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We’ve become a bit obsessed with making bacon around here. You can fry those fatty slices in a pan, but that leaves a greasy mess. Bacon from the oven turns out crispy strips and there’s not much mess to clean up, but it does require a bit more prep and the baking time will be longer.
Next on our list of methods to test was air fryer bacon, and it turned out well.
Air fryer bacon turned out to be just as crispy as any other method, with minimal mess to clean up and, best of all, the bacon only takes 7-10 minutes to cook, 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 fast, an air fryer is the fastest way to make crispy bacon.
Making bacon in the air fryer is also easy, requires virtually no skills, very little time and no special equipment other than your air fryer. If there is one downside, it’s that air fryers have a limited capacity, so you may not be able to cook an entire package in your air fryer, depending on the size. But air fryer bacon cooks so quickly, making it in batches is no problem.
One Reddit user even suggested place pieces of bread under the bacon to act as a grease trap, which can potentially save a lot of cleanup time later with the air fryer. However, there are 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, read how to make this bacon in the oven and what to do with leftover bacon grease, and see how to use your air fryer can actually save you money.
A small air fryer can fit a hamburger and two slices of bacon.
How to Cook Bacon in an Airfryer
Air fryers have replaced the larger oven for a lot of recipes here. We’ve cooked cheeseburgers, whole chicken, salmon fillets and of course, lots of wings, fries and frozen snacks in the fast counter cooker. Which makes us wonder, can you make crispy bacon in an air fryer?
According to TikTok chief Skyler Paladino, aka @cookswithskyeyou can make perfect bacon in your airfryer in 8 to 10 minutes. You just have to make sure the appliance is clean and that you have not set the temperature too high.
Paladino, who has nearly 180,000 followers, says bacon cooked in an air fryer tastes the same as bacon from a skillet.
Make sure the bacon slices do not overlap in the air fryer.
“The air fryer makes cooking easier, it gives you more even cooking and more control,” he told CNET.
Fill the bottom with water to prevent smoking.
How to make bacon in the airfryer
- Put your bacon in the airfryer. Lay the strips side by side, making sure they don’t overlap. You may need to batch your bacon or cut the strips into smaller pieces if they’re too long.
- Fill the bottom with water to reduce smoke. If your air fryer doesn’t have a base, Paladino said, make sure to clean the drip pan between batches and keep a close eye on your fryer as it cooks.
- Set the temperature on your air fryer. There is some leeway depending on how thick your bacon is, what kind of appliance you have and how you like your bacon cooked.
- Cook for 7 to 9 minutes on airfryer and behold, that’s it.
How long should you fry bacon in the air fryer?
Paladino, who likes it crispy, recommends cooking your bacon in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (Bacon’s smoke point is 390 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure it stays below that.)
Food blogger Natasha Kravchukwho has more than 3 million followers on YouTube, recommends 7 minutes for softer bacon and 8 to 9 minutes if you like crispy bacon.
If you have thick-cut bacon, Kravchuk says you’ll need to cook it a little longer: 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 10 minutes for tender strips, and 10 to 12 minutes for crispy strips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent bacon from making a mess in my air fryer?
Placing bread in the grease trap can help prevent some of the greasy mess that occurs when frying bacon. Alternatively, adding a small amount of water to the bottom of the air fryer can help reduce smoke while the bacon is cooking. Always make sure to keep an eye on your air fryer while it is cooking, regardless of what you put in the grease trap or on the bottom.
How much bacon fits in my air fryer?
Your experience may vary, but you can expect to fit at least three thick slices of bacon into the air fryer at a time. The high speed at which a batch cooks makes this a more appealing option. Just make sure the bacon strips aren’t overlapping before cooking.
