Quick and easy tips for perfectly crispy bacon
Bacon is perhaps one of the most perfect foods out there. Whether you like yours crunchy or soft, it makes a great snack or centerpiece to your home-cooked breakfast. The only problem is cooking it. Throwing those strips into a pan can make for a frustrating, messy time. Fortunately, there is a simple solution. Bacon made in the oven is a great alternative, but it may take a while before much is produced.
Air fryer bacon was next on our list of test methods, and it worked well.
Air fryer bacon is just as crispy as any method, with minimal mess to clean up, and best of all, bacon only takes 7 to 10 minutes depending on the recipe you follow. Does that make air fryer bacon the best bacon? We’ll leave that up to you, but if you want crispy bacon quickly, an air fryer is the fastest way to make crispy bacon.
Making bacon in the air fryer is also easy, requiring almost no skill, very little time, and no special equipment except yours. air fryer. If there is one downside, it is that air fryers have a limited capacity, so depending on the size, you may not be able to cook an entire package in your air fryer. But air fryer bacon cooks so quickly that it’s not a big hassle to make it in batches.
One Reddit user even suggested Place pieces of bread under the bacon to function as a grease trap, which could potentially save a lot of cleaning time with the air fryer later. However, there will be some leftovers from the cooking process that you may want to use later, so keep that in mind when putting the bacon in the air fryer.
For more cooking tips, find out how to make these bacon in the oven and what to do with leftover bacon fat, and see how to use your air fryer can actually save you money.
A small air fryer can handle a burger patty and two slices of bacon.
How to cook bacon in an air fryer
Air fryers have replaced the larger oven for a lot of recipes around here. We cooked cheeseburgers, whole chicken, salmon fillets and of course lots of wings, fries and frozen snacks in the fast countertop stove. That makes us wonder: can you make it crispy? bacon in an air fryer?
According to TikTok chief Skyler Paladino, aka @cookswithskyeyou can make the perfect bacon in your air fryer in 8 to 10 minutes. You just have to make sure that the machine is cleaned properly and that you have not set the temperature too high.
Paladino, who has nearly 180,000 followers, says bacon made in an air fryer tastes the same as it does in a skillet.
Do not overlap the bacon strips in the air fryer.
“The air fryer just makes cooking easier, allowing for more even and controlled cooking,” he told CNET.
Fill the bottom with water to prevent smoking.
How do you make bacon in the Airfryer?
- Put your bacon in the air fryer. Place the strips next to each other and make sure they do not overlap. You may have to make your bacon in batches or cut strips into smaller pieces if they are too long.
- Fill the bottom with water to reduce smoke. If your air fryer doesn’t have a bottom, Paladino said, be sure to clean the drip pan between each batch and keep a close eye on your fryer as it cooks.
- Set the temperature on your air fryer. There is some wiggle room depending on how thick your bacon is, what type of machine you have, and how you prefer your bacon.
- Cook for 7 to 9 minutes on air fry and voila, that’s it.
How long should you cook bacon in the air fryer?
Paladino — who likes it crispy — recommends air-frying your bacon for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (The smoke point for bacon is 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’ll want to keep it below that.)
Food blogger Natasha Kravchukwho has over 3 million YouTube followers, suggests 7 minutes for softer bacon and 8 to 9 minutes if you like it crispy.
If you have thick-cut bacon, cook it a little longer, according to Kravchuk: 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 10 minutes for tender strips, and 10 to 12 for crispy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prevent the bacon from making a mess in my air fryer?
Placing bread in the grease trap can prevent some of the greasy mess that comes with cooking bacon. Alternatively, pouring a small amount of water into the bottom of the air fryer can help reduce smoke while the bacon strips are cooking. Always keep an eye on your air fryer while cooking, no matter what you place in the fat trap or on the bottom.
How much bacon will fit in my air fryer?
Your mileage may vary, but you can expect to fit at least three thick slices of bacon in the air fryer at a time. The high speed at which a batch is cooked makes this a more attractive option. Make sure the bacon strips do not overlap before cooking.
