Air Fryer Bacon

Published Date: September 2, 2022


Category: Air Fryer Breakfasts

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

After cooking bacon in the air fryer, you will never go back to traditional stove-top or even oven baked methods. Air Fryer Bacon comes out perfectly crispy every time, cooks in under 10 minutes and doesn’t require you carefully turning bacon over hot, spitting oil! You can even let the drained bacon grease cool below the basket and quickly wipe it clean!

  • Save
@yummy_recipes_yall If you’re making bacon in the air fryer, what are you even doing with your life?! #airfryerbacon #airfryerbacon🥓 #airfryerrecipes #airfryertiktok ♬ original sound – YummyRecipes

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bacon

I don’t need to convince you of how amazing bacon is, and this crispy air fryer bacon recipe is my new favorite way to cook the crispiest bacon in a fraction of the time.

Whether you’re wanting a quick breakfast or simply want to cook the best bacon (with less mess – winning!!) this air fryer method will have you convinced that oven-baked bacon is a thing of the past.

Air-fried bacon also:

  • is easier to clean up (no more grease splattering up your backsplash when cooking on a stove top)
  • can be used for any type of bacon whether you prefer thin slices or thick cut bacon or even turkey bacon (see the FAQs below)
  • is ready in mere minutes
  • is easily made in small batches so you don’t need to worry about a big mess for a small serving of bacon
  • is the actual best way to cook bacon, hands down.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of bacon (thin, regular or thick cut)

How to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Place half of the bacon strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (If you are using a basket air fryer and cooking a 1 pound package of bacon, you will need to cook in two batches).

  • Save

Step 2: Set your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Cook for 5 minutes then remove the basket, flip the bacon and cook for 5-6 minutes more depending on your desired crispiness.

  • Save

Step 4: Remove bacon and place on a plate with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. (If you are working in batches, just place the plated bacon in the microwave to keep warm while cooking the rest).

*see recipe card/notes for correct cooking times based on the type of cut you chose

Bacon strips cooked in an air fryer.
  • Save

How Long To Cook Bacon In Air Fryer

Different types of bacon will have different cook times and can vary depending on the type of air fryer.

Based on the thickness of your bacon:

  • Thin bacon or regular bacon cooks up fast, use the times listed in the recipe card.
  • Thick-cut bacon takes longer, cook for an additional 3-4 minutes total (you can start with 2 minutes extra, depending on the thickness of the bacon)

Based on your preferred crispiness of bacon:

  • If you prefer chewier bacon, reduce the cooking time for both types of cuts by 2-3 minutes.

Make sure to do a test a batch first if you have never cooked bacon in an air fryer before, times and temperatures vary significantly between models! Different air fryers have varying cook times, and bacon can easily burn.

How To Prevent Your Air Fryer Smoking When Cooking Bacon

It’s not uncommon for your air fryer to smoke a little when you’re cooking high-fat foods like bacon. While the smoke point of bacon fat is high (around 400F), bacon can splatter during the cooking process, even in the air fryer, and that splatter can end up on your heating element and cause smoking.

You can easily prevent your air fryer from smoking when cooking bacon and other high-fat foods by:

  • Ensure you start with a clean air fryer, making sure the bottom of your basket is also clean.
  • Remove any excess grease between batches, or if you’re finding the bacon you’re cooking is extra fatty (yum) you might even want to drain off some of the grease when you flip the bacon slices over.
  • I’ve heard of people adding a piece of bread to the bottom of the air fryer to help absorb some of the grease (and for an easy cleanup).
  • You can add a teaspoon of water to the bottom of the basket whenever you cook fatty foods to help stop the smoking that can happen. This is my go-to method and in my experience totally prevents air fryer bacon smoke.
  • You could cook at a lower temperature and adjust the cook time but lower temperatures can affect the crispiness of the bacon. For perfect crispy results, I’ve found the best temperature is 370F.

How To Store Leftover Air Fryer Bacon

If you do happen to have any leftovers (not something that happens often with crispy bacon) you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days.

Alternatively, you can cut the leftover bacon up into small pieces and freeze it for up to 3 months – this can be great to have on hand for any recipes that call for bacon pieces (or to add to any recipe you want because bacon goes with everything).

Re-heating Air Fryer Bacon

You can reheat your bacon quickly in the microwave if you have leftovers but I recommend just making enough for the desired servings…air fryer bacon is best served fresh and warm!

  • Save

FAQS & Helpful Tips

Can you put raw bacon in the air fryer?

Yes, definitely! Just law the raw bacon strips in the basket and consume once fully cooked.

Is air fryer bacon healthier?

Since the majority of the grease is drained through the basket grate while cooking, yes, air fryer bacon can be considered healthier than traditional stove-top bacon because it’s not sitting in, and absorbing, its own grease while cooking.

Is bacon better in the air fryer or baked in the oven?

Both methods work well but air fryer bacon is MUCH simpler to make because you don’t have to cook it as long as you would in an oven and you don’t have to drain hot grease halfway through the process. Air fryer bacon typically gets crispier as well.

Can you cook frozen bacon in an air fryer?

Yes! Frozen bacon can be cooked in an air fryer without needing to thaw first. You will just need to add 3-4 minutes total (you can start with 2 minutes extra, depending on the thickness of the bacon) to the cooking time.

Plus, if you’re like me and don’t have a lot of time to spare, it’s nice to be able to throw some frozen bacon in the air fryer for a quick and easy meal.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer before adding bacon?

No preheating is required before adding bacon to your air fryer. Just make sure the temperature is set to the desired 370F and add your bacon strips.

Can you cook turkey bacon in the air fryer?

Yes! Turkey bacon is a great option for when you want something lighter and lower in fat. Just follow the same steps as cooking regular bacon, except reduce the cooking time to 8-10 minutes at 350F.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Bacon?

While I’m more than happy to just eat perfectly crispy air fried bacon just as it is, here are some ideas of what you can serve with it:

A woman wearing pink glasses eating crispy bacon cooked in an air fryer.
  • Save

Air Fryer Bacon


Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 7
Calories 270 kcal
Air Fryer Bacon comes out perfectly crispy every time, cooks in under 10 minutes and doesn't require you carefully turning bacon over hot, spitting oil!

EQUIPMENT

  • Air Fryer, Cosori, 5.8 Qt

INGREDIENTS
  

  • 1 lb bacon, regular, thick or thin cut

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place half of the bacon strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (If you are using a basket air fryer and cooking a 1 pound package of bacon, you will need to cook in two batches).
  • Set your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cook for 5 minutes then remove the basket, flip the bacon and cook for 5-6 minutes more depending on your desired crispiness.
  • Remove bacon and place on a plate with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. (If you are working in batches, just place the plated bacon in the microwave to keep warm while cooking the rest).

VIDEO

NOTES

Cooking Times Vary for Different Types of Bacon

Depending on the type of bacon you choose, there will be different cook times.
  • Thin or regular cut bacon cooks up fast, use the times listed in the recipe card.
  • Thick cut bacon takes longer, cook for an additional 3-4 minutes total.
  • If you prefer chewier bacon, reduce the cooking time for both types of cuts by 2-3 minutes.
Make sure to do a test a batch first if you have never cooked bacon in an air fryer before, times and temperatures vary significantly between models! Different air fryers have varying cook times, and bacon can easily burn.

NUTRITION

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 8gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 429mgPotassium: 128mgVitamin A: 24IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.3mg
Course Air Fryer, Breakfast
Cuisine American
Join other Air Fryer Foodies on FacebookLike @myairfryerkitchen on Facebook to join in and find your air fryer community.

Leave a Reply

Recipe Rating