An apparatus and method for controlling a microwave oven using a bar code. The apparatus includes an operating panel provided on the front surface of the microwave oven, a bar code scanner installed in the operating panel and projecting light to the bar code attached to a package of food to obtain data of the bar code, and a main controller for controlling a cooking operation for cooking the food according to the data of the bar code obtained by the bar code scanner. The apparatus simply and rapidly performs the cooking of food using the bar code, increases the bar code recognition distance thereof, and is easily and economically operated.