Can You Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer?
Yes, cooking bacon in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook up crispy bacon without turning on the oven or making a mess of the stove. Bacon in the oven has always been my go-to method for making bacon, but this year I learned how to cook bacon in an air fryer, and now it’s my hands-down favorite for small to medium batches. (Microwave bacon also works well for small batches, but I still use the air fryer the most.)
Choosing Your Bacon
Thick, medium, or thick cut – Choose your favorite! The cooking time will vary depending on how thick the bacon is, but any type will work. Humanely raised vs. conventional – I prefer using humanely raised pork products, but you can buy what works best for you. Appearance – Look for bacon that has a mix of both fat and meat — not too fatty, and not too lean.
How To Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer
This section shows how to make bacon in the air fryer with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
How To Prevent Air Fryer Bacon Smoke?
Air fry bacon at 370 degrees F. This is below the smoke point of bacon fat, which is 374 degrees F [*], but as high as possible to crisp up your bacon nicely. Add water. This isn’t totally necessary if you cook bacon in the air fryer at 370 degrees F as explained above, but if you want to be extra careful, you can add a bit of water into the air fryer, underneath the grate. The water will cool down the bacon grease that drips down during cooking. Bread method. I don’t personally use this method, but you can place a slice of bread underneath the grate to absorb the bacon grease. Keep the air fryer clean. Clean out any bacon fat drippings between batches. Wipe out the basket and the top burner as well. Any leftover grease on the heating element or elsewhere can start to smoke, and it may even have a lower smoke point if it’s on the heating element or if it’s some other food from another recipe.
How long to cook bacon in an air fryer? One of the best things about cooking bacon in the air fryer is that it cooks up incredibly fast: 7-10 minutes for average bacon, 6-8 minutes for thin bacon, or 9-11 minutes for thick cut bacon. What temp to cook bacon in the air fryer? The best air fryer bacon temp is 370 degrees F. This is below the smoke point of bacon fat, but as high as possible to crisp up your bacon nicely. Can you cook frozen bacon in the air fryer? Yes, you can cook frozen bacon in the air fryer, it will just take longer. Start with 8 minutes, spread out the bacon, then cook another 4-8 minutes until it’s done to your liking. Can you use this method for turkey bacon? Yes, you can cook turkey bacon in the air fryer. Adjust timing if necessary.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftover bacon in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or use leftovers to make brussels sprouts with bacon. Reheat: You can reheat bacon in the air fryer again (at the lowest temperature it has), or simply microwave it on a paper towel. Freeze: Store cooked bacon in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Ways To Use Bacon
Now that you know how to cook bacon in the air fryer, there are so many ways to use it: If you want to be extra careful to prevent the air fryer from smoking, cover the bottom of air fryer tray with water. But see the section below on why this is probably not even necessary.
Breakfast – Enjoy it with breakfast favorites, like fried eggs, an omelette, or a stack of almond flour pancakes, or even toss it into a breakfast casserole. Appetizers – Appetizer recipes like deviled egg with bacon, cheesy jalapeno poppers, and warm ranch dip need some cooked bacon. Vegetables – Vegetable recipes like bacon fried cabbage, creamy broccoli cauliflower salad, and zucchini noodle salad all need some crispy bacon. Mains – Try air fryer bacon in main dishes like cheesy bacon cheeseburger soup, creamy chicken bacon ranch casserole, or a BLT sandwich. It’s also great in many other salads and soups!
If you’re looking for more delicious air fryer recipes, try easy air fryer hard boiled eggs to go with your bacon, crunchy air fryer zucchini chips, simple air fryer chicken wings or air fryer chicken legs (the skin gets so crispy!), or air fryer pork chops. Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
