We all love bacon, right? No matter what type of bacon you love, it brings an irresistible salty crunch to most meals.
When we think of bacon, we most likely think of traditional pork bacon. However, a lot of us have switched pork bacon for turkey bacon in recent years.
Nobody is denying that bacon is pretty unhealthy, but turkey bacon is considerably healthier than pork bacon.
Although it has a lower fat content, it’s just as tasty and continues to grow in popularity.
We even like to use it when making bacon-wrapped scallops, which is why it lands in our list of the best diabetic air fryer recipes to try.
As much as we love bacon, sometimes we don’t always have the time to cook bacon in a pan.
In times like these, we prefer to throw a couple of slices of bacon in the microwave so it can cook quickly.
The best method for cooking turkey bacon in the microwave is to place some turkey bacon slices on paper towels and cook them for a few minutes at a high heat.
Below, we’ll take you through microwaving turkey bacon in more detail, and take a look at why turkey bacon can be just as good as pork bacon – if not better!
Learn to cook turkey bacon in the air fryer, and check out my delicious candied bacon BLT sandwich recipe!
If you’re looking for more breakfast side dishes to enjoy, then try a Southern treat of creamy cheesy microwave grits!
Microwaving Turkey Bacon
Cooking turkey bacon in the microwave is the easiest way to cook it, and the quickest way to cook it too.
The best thing about cooking bacon in the microwave is the fact you don’t have to spend time standing over the stove and navigating bacon grease splatter.
Plus, it’s a much cleaner way to cook turkey bacon too.
So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how you can cook turkey bacon in the microwave.
First, place paper towels on a microwave-friendly plate and then place slices of turkey bacon on top.
Or, you can use a microwave bacon tray if you’re used to microwaving pork bacon. This makes the bacon even crispier too!
These paper towels soak up fat and moisture, while making any grease splatter easy to clean up.
To make cleaning up even easier, place another paper towel on top of the bacon before putting it in the microwave.
You only need to cook turkey bacon in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
However, this might differ depending on the type of microwave you have, how many slices of bacon you want, and how thick the slices are.
Let the turkey bacon cool down for about 1 minute before you serve. Don’t worry, letting the turkey cool won’t make it any less crunchy!
Turkey Bacon Vs Pork Bacon
There are of course many differences between pork bacon and turkey bacon, and both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Some people prefer turkey bacon as a healthy alternative to traditional bacon, while some may prefer the texture and taste of turkey bacon to that of pork bacon.
One type of bacon isn’t better than the other, so it really comes down to personal preference. All that being said, let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two types of bacon.
Both turkey bacon and pork bacon are made of muscle protein and animal fat, with the most obvious difference being that one is made from turkey and the other from pork.
There is no denying pork bacon and turkey bacon are heavily processed, and this preservation process often involves putting a lot of additives in the bacon.
If you’re concerned about how much processing has gone into your bacon, take a look at the ingredients label so you can learn more about the processing.
Pork bacon tends to get a bad rap because of its high sodium and fat content.
But while turkey bacon also has sodium it has significantly less sodium than pork bacon.
Both types of bacon have nutritional value and minerals with health benefits.
However, as turkey bacon has less fat it has a lower caloric content than pork bacon and is therefore healthier.
Still, you can use turkey bacon in the same way that you would cook pork bacon.
Thanks to its lower fat content, turkey bacon isn’t as greasy as pork bacon.
In fact, when cooking turkey bacon you may need to add some more oil when you’re pan frying or baking it.
Grease will still dribble out of turkey bacon when you cook it, but nowhere near as much as pork bacon.
In terms of appearance, turkey bacon strips are normally straighter than pork bacon strips and have a more uniform color and texture.
Pork bacon can vary in length and width, and have a different proportion of fat to meat.
But why does turkey bacon have a more uniform look? Well, it’s because turkey meat is ground up and then processed in blocks which are then sliced into strips of bacon.
Meanwhile, pork bacon comes from the belly of a pig which can have a different proportion of fat to muscle.
Like pork bacon, you can buy turkey bacon at most supermarkets. However, there are less turkey bacon options available when compared to pork bacon.
While pan frying bacon is the traditional way to cook bacon, microwaving bacon, oven baking it, or even air frying it can produce the same results and give you some delicious tasting bacon!
Check out our 10 best pork belly air fryer recipes to give it a shot!
Final Thoughts
If you’re worried that turkey bacon cooked in the microwave won’t taste as delicious as when it’s cooked any other way, then we’re happy to report this is not the case!
To make cooking turkey bacon in a microwave easier, you can also buy microwave bacon cookers that have special racks and grease traps to make the process cleaner and simpler.
However, for the method we’ve outlined in these articles these aren’t strictly necessary.
So, that’s it! That’s how you can cook turkey bacon in the microwave for a quick and tasty snack. Alternatively, use it to top a delicious burger, like the one featured in our best Chefman air fryer recipes!
Cooking turkey bacon in the microwave isn’t just quicker than pan frying it, but cleaner too.
Turkey Bacon in the Microwave
Equipment
- Microwave
- Microwave safe plate
Ingredients
- 2 strips Turkey bacon
Instructions
- Place 2 strips of turkey bacon on a microwave safe plate lined with 2 paper towels, then cover with another paper towel2 strips Turkey bacon
- Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes depending how thick your bacon is
- Let cool for 1 minute
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you happen to own a microwave bacon cooker, feel free to use that by placing it on top of the paper towels
- For more than two slices, you may need to increase cooking time
- Use 30 second increments after the 3 minute mark, and continue to check for appropriate level of doneness
- When cooking multiple turkey bacon slices at a time, try not to touch or overlap the slices. Not only does this help them cook more evenly, but the slices do tend to stick together after cooking
- Lay your slices as flat as possible on your plate. I find that the curled edges don’t crisp as well as the flattest portions. If you need to cut the slices in half or do multiple batches to achieve this, it’s worth it
- Feel free to add extras before cooking, such as maple syrup or honey for sweetness, and/or hot sauce or sriracha for spice
Nutrition
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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