Best Microwave Bacon Cookers 2026: 3 Cleaner Ways to Crisp Bacon
Compare the best microwave bacon cookers for crisp strips, contained splatter and easy cleanup, with clear guidance on rack, tray and lid designs.
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Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change.
The Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Dish is our best overall pick because its vertical rack design separates strips from rendered fat without claiming much cupboard space. The best microwave bacon cookers make a rushed breakfast less messy, but the right model depends on how many strips you cook, whether a lid matters, and how you prefer to clean up.
Best microwave bacon cookers at a glance
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Dish | Best overall | View |
| PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill | Best for families | View |
| Nordic Ware Bacon Rack with Lid | Best compact tray | View |
How these microwave bacon cookers differ
A microwave bacon cooker is not simply a plate with grooves. It needs to elevate bacon or route grease away from it, while leaving enough room for the bacon to cook without piling up. That basic distinction explains why these three choices suit different kitchens. Makin Bacon hangs strips over upright supports so fat drops into the lower dish. PrepSolutions uses a broad grooved tray and a vented cover. Nordic Ware pairs a ribbed base with a lid in a smaller footprint.
Capacity is the first practical question. The PrepSolutions listing states that its 11.88 by 10.00 by 1.88 inch tray holds seven to nine pieces, which makes it the sensible choice when several people eat at once. A wider tray also needs a microwave with a turntable and interior that can accommodate it. If you normally cook a few strips, a more compact rack can be easier to retrieve, rinse, and store.
Cleaning changes the experience more than many buyers expect. A lid contains much of the grease before it reaches the microwave walls, but it is another piece to wash. The Makin Bacon asks you to use a paper towel over the strips to control splatter, then separates for storage and is dishwasher safe. Nordic Ware specifically recommends hand washing with warm soapy water, so its tidy size does not make it the low-effort dishwasher option.
1. Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Dish: best overall
Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Dish
The Makin Bacon earns the overall badge for its genuinely different upright-rack arrangement. Bacon drapes over the supports rather than lying in the rendered fat, and the lower dish catches what drains off. Its maker says the design can reduce fat by up to 35 percent compared with skillet-prepared bacon, while the key practical benefit is that the strips are kept above the collection area. It is molded in the USA from BPA-free, high-heat-resistant plastic, comes apart for compact storage, and is dishwasher safe. Choose it if you want a dedicated bacon tool that prioritizes separation from grease and an easy routine after breakfast. The tradeoff is that it has no rigid supplied lid: a paper towel draped over the bacon is the stated splatter-control method, and the hanging layout may take a little arranging with especially long or irregular slices.
Pros
- Upright supports hold bacon above the grease-collection dish
- Separates for compact storage after breakfast
- BPA-free high-heat-resistant plastic and dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Uses a paper towel rather than an included rigid splatter lid
- Hanging strips need arranging when bacon slices are very long
2. PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill: best for families
PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill
PrepSolutions is the volume-oriented option. Its 11.88 by 10.00 by 1.88 inch grill is listed for seven to nine pieces of bacon, and its grooved tray lets grease run below the food instead of pooling around it. The supplied vented cover is particularly useful for a busy household because it is designed to limit splatter and has a recessed handle for lifting it off. The grill is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, so the large format does not require hand-washing every ridge. Pick this model when batch capacity and microwave-wall protection matter more than compact storage. Its limitation is also its advantage: the nearly 12-inch tray takes a meaningful share of a small microwave interior, so measure the usable space and make sure it can rotate freely before choosing it.
Pros
- Listed capacity of seven to nine bacon pieces suits larger breakfasts
- Vented cover contains grease splatter during microwave cooking
- Grooved tray drains grease away and the full grill is dishwasher safe
Cons
- 11.88-inch tray can be awkward in a compact microwave cavity
- Wide covered format occupies more storage space than a narrow rack
3. Nordic Ware Bacon Rack with Lid: best compact tray
Nordic Ware Bacon Rack with Lid
Nordic Ware's bacon rack is the compact alternative for a small household or a microwave that cannot take a large grill. The listed dimensions are 10.25 by 8 by 2 inches, and the ribbed surface raises bacon above its grease while the fitted lid helps keep spatters contained. It is BPA- and melamine-free, made in the USA, and the maker also describes it as suitable for sausage and other microwave jobs, which can make one tray more versatile than a single-purpose rack. Choose it if a covered, space-conscious tray is the priority and you are comfortable with a smaller cooking surface. The meaningful catch is care: Nordic Ware says to hand wash it with warm, soapy water and does not recommend dishwasher use. It therefore trades some cleanup convenience for its compact, lidded design.
Pros
- 10.25 by 8 inch footprint is easier to fit in smaller microwaves
- Ribbed base lifts bacon while the lid contains splatter
- Also designed for sausage and other microwave uses
Cons
- Manufacturer does not recommend dishwasher cleaning
- Smaller tray surface is less suited to a large breakfast batch
What to check before buying
Measure the flat space inside your microwave, not only the door opening. A tray can fit through the door yet interfere with the turntable or walls. Also decide how you manage splatter. A vented or fitted lid is convenient when you want the microwave to stay cleaner, while a paper-towel method creates a small recurring cost and requires attention so the towel stays clear of heating elements in microwave models with exposed grills.
Think about the bacon you buy most often. Thin slices cook quickly and can become crisp before thicker cuts have rendered enough fat. A rack or grooved tray helps drainage, but it cannot make every cut cook identically. Lay slices without heavy overlap, check early, and let the bacon rest briefly on paper towel after cooking. That rest is useful for draining surface grease and for judging crispness accurately.
Finally, treat claims about reduced fat as product-specific comparisons, not a health promise. The physical advantage is straightforward: grease can collect beneath elevated bacon. Results still depend on the cut, amount cooked, microwave power, and whether you blot the finished strips. For a family, the large PrepSolutions tray is the practical match. For a couple who values cupboard space, Nordic Ware is compelling. For the most bacon-focused design, Makin Bacon remains the balanced recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Do microwave bacon cookers make bacon crispy?
They can. A cooker that lifts bacon over a tray or channels grease away gives the strips a drier cooking surface than a flat plate. Crispness still depends on bacon thickness, microwave wattage, slice spacing and cooking time. Check in short increments near the end rather than relying on a single fixed time, because the bacon firms as it rests.
Is a lid necessary for microwave bacon?
A lid is not essential for cooking, but it is useful for containing splatter. The PrepSolutions and Nordic Ware designs include lids, while Makin Bacon recommends draping a paper towel over the strips for that purpose. Whichever method you choose, follow the maker's instructions and avoid sealing a container that is not designed to vent.
Which bacon cooker is easiest to clean?
For dishwasher cleanup, Makin Bacon and PrepSolutions have the advantage because their listings say they are dishwasher safe. Nordic Ware's rack should be hand washed with warm, soapy water. The easiest choice also depends on how much bacon you make: a large covered tray may prevent microwave-wall cleanup, while a smaller rack has fewer surfaces to store.
Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and can change.