Information About Microwave Bacon

What is Bacon

Bacon is prepared from preserved pork and is used as an ingredient to flavor dishes. Bacon can be cooked in different methods like boiling, frying, grilling and smoking etc. If you want to get the best out of a bacon, then cook it in a microwave. Let's take a look at how to microwave bacon.

How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave

Here are a few easy steps for how to microwave bacon

On a microwave plate, place paper towels and arrange bacon links on top, without overlapping each other. The paper towels will absorb the excess bacon fat.
Cover the bacon links with another paper towel to reduce the splattering of grease in the microwave.
Cook the bacon on high in a microwave for about five minutes.
Rotate the plate of bacon after three minutes to ensure that the bacon is cooked evenly on all sides.
After the bacon is done, remove it from the microwave and transfer it to a fresh plate with paper towel. Let the bacon cool for about ten minutes before you eat.

What is bacon and where does it come from?

Bacon comes from the side of the pig. The meat is cured and usually smoked before you cook it at home. It's the fat in the bacon that provides most of the flavor and allows it to cook up crispy, yet tender. Do not turn up your nose at that fat. A hefty ratio of fat to meat is essential to good bacon, usually one-half to two-thirds fat to meat. Since bacon must be cooked before being consumed, much of the fat is rendered out and can be poured off if need be.

Most bacon is purchased pre-sliced in thin slices, 1/32nd of an inch thick and about 35 strips to the pound. Thin-sliced is also referred to as hotel or restaurant bacon. Regular slice is 1/16th of an inch thick and has 16 to 20 slices per pound. Thick-sliced bacon, generally twice as thick as regular bacon, contains 12 to 16 slices per pound on the average, depending on the supplier. You can also purchase bacon in a block (called slab bacon or flitch in Pennsylvania when unsmoked) and cut it into the thickness that best suits you.

Outside the United States, one slice of bacon is often referred to as a rasher.

The flavor of regular bacon can vary widely depending on the breed of the pig, its feed, how it is cut, processing and curing methods. Let your taste buds be the judge and stick with what you like. In addition to basic no-frills bacon, you'll also find it available in a variety of flavors, including apple, maple, and mesquite. Low-fat and low-sodium versions are options for those on restricted diets.

Fully-cooked bacon slices are also now available in most markets for those with cooking time constraints. Canned bacon is a favorite with many as it is pre-cooked and shelf-stable until opened, but it is difficult to find these days. Bacon bits are pre-cooked pieces of bacon which are then dried. Bacon bits must be refrigerated. Do not confuse imitiation bacon bits (such as Bac-O's®) with the real thing. Imitation bacon bits are made of flavored vegetable protein.

How to cook bacon - bacon cooking methods

Bacon Cooking Tips
• If the packaged sliced bacon is cold from the refrigerator, slowly slide the dull edge of a butter knife along the length between the strips, gently rocking to separate slices. Plan ahead and take the bacon out of the refrigerator thirty minutes before cooking. The slices should separate easily.

• When frying bacon, it's important to keep a close eye on it and turn it often. It can burn in the blink of an eye. Older bacon will cook and burn almost twice as quickly as fresh bacon.

• If you prefer very crispy bacon, choose thinner slices to fry up. Pour or baste off the fat as it accumulates in the pan. Use medium to medium-low heat. Cook slowly, turning often, to render out the most fat and help reduce shrinkage. Pricking with a fork will help alleviate any curling problems. Drain breakfast bacon on paper towels.

• The fat rendered from the cooked bacon is highly-prized as a cooking oil for its flavor. After cooking the bacon, cool the rendered oil to room temperature and then pour through a fine sieve into a glass container. Cover and store in the refrigerator or freezer for future use. If you do not need the rendered fat, let it cool to room temperature, pour into a disposable metal or glass container, seal, tie up in a plastic bag, and toss into the trash. It's not wise to pour it down the drain, because it will coagulate and clog up the drain.

• There are fancy microwave bacon cookers on the market which work well, but they are not necessary. Place a microwave-safe paper towel in a micro dish large enough to fit a single layer of bacon slices (4 to 6 slices). Cover with another paper towel. Six slices should take about 4 to 5 minutes on high, depending on the wattage of your microwave and the thickness of the bacon. Start checking after the first two minutes, and continue cooking at one minute intervals until you can judge the cooking time for the way you like it. Consult your microwave manual for more specific times. A rotating base in the microwave is highly recommended for even cooking, and most come with one built in these days. Remember that foods continue to cook even after the timer goes off in a microwave, so let it rest a few minutes before you dive in to let it crisp up and avoid burns. Curly bacon never bothers me, but this method reduces curling of the bacon.

• Bacon can also be easily baked in the oven, resulting in amazingly flat slices. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rack inside a baking sheet. Lay out slices and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on desired doneness level. Voila! Crispy bacon with no curls. You can also use your broiler, but I don't recommend it. First of all, the splatters not only make a royal mess, but also cause flares. Secondly, it requires much more attention. Stick with frying, microwaving or baking.

• How can you reduce splattering problems? Part of the problem arises from today's quick salt-brining method (known as pickle-curing) used by producers. The liquid naturally soaks into the meat, and you know what happens when liquid hits hot oil -- snap, crackle, pop! Be sure the bacon slices are cold from the refrigerator and start with a cold pan. Use medium to medium-low heat and take your time cooking the slices, turning often. It's preferable to thaw frozen bacon in the refrigerator to reduce moisture, but even then some of the moisture may naturally seep out. Towel off the slices before cooking to avoid excess splattering.

• If you must watch your fat intake, lean smoked ham or prosciutto can be substituted in many recipes where the rendered bacon fat is not needed. Turkey, chicken and vegetarian bacon products are also available.

• Most slab bacon is sold with the rind attached. Remove the rind before using. Render the fat from the rind by frying and you have cracklings, a favorite Southern snack.

How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave Recipe

Cooking bacon in the microwave is fast and easy. It takes only minutes and the strips of bacon come out nice and flat.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 3 to 5 minutes
Here's How:

   1. Place a microwave-safe paper towel in a micro dish large enough to fit a single layer of bacon slices (4 to 6 slices).
   2. Cover with another paper towel.
   3. Six slices should take about 4 to 5 minutes on high, depending on the wattage of your microwave and the thickness of the bacon.
   4. Start checking after the first two minutes, and continue cooking at one minute intervals until you can judge the cooking time for the way you like it.
   5. Remember that foods continue to cook even after the timer goes off in a microwave, so let it rest a few minutes before you dive in to let it crisp up and avoid burns.

Tips:

   1. Consult your microwave manual for more specific times.
   2. A rotating base in the microwave is highly recommended for even cooking, and most come with one built in these days.
   3. This method reduces curling of the bacon, resulting in flat strips.

What You Need:

    * Bacon
    * Microwave
    * Paper Towels
    * Large, flat, microwave-proof dinner plate

--- Microwave Bacon Frittata

Microwave Bacon Frittata is a super quick and easy recipe for an egg main dish you can make morning or night.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:

    * 4 slices bacon
    * 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
    * 6 eggs
    * 1/4 cup milk
    * 1/4 teaspoon salt
    * dash pepper
    * 2 tablespoons butter
    * 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
    * 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
Cook bacon, either on the stovetop or in the microwave oven, until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble. Cook green bell pepper in bacon drippings, either on the stovetop or in the microwave, until crisp-tender.

In medium bowl, beat eggs with milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in bacon and green bell pepper.

Melt butter in 9" glass pie dish. Add egg mixture. Cover and microwave on high for 1-1/2 minutes, then rotate the dish. Cover and cook on high for 1/2 to 2 minutes longer or until egg mixture is just set. Sprinkle with cheeses, cover, and let stand for 4 minutes, then cut into wedges to serve. Serves 3-4

How to Microwave Bacon

Cooking bacon in the microwave is one of the easiest and least messy ways to prepare this delicious meat.

First, line a microwave-safe plate with microwave-safe paper towels (read the label!). Then arrange six bacon slices on them, side-by-side but not overlapping.

Cover with another sheet of microwave-safe paper towel. Microwave the bacon for 4-6 minutes on high, checking after 3 minutes. Rotate the plate after three minutes so the bacon cooks evenly.

Remove the bacon from the plate it cooked on and let stand on fresh paper towel for 2-3 minutes so it can firm and finish cooking, then use.

You can buy a Microwave Bacon Tray, which drains away the fat as the bacon cooks.

Microwave Bacon Cooking Equipment - Better Than Cooking Over A Spit!

these days you will find that there a number of cooking utensils when it comes to cooking bacon. But not all can turn out great bacon. The microwave oven is the equipment which can be used for cooking bacon. Bacon can be cooked over the stove in a fry pan so that all the juices and fat that it contains helps to cook the meat by itself. Cooking this way over the stove slowly makes the bacon sizzle and gurgle while it cooks. Using the microwave oven to cook helps to cut out all that extra fat required for its cooking and turns out crispy ones. This is why microwave cooking of bacon is preferred by many.

Those people who prefer their bacon to be greasy can use the pan for cooking it. But those who are more health conscious would certainly prefer to have their bacon cooked using the microwave. There are also other ways in which you can have your bacon cooked using other types of cooking utensils which are now available in the market.

The different types of bacon cookers which are readily available in the market come in various shapes, sizes, designs and even prices. Try to get a bacon cooker that allows you to cook your bacon without causing any mess while it cooks in the microwave. These bacon cookers come in a variety of prices and it is up to each individual cook to choose one which fits their budget.

Bacon cookers can be used for a variety of cooking needs other than defrosting and warming. Bacon cookers like the presto brand helps to keep the flavor of the bacon intact while it helps to drain off the excess oil. We are all aware that oil is unhealthy and is not to be consumed and that's why it is important that all the oil is drained out of the bacon before it is eaten during breakfast.

Another type of bacon cooking equipment, which is highly convenient helps to keep the bacon from rolling up preventing it from sticking together. Here the bacon is made to stand up instead of lying flat down which prevents it from rolling over the other pieces. The equipment is specially designed that it secures both the ends of the bacon piece and keeps the middle portion stretched making it ideal for the bacon to be cooked well. This way the cooked bacon presents a neat appearance when it is placed on the breakfast plate on the table in the morning. This is how restaurants cook their bacon.

Bacon is an important dish which is served at most breakfast tables and using bacon cooking equipment helps anyone to serve well cooked bacon for breakfast.