrying and microwaving bacon. Let’s now find out which is the best, easiest, and healthiest cooking option for preparing bacon.

Can you cook bacon in the microwave?

The microwave process for making bacon is indeed a great option. Microwave has already been an essential appliance for almost all kitchen spaces no matter whether it is professional or household. 

So, if you have a microwave in your kitchen, then the microwave is perfect for cooking bacon.

Microwaving requires really less time than making bacon in any other manner. For example, it takes between 2 to 4 minutes to cook bacon in your microwave depending on the texture you are trying to achieve. 

Rest assured that you can successfully attain the doneness you are looking for. From soft and chewy to crispy and crunchy, enlighten your tastebuds with perfectly cooked bacon that is loaded with flavor.

Is microwaving bacon safe?

Yes, microwaving bacon is absolutely safe and there are very few problems to be concerned about. While microwaving bacon, just make sure to follow some of the basic safety guidelines to reduce the inherent risks.

  • Use microwave-safe plates or containers that are meant to be used in microwave ovens.
  • Focus attention on the cooking time. Too much cooking time can burn the meat very easily. If the cooking time is less, then your bacon will still remain raw and undercooked. 
  • The amount of bacon and wattage of the microwave will affect the cooking time. Until you become familiar with how your appliance operates, then it is recommended to microwave in short increments and keep an eye on the prize.
  • Make sure to completely thaw before cooking. Defrost bacon in the microwave in about 5 minutes per pound.
  • Wrap paper towels around the bacon to absorb the excess fat and moisture content that seeps out as the meat cooks.
microwave vs pan fried vs oven baked bacon

Microwave vs Panfried vs Baked Bacon

Each technique has its pros and cons, but what factors are going to determine the better cooking method? Let’s lay out the benefits of microwaving, panfrying and oven baked bacon so that we can decide which method to apply for the best results.

Benefits of Microwave Bacon

Microwave bacon saves time, energy and is the most efficient way to cook bacon quickly. Bacon can be cooked to your desired doneness and texture to match your personal taste preference.

The bacon is microwaved on sheets of paper towels to absorb excess grease and also prevent splatter, so you microwave stay clean after cooking.

Let’s now summarize the benefits of the microwaved version:

  • Microwaving is the easiest way to make bacon.
  • Time-saving and efficient cooking process. If you do not have enough time to cook bacon using the pan-fried option, then you can opt for this method.
  • Involves no cooking mess. No hefty cleanup required because paper towels are used to wrap the bacon and reduce splatter inside the appliance.
  • If you are a novice and you do not have much experience, you can still use this microwave option of making bacon. It requires no extensive cooking experience or expertise as such. All you will have to make sure to precisely follow the recommended steps.
  • Bacon will be straighter and eventually develop uniform crispiness if left to cook for long enough. Some prefer soft or chewy bacon, and that is easily achievable as well.
  • You can prepare small batches of bacon in a single round.
  • You do not need to watch the processing constantly or there is no need to flip over the slices in the middle of cooking.

Is microwave bacon soft, chewy, or crispy?

Well, microwave bacon is not limited to one texture or another. If you prefer the crispy bacon, then microwaving is surely the most suitable option for you! 

Plus, with microwaving, your bacon will get a heavenly delectable smell/aroma that is particularly exclusive when it is prepared through this process.

This is because bacon is mainly processed from pork belly fat. Inside the microwave, when the temperature is extremely high, this pork belly fat will get emit an inviting aroma that every mouth craves for!

But, that’s not the end! Although by microwaving, you can easily get crispy version, you can still attain a soft or chewy texture simply by adjusting the cooking time. 

For obtaining the crackling crispy texture, you will need to microwave the bacon slices for a relatively long time. However, if you adjust the cooking time by shorten the processing, then you can easily get a soft or chewy texture.

Benefits of Pan Fried Bacon

Just like the microwave option, you can prepare bacon using a pan or skillet too. For example, you will need to take out a flat skillet, place the strips of bacon on it, and start cooking for a few minutes. 

The bacon can be cooked at high heat, however if crispy bacon is you thing than low and slow is recommended. Completely render the fat from the bacon and then slowly fry the bacon in its own grease.

You can use a paper towel to remove excess grease after the bacon is fully cooked.

Let’s now summarize the benefits of the panfried version:

  • Panfry is the traditional cooking option. 
  • Recognized for being easy to do. 
  • Pan fried version is most suitable if you are looking for a soft and chewy texture.
  • Consistent doneness is achieved by flipping and keeping a watchful eye as the bacon is cooking.

Is pan fried bacon soft, chewy, or crispy?

Panfried bacon has a few issues of concern that I would like to cover. 

First of all, the bacon slices won’t be cooked evenly and uniformly. It may not obtain the same level of crispiness and pliability as compared to the microwave version. 

Plus, the bacon slices may get curled up at the end. What’s more, pan fried bacon takes more cooking time as compared to microwave bacon.

Well, panfried bacon will mainly have a softer texture. For example, if you place bacon strips on a large, flat skillet and cook them for 2-3 minutes, you will obtain a softer and chewier texture.

However, the bacon won’t be that crispy after two – three minutes of cooking. 

The moisture will slowly seep out followed by the fat rendering from the meat. You will need to increase the cooking time for a few extra minutes so that the bacon fries in the grease.

Transfer the fried bacon to a paper towel to drain some of the fat. As the bacon cools for a minute or two, it will become crispy.

Benefits of Oven Baked Bacon

You can also prepare bacon using a sheet pan in the oven. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper because this project gets a bit messy.

Lay the strips of bacon on the prepared baking sheet, and bake them for about 10 minutes. The bacon will go through all the phases starting with soft and chewy and eventually getting crispy, which can take about 20 minutes depending on the oven and number of pans in the oven. 

Transfer the bacon to a paper towel to remove some of the excess fat that clings to the hot bacon.

Let’s summarize the benefits of the baked version:

  • It’s an easy option for cooking a lot of bacon at one time.
  • Oven baked version is most suitable for cooking large quantities at of bacon at once.
  • Results are based on the performance of the oven. Efficient ovens will bake a pan or two of bacon very easily. 

Is oven baked bacon soft, chewy, or crispy?

The major issue with oven baking bacon is that it is rarely cooked evenly and uniformly. The inconsistency is due to the heat differences experienced inside the oven and how many trays of bacon are being cooked at one time. 

Well, oven baked bacon will start with a softer texture. If you place the bacon strips flat on a large sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes, you will reach a soft or chewy texture.

As the bacon bakes for a longer time, it will release lots of fat and begin to fry in the grease. You will need to increase the baking time for about 10 more minutes so that it becomes crispier.

Transfer the hot bacon to a piece of paper towel to drain the grease off. If you allow the bacon to cool for a minute, then the bacon will become crispy and crunchy.

Best Way to Cook Bacon Quickly

With this article, we have revealed three ways of cooking bacon. Microwave bacon will get a crackling crispy, soft or delightfully chewy. For pan fried and oven baked versions, the texture will be more on the softer side unless they are fried in the rendered fat to become crispy.

Considering all of these facts, the recommended cooking method is to opt for the microwave since it’s easy, super quick, and requires no cleanup hassles after cooking. 

As a result, you will bacon that is uniformly cooked to the texture that you desire. In addition, the process involves minimal mess, saves times and can be executed without any cooking skill.

Are you now ready to try cooking bacon in your microwave? If yes, then please follow these simple microwaving steps to get started.

Step #1: Take a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a paper towel.

Step #2: Lay the bacon slices flat on top of the paper towel sheet. Cover them up with another piece of paper towel.

Step #3: Microwave the bacon slices for 2 minutes for chewy bacon, 3 minutes for soft bacon and 4 minutes for crispy bacon. After the time, check the doneness. If necessary, nuke for 15 to 30 second increments to gradually increase the cooking time. 

Step #4: Take out them from the appliance and let the pieces cool for a minute so the juices settle down. After the rest period, you can serve them right away!