Bacon is beloved by many -- and even considered the perfect food by some -- unless, of course, you’re vegetarian or vegan. Who can resist the aroma of a batch of bacon cooking in the morning? Definitely not us. And the texture, whether you like it crispy or chewy, can take your breakfast to the next level. However, the challenge with bacon is cooking it. If you do it the traditional way on the stovetop, you have to deal with grease splatters and possible uneven results. While making bacon made in the oven is a reliable method, it takes much longer. And who has that kind of time in the morning?
Based on a recent Reddit discussion, home cooks are divided on the best method. Some swear by traditional stovetop cooking while others vouch for oven baking. Many folks also reported inconsistent results with bacon that’s both burnt and chewy, or strips that curl up and cook unevenly. The thread included plenty of questions about the best way to cook bacon. And a few mentioned using an air fryer for perfectly cooked strips.
Since air fryers are basically mini convection ovens, I decided I needed to give this method a try. What I found was a secret technique that gives you some of the crispiest, tastiest bacon strips with very little effort.
With rising inflation, you definitely don’t want to waste anything -- especially precious bacon. A CNET survey found that 93% of Americans are worried about inflation, and 77% experienced sticker shock from rising grocery prices. As essentials get more expensive, it’s more important than ever to avoid waste -- and that starts with knowing the best way to cook bacon perfectly every time.
Air fryer bacon comes out just as crispy as any method, with minimal mess and a cook time of just seven to 10 minutes, depending on the recipe. Is it the best bacon? That’s up to you -- but if you want crispy bacon fast, the air fryer is hard to beat.
Making bacon in the air fryer is also 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 at the same time, depending on its size.
But since air fryer bacon cooks so fast, you're still able to make relatively large batches quickly with far less effort than you'd have to expend with other methods.
One Reddit user even suggested placing pieces of bread beneath the bacon to function as a grease trap, which could potentially save a lot of cleaning time later. There are some leftovers from the cooking process you might want to use later though, so keep that in mind when you're starting to place the bacon in the air fryer.
For more cooking tips, find out how to make bacon in the oven and what to do with leftover bacon fat, and see how using your air fryer can actually save you money.
A small air fryer can handle a burger patty and two slabs of bacon.
How to cook bacon in an air fryer
Air fryers have replaced the larger oven for a ton of recipes around here. We've cooked cheeseburgers, whole chicken, salmon filets and of course, plenty of wings, fries and frozen snacks in the speedy countertop cooker. This had us wondering, can you make crispy bacon in an air fryer?
According to TikTok chef Skyler Paladino, aka @cookswithskye, you can make perfect bacon in your air fryer in 8 to 10 minutes. 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.
Don't let your strips of bacon overlap in the air fryer.
"The air fryer just makes it easier to cook, allowing for more even cooking and control," he told CNET.
Fill the bottom with water to help avoid smoking.
How to make bacon in the air fryer
- 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.
- Fill the bottom with water to 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.
- Set the temperature on 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.
- 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 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 minutes for crispy.
FAQ
How do I stop the bacon from making a mess in my air fryer?
Placing bread in the grease trap can help prevent some of the greasy mess that comes with cooking up bacon. Alternatively, pouring a small amount of water in the bottom of the air fryer can help cut back on the smoke as the strips of bacon are cooking. Always make sure to keep an eye on your air fryer as it cooks, no matter what you put in the grease trap or on the bottom.
How much bacon can I 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 quick speed with which a batch is cooked makes this a more alluring option. Just make sure the bacon strips aren't overlapping one another before you start cooking them.
What temperature should I set my air fryer to when cooking bacon?
You're generally looking at a cooking temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 10 minutes when making crispy strips in the air fryer. It's just important that you don't go over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, as that's when you start smoking the bacon instead.
Should I put water in the air fryer when cooking bacon?
Yes, it is recommended to add one cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. This will help reduce the smoke as the bacon strips cook.