Is there anything better than a thick, juicy slice of bacon on your breakfast plate? If there is, it’s probably the equally thick and juicy slice of bacon that you put on your burger at lunch.
We can all agree that bacon is one of the best foods, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to prepare. If you feel like getting your bacon just right is a head-scratcher, then it’s time to find a bacon cooker.
Luckily for you, we’ve already done the hard work by tracking down the finest models on the market today. Each of these examples provides you with excellent value and takes the guesswork out of cooking perfect bacon.
Let’s get started!
Best Bacon Cookers
1. Prep Solutions by Progressive Microwavable Bacon Cookers Grill
This bacon grill comes with a cover to protect you and your kitchen from splatter. With its ability to cook from four to six slices of bacon at a time in the microwave, this is the microwave bacon cooker for the chef who’s in a hurry.
An innovative design keeps the bacon elevated off of the main surface of the grill. Accordingly, the grease can just drip away with ease. There’s even a recessed handle to make it easier to pull this grill out of the microwave.
While it’s designed for bacon, you also can cook link and patty sausages as well as frozen treats like pizza rolls using this tool.
Bacon prep genuinely couldn’t be simpler than it is with this microwavable grill. Just spray the grill with cooking spray, place the bacon slices on the bottom half of the pan, put the cover over it, and place it in the microwave.
When the bacon is done, remove it from the pan and pour the grease into a can. Your bacon will be healthier than ever to eat, and it will be done to perfection. Place the pan in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Users love that the bacon they are cooking is elevated so that the grease and fat simply drain away. Critics warn that this grill is pretty large, so it may not fit on the turntable in all microwave models.
With excellent functionality and dependability, this economical choice is an asset in the kitchen.
Pros
- Drains fat away with ease
- Trouble-free cleanup
- Makes perfect, crisp bacon
Cons
- Rather large
2. The Original Makin Bacon Cookers Microwave Bacon Tray
The manufacturer of this selection boasts that it can reduce the amount of fat in your bacon by 35%. If you’re at all health-conscious, that will intrigue you.
The reason that this microwave bacon cooker can reduce the fat content in bacon to such a large extent lies in the fact that it suspends bacon well up above the grease tray.
When you use this bacon cooker, you drape each strip over bars that are attached to a tray. The tray catches all of the grease and fat as they drip away. The bacon cooks up in the air.
All you have to do is place your bacon slices and cover them with a paper towel. Cook for one minute per slice. You’ll be eating bacon in no time.
Many people are shocked by just how well this bacon cooker works, especially considering how economical it is. Critics say that it works best with thick bacon as thin slices may cook unevenly and too quickly.
Easy and affordable, this is a great choice for any kitchen.
Pros
- Super-easy to use
- Gets all the grease out of bacon
- Cleanup is a snap
Cons
- It may not work so well with thin-sliced bacon
3. Hamilton Beach 4-in-1 Indoor Grill & Electric Griddle Combo Bacon Cooker
Looking for an electric bacon maker who can handle other jobs too? If so, then you’ll be intrigued by this selection. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but when you consider everything it can do, you’ll agree that the price is worth it.
This indoor grill has incredible versatility. Open it entirely to double the size of the cooking surface, or close the lid to make paninis and other treats. With this tool, you can make burgers, steak, fish, vegetables, eggs, French toast, pancakes, and more with ease.
As if all that weren’t enough, this grill also is equipped for cooking bacon without making a mess. All you have to do is flip the kickstand on the grill to elevate it. This drains the grease away, and you don’t even have to turn the bacon.
Fans love how fast this grill cooks everything, and how easy it is to clean. The most frequent complaint relates to the top half of the griddle not getting as hot as the bottom half.
This combination of indoor grill and bacon cooker puts in overtime with its admirable versatility.
Pros
- Versatile
- Can cook almost anything
- Makes bacon prep a cinch
Cons
- The two halves of the griddle may not heat evenly
4. Joie Piggy Microwave Bacon Cooker Tray with Splatter Lid
If you only need to cook a few slices of bacon at a time and don’t want to spend a great deal of money on a microwave bacon tray, then this model from Joie is for you.
It works great, it doesn’t cost a lot of money and it can cook between four and five slices of bacon at a time in the microwave. The entire tray and lid are made with BPA-free plastic. On the cooking surface, you have eight by nine inches to work with.
Raise ridges on the bottom tray to elevate your bacon so that it’s separated from the grease. The lid prevents splatter in your microwave, and both pieces are really easy to clean.
This product from Joie cooks perfectly crisp bacon every time. Just one minute per slice in the microwave is all that’s needed. Each piece of bacon is evenly cooked for taste perfection.
Saying that this product exceeded their expectations, many users love using it to cook bacon. Customers looking for improvements would like to see a larger size that can cook more bacon at a time.
When you need to cook a small batch of bacon in a hurry, this tool saves the day.
Pros
- Easy cleanup
- Works like a charm
- Perfectly crisp bacon
Cons
- Only fits four to five slices of bacon
5. Presto 05101 Microwave Bacon Cooker
This plastic bacon tray for microwave cooking is another great choice if you’re feeding a crowd. It can cook a dozen pieces at once without creating a big mess.
In addition to a tray, this bacon cooker comes with three upright pieces upon which you simply drape your bacon slices. The bottom tray is extra deep so that you don’t have to worry about spills or overflow of grease.
The cooking racks come off to be stacked for easier storage. In addition, all components of this cooker can be fully immersed in water and are dishwasher safe.
With easy, consistent performance and a good design, this bacon cooker is a pleasure to use. Plus, it’s convenient to clean and store this kitchen gadget, so there’s no reason not to like it.
People love being able to cook one dozen pieces of bacon at once without any issues. Nonetheless, a few users have had trouble with the tray cracking after a few months of use.
This easy-to-use bacon cooker is a dream in the kitchen.
Pros
- Convenient cleaning and storage
- Good, crisp bacon
- Consistent performance
Cons
- The tray may crack, so always follow the directions
6. Lekue Microwave Bacon Cooker with Lid
If you’re looking for a bacon cooker that you’re sure won’t make a mess in your microwave, then it’s essential to find one that has a lid. This particular microwave bacon tray with a lid gets points not only for that feature but also for the depth of the grooves in the tray.
The manufacturer boasts that this gadget can cook six slices of bacon in fewer than three minutes. Deep grooves drain the fat away so that you’re left with crispier bacon than ever before.
A drain spout makes getting rid of the grease incredibly easy, and because the lid is clear, you can keep an eye on the cooking process throughout.
With large handles, it’s easy to take this tray out of the microwave, even when it’s hot. This unit also is dishwasher-safe and BPA-free.
Fans praise this cooker for making fabulous bacon, but some say that it is a bit short for containing the slices before they are cooked.
When you need to cook just a few slices of bacon and don’t want a mess, reach for this gadget.
Pros
- A clear lid for monitoring cooking and containing splatter
- Easy dishwasher cleanup
- Has a drain spout and large handles
Cons
- A little short for uncooked bacon
7. Emson Wave Microwave Bacon Cooker
This bacon cooker for microwave use contains many helpful innovations that will give you the crispiest, healthiest bacon ever. Just as attractively, it lets you cook 14 slices of bacon at once.
Of course, this product takes things one step further by being stackable. That means that if you have two of these bacon cookers, you can stack one on top of the other so that you can cook as many as 28 slices at once. If you’re feeding a crowd, this is critical.
Each piece of bacon is stretched out on its side between three uprights. A set of skewers helps to hold the bacon in place, but these are not always essential to use.
For making perfect, crispy bacon every time, this product is tough to beat. It even washes up with ease in the dishwasher.
The Bacon Wave has many fans who love it for the quality of the bacon it produces. Some people do complain that skewers are easy to lose, but bamboo skewers can take their place.
For perfectly crisp, evenly cooked bacon, give this product a try.
Pros
- Cooks lots of bacon
- Innovative design
- Tough, sturdy plastic
Cons
- Be careful not to lose skewers
8. KITCHENATICS Roasting & Baking Sheet with Cooling Rack Bacon Cooker
This quarter sheet tray is a multitasking hero in the kitchen. The tray is made of sturdy aluminum while the stainless steel wire rack is great for elevating bacon out of the grease.
This is the bacon cooker for ovens because it’s perfectly sized to cook a few slices of bacon at a time, but it’s small enough to fit into the oven with another item. Accordingly, meal preparation remains convenient and efficient.
While we like this sheet and rack combo for cooking bacon, this is a versatile choice. Roast vegetables or meat, broil chicken wings, bake cookies, or prepare other treats. This pan can handle it all.
The rack features a tight grid pattern that is ideal for supporting whatever food you choose to cook. One-inch legs allow for airflow and keep your bacon out of the grease.
Alternatively, you can use the tray and rack separately: one for baking and one for cooling. The smooth, rimmed edge of the tray is easy to work with and won’t let the grease drip into your oven.
Fans of this product praise the quality of its construction and the well-chosen components that go into both the tray and the rack.
Nonetheless, some people wish that the tray was dishwasher-safe like the rack is.
If you’re looking for a versatile and high-quality kitchen tool that cooks bacon and lots of other things, then this tray and rack set is perfect.
Pros
- Quality construction
- Good materials
- Versatile piece
Cons
- The tray isn’t dishwasher safe
9. OXO Cooker Good Grips Microwave Bacon Crisper
OXO is a reliable name in kitchen gadgets, and this little beauty is no exception. It’s equipped with an adjustable kickstand so that the tray sits at an angle. This ensures that the fat and grease are directed into the reservoir so that your bacon is crispier and healthier.
The silicone cooking surface is durable and super-easy to clean as it can go into the dishwasher. A removable drain lid keeps the grease from splattering or spilling during cooking.
This BPA-free bacon cooker ensures that you always get crispy bacon in microwave use, and it also folds flat for convenient, compact storage.
Made from premium materials and producing excellent bacon consistently, this cooker is a popular choice. Many people praise it for doing exactly what it’s supposed to.
Some critics wish that this cooker was bigger so that they could cook more slices at a time.
OXO makes great products, and this one seems to live up to the company’s reputation.
Pros
- Excellent materials and construction
- Innovative kickstand design
- A lid for the grease trap
Cons
- A bit small
Factors to Consider
Cooking the perfect slice of bacon doesn’t happen by accident. If you’re tired of dealing with a mess from cooking bacon on the stovetop or in the oven but still want to ensure the quality of the results, then it may be time to choose a bacon cooker.
Your first choice will be whether to cook your bacon in a microwave or with an electric cooker.
Some people are not fans of bacon that’s cooked in the microwave. They object to the taste and consistency, but others don’t have a problem with it. For them, a microwave bacon cooker just makes sense.
A microwave bacon rack does have some advantages. It can cook bacon in an incredibly short amount of time, so it’s perfect when you’re in a hurry. You also tend to get crispier bacon with microwave preparation. Additionally, these cookers tend to be pretty compact, which makes them easier to store.
Purists may argue that microwave cooking just doesn’t yield the same high-quality results that other cooking methods do. This means that they are likely to advocate for an electric bacon cooker.
These units may take longer to cook the bacon, but many of them are still quite good at draining away the fat and grease. You’ll have more control over the cooking process with an electric cooker, and there’s a good chance that these cookers can be used for multiple purposes.
On the downside, these electric cookers tend to be bulkier, which makes them harder to store.
One of the other important factors to consider is whether or not the bacon cooker has a lid. Some people think that using a paper towel to cover their bacon is ineffective and wasteful. If you are one of these individuals, then be certain to choose a cooker that has a reusable lid.
FAQs
Can microwave cooking make bacon crisp?For people who really love a crispy slice of bacon, microwave cooking is ideal. It is the quickest and most efficient method for obtaining the perfect level of doneness in a remarkably short amount of time. Plus, many microwave bacon cookers are designed to drain away from the fat and grease that might promote a chewier texture, so it's hard to go wrong with a microwave cooker.
Are bacon cookers easy to clean?Most manufacturers have long since recognized the difficulty of cleaning up after cooking bacon. From the splatter and the accumulated grease to the bits of stuck-on bacon, it can be a real chore. That's why the majority of bacon cookers take the headache out of cleanup. Many of them are dishwasher safe and have innovations, like a lack of tiny holes and parts, that make them easier to clean by hand. As long as you begin the cleaning process before the grease starts to harden, the job should be pretty easy.
Is a dedicated bacon cooker worth it?This really comes down to personal choice. Some people are bacon addicts who need an everyday fix. For them, a dedicated, single-purpose bacon cooker is ideal. People who eat bacon more occasionally may get more benefits out of a gadget that can be used for other purposes, giving them more bang for their buck.
Summary
With its clear lid, the Lekue Microwave Bacon Maker is the bacon cooker, especially if you’re looking for a gadget that guarantees fast prep in the microwave.
We like the quality of the materials and the deep grooves in the tray. A drain spout makes the cleaning process a snap as does the fact that this unit is dishwasher safe.
If you aren’t sure that a dedicated bacon cooker is worth it, then consider a multi-use item like the Hamilton Beach 4-in-1 Indoor Grill. While it’s far and away more expensive than the other items on this list, it also is a far more versatile, promising bang for your buck.
