Yes, You Can Make Perfect Bacon in an Air Fryer. Here's How (2024)

Air fryers make many staple recipes well -- and fast. We've cooked cheeseburgers,whole chicken and, of course, plenty of wings, fries and frozen snacks in thepopular countertop appliance. That got us wondering, can you make crispy bacon in an air fryer? Oh, heck yes you can.

Bacon is always high on our list of foods to have at the ready for breakfast, brunch or a quick BLT and these powerful convection ovens are well-suited to handle it. Making bacon in the air fryer might be the fastest, easiest way to get those heavenly slabs of pork fat crisped up without having to clean a splattered stovetop afterward.

Making bacon in the air fryer is super simple, takes almost no skill, very little time and no special equipment other than your air fryer. If there's one drawback, it's that air fryers have limited capacity so you might not be able to cook an entire package in your air fryer depending on its size. But air fryer bacon cooks so fast, that making it in batches is no big hassle.

For more cooking tips, find out how to makebacon in the ovenand how using your air fryercan actually save you money.

How to cook bacon in an air fryer

You can make bacon in your air fryer, according to TikTok chef Skyler Paladino, aka @cookswithskye. You just have to make sure the machine is cleaned thoroughly and that you haven't set the temperature too high.

Paladino, who has nearly 180,000 followers, says bacon made in an air fryer tastes the same as it would in a frying pan.

Yes, You Can Make Perfect Bacon in an Air Fryer. Here's How (3)

"The air fryer just makes it easier to cook, allowing for more even cooking and control," he told CNET.

Yes, You Can Make Perfect Bacon in an Air Fryer. Here's How (4)

How to make bacon in the air fryer

  1. Place your bacon in the air fryer. Lay the strips next to each other, careful not to overlap them. You may have to make your bacon in batches or cut strips into smaller pieces if they're too long.
  2. Fill the bottom with waterto cut down on smoke. If your air fryer doesn't have a bottom, Paladino said, be sure to clean the drip tray between each batch and keep a close eye on your fryer while it cooks.
  3. Set the temperatureon your air fryer. There's some wiggle room depending on how thick your bacon is, what kind of machine you have and how you like your bacon done.
  4. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes on air fry and that's it

How long should you cook bacon in the air fryer

Paladino -- who likes his 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 under that.)

Food blogger Natasha Kravchuk, who has more than 3 million YouTube followers, suggests 7 minutes for softer bacon and 8 to 9 minutes if you like it crunchy.

If you have thick-cut bacon, according to Kravchuk, cook it a bit longer: 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 10 minutes for tender strips, and 10 to 12 for crispy.

Yes, You Can Make Perfect Bacon in an Air Fryer. Here's How (2024)

FAQs

What is the best temperature to air fry bacon? ›

How Long to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
  • Regular Cut Bacon – for softer bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 7 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 8 to 9 minutes.
  • Thick-Cut Bacon – for softer bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 9-10 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 10-12 minutes.
Feb 28, 2023

Do you put foil in the air fryer when cooking bacon? ›

Place bacon in air fryer

If you're using an oven-style air fryer, you'll want to put the bacon on an air-fry basket (basically a mesh rack) with either a solid pan or a piece of aluminum foil folded up on the edges underneath to catch any bacon grease drippings.

What is the secret to perfect bacon? ›

Lay out the bacon strips without overlapping in a cold pan. This helps the fat render slowly, for consistently cooked strips. 3: Cook over medium heat — again, good for even rendering. Turn the strips as needed until they reach the desired crispness, 8 to 12 minutes.

Where does the grease go when you air fry bacon? ›

Unlike bacon that is cooked on a sheet pan in the oven, or in a skillet on the stovetop, the air fryer allows the bacon grease to drip into the pan below as it cooks, so the bacon strips will be less greasy when they are done.

How do you keep bacon from rolling up in an air fryer? ›

If the strips do overlap, they probably won't all cook fully and evenly. Bacon doesn't normally blow around too much in an air fryer, but if you want to keep it from curling, you can place a small rack directly on top. I used the trivet from my Instant Pot.

Is air fryer bacon better than oven? ›

Yes. Air frying bacon not only yields delicious results, it is an easy, no-mess affair. The air fryer heats bacon evenly while draining excess fat for that great crispy texture. Plus, unlike stovetop or oven cooking, the air fryer requires no added fat.

Is air fryer bacon any good? ›

Tantalizingly crispy Air Fryer Bacon is hands-down the best and easiest bacon you can make! Evenly cooked and perfectly crisp, it takes less time and makes less mess than the oven or stove top. You'll want to add it to everything!

What happens if you put aluminum foil in the air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

How to prevent bacon splatter in an air fryer? ›

Unlike pan frying bacon, there's no splattering with air fryer bacon. I also add just under 1 cup of water to the air fryer basket to keep smoking at bay and to prevent any chances of splattering. Plus, clean up is easier with the water in the air fryer preventing any grease from baking on.

What seasoning makes bacon taste better? ›

Even though it doesn't necessarily come with a mild flavor, bacon is a total blank canvas. With the help of some extra ingredients and spices for your bacon, you can take its original savory, salty, and smoky flavor and enhance it with things like chili powder and coffee, Sriracha, maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey.

Why does my bacon never get crispy? ›

As with other meats, allow some room between strips, about an inch, when placing bacon in the pan. Crowding creates steam and prevents the bacon from cooking evenly, giving you limp bacon instead of crispy strips. Cook in batches if needed.

Why do chefs add water to bacon? ›

Why Does Cooking Bacon in Water Work? The addition of water keeps the initial cooking temperature low and gentle, so the meat retains its moisture and stays tender as the fat renders. Plus, since the water helps render the fat, there will be significantly less splatter as your bacon finishes in the pan.

How long should you leave bacon in the air fryer? ›

Instructions. Place the bacon slices evenly, in a single layer, inside the air fryer basket. Air fry bacon at 360°F for 7-9 minutes for regular cut bacon or 12-14 minutes for thick cut bacon. We used thick cut bacon for this recipe and cooked it for 13 minutes until crispy.

How do you clean the air fryer after bacon? ›

She says, “The easiest method to clean air fryer baskets is by soaking them in soapy water for 30 minutes to an hour and scrubbing with a soft sponge.” To clean the drawer or basket, start by knocking out loose crumbs and oil. Quickly wipe it with a paper towel to grab any last bits.

What is the white stuff when frying bacon? ›

The exudate contained 76-88% water, 80-130 mg/g protein and 2-6% NaCl, depending on the type of bacon and method of cooking. SDS-PAGE patterns of bacon exudate were similar to those of pork drip, suggesting it consists mainly of sarcoplasmic proteins.

How long to cook bacon in air fryer at 400 reddit? ›

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F (200 °C) for 5 minutes.
  2. Once the air fryer has preheated, lay slices of bacon in one layer in the air fryer basket. ...
  3. Air fry the bacon for 7-8 minutes until cooked and crispy. ...
  4. Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before serving.
Jul 3, 2023

What is the best temperature to cook bacon? ›

Bacon should be cooked at 400°F.

Medium-thick bacon slices will need 18 to 20 minutes to reach the perfect level of crispiness. But check the bacon at 10 minutes, and adjust your cooking time to your preferred degree of doneness.

How long to cook bacon in the oven at 400 degrees? ›

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Lay the bacon slices on the baking sheet.
  4. Cook the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes or until it's as crispy as you'd like.
  5. Remove the bacon from the oven and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Nov 20, 2023

What internal temperature should bacon be at? ›

This means either smoking for a traditional flavor or, if no smoker is available, you can slow cook it in a traditional oven. Either way, the cured belly should be cooked at 200°F (93°C) until it reaches an internal temperature of 150°F (66°C).

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