Best Microwave Bacon Tray

We lead with the Progressive PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill because it covers the most ground for a household that cooks bacon regularly. The tray takes 7 to 9 pieces at once, a vented cover keeps grease off the microwave walls, and a recessed handle makes the lid easy to lift off. Grooves in the tray let drippings run away from the strips, and it is dishwasher safe and BPA free. The maker backs it with a 1-year limited warranty.

Owners report crisp bacon, grease that stays in the grooves, and easy cleanup. The complaints are about handling and fit. Buyers wish for a pour spout on a corner for emptying the grease, the slats are a little shallow so strips can sit close to the fat, and the walls could stand taller when carrying the tray. Size is the one to check first: the maker states it needs a turntable of at least 12.5 inches, and a common complaint is that it is too big for some microwaves.

The Nordic Ware Bacon Rack is built for small batches. A ribbed surface lifts the bacon above the grease, a trough around the cooking area holds the drippings, and the lid contains spatter. The base is high-density plastic, BPA and melamine free, made in the USA, and it is oven safe up to 400°F, with the lid for microwave use only. Owners also use it for sausage patties, hot dogs and defrosting frozen food, and they report crisp bacon with little mess on the counter or stove.

The compact footprint is also its main limit. Owners report that full-length strips have to be folded or turned to fit, and the plastic ridges and molding lines can crack or turn brittle over time. It is hand wash only, and one common complaint is that cooked-on residue takes a soak to scrub off. For a bigger tray with a similar approach, the Progressive PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill is the step up, though it asks for a larger turntable.

Capacity is where the Nordic Ware Microwave Bacon Tray & Food Defroster pulls away from the smaller Nordic Ware Bacon Rack. The rectangular shape is large, ridges hold the food up, and the sloped surface drains grease and moisture into a recessed area. That slope is also why it works as a defroster, and the maker says it can go from freezer to microwave to table. It is made in the USA, carries a 5-year warranty, and should not be used under a broiler or on stovetop burners.

Owners report crisp bacon, effective grease drainage and a tray that lasts for years, including a good amount of bacon at once. The cautions are practical. A common complaint is that it is too big for standard microwave turntables or small ovens, and slices in the middle can burn. There are also reports of the top half melting. The maker recommends hand washing because the dishwasher can discolor the tray, even though owners say it cleans up easily either way.

The Nordic Ware Microwave Bacon Rack 11 In. is the plainest option here: an 11 inch rack with no lid and little in the way of extra features. Owners report that it fits well in their microwaves, drains grease easily, helps keep the microwave clean and turns out evenly cooked, crisp bacon. It also gets used for warming thin foods.

Reports on size, durability and cooking time are split. Size is called perfect in one report and too small in another, one side is reported to break, and bacon does not always cook evenly. Unlike the Nordic Ware Microwave Bacon Tray & Food Defroster, which is often too big for the turntable, this rack tends to fit, but it holds fewer slices and has no spatter cover, so we would pick it for small batches rather than large ones.

Set against the Nordic Ware Bacon Rack's high-density plastic, the Onemore Microwave Bacon Tray 11 Inch takes a different route. It is a round 11 inch ceramic tray with raised ridges that lift bacon above its fat, and it works in both the oven and the microwave. The smooth surface wipes clean or goes into the dishwasher, and the white design can double as a serving plate. It can also serve as a rack for roasting meat.

Owners report even cooking, up to four slices at once, easy cleanup and a clear preference for ceramic over plastic. The main caution is time: a common complaint is that bacon takes around 10 to 12 minutes, longer than advertised, though others report quick results. Because owners report it holds up to four slices, we think it fits cooks who prefer a plate-style rack and a single serving or two.

The Joie Piggy Microwave Bacon Tray is the lighthearted pick. It has a cooking surface of 9 x 8 inches, takes 4 to 5 strips, and the maker suggests about a minute per piece of bacon. The raised ridges lift bacon above the grease, the lid is vented to let smoke out, and the plastic is dishwasher safe. It is also pitched at young cooks learning with adult supervision. Owners report crisp bacon without burning, grease that drains to the side, and an easy cleanup.

Size and durability are the catches. Next to the Progressive PrepSolutions Microwaveable Bacon Grill, which takes 7 to 9 pieces, this tray is too small for family cooking, and a common complaint is that standard strips do not fit well. Owners also report cracks in the bottom after a couple of uses and broken plastic around the piggy handle, so we would treat it as a small-batch tray rather than a daily workhorse.

Glass puts the Glolaurge Glass Microwave Bacon Cooker 10 Inch in a different camp from the Onemore Microwave Bacon Tray 11 Inch, which is ceramic and round. This one is a 10-inch square tray of thick, lead-free glass with deep grooves that lift bacon above the grease and hold drippings below. The smooth surface wipes clean with a paper towel, rinses with water or goes in the dishwasher, and it also suits reheating leftovers, draining fried foods and warming sausage or hot dogs. A 1-year warranty covers it.

Owners report even cooking, a better result than traditional methods and the reassurance of a surface that is safer than plastic. They put the capacity at about four to five strips, and one owner notes it does best with two pieces. We would pick it for a plastic-free routine and modest batches rather than for cooking a full pack.