How to fix bacon in air fryer

Parker Feierbach

Cooking bacon in the oven is a classic hack, and a great one. But we’re here to tell you about a new game changer: AIR FRYER BACON. Faster than it takes to preheat the oven and perfect for small batches, the air fryer might make the crispiest bacon of all time without a crazy amount of grease - and no time wasted standing over a hot skillet. You still get all the mesmerizing smells of bacon without too much effort, and that’s something we can get behind. Another pro of air frying bacon rather than baking it: You get those beautiful, curly, crispy strips, whereas oven baked bacon tends to lay flat. 

Whether you are new to air frying or an old pro, here is what you need to know to ensure the perfect air-fried bacon.  A few tips: 

Don’t overcrowd the basket.

If you like crispy, uniformly cooked bacon, make sure not to overcrowd the basket. Layering in too many slices prevents the food from browning and turning crisp. One key to air frying any food is to make sure there is air flow around each piece.

Keep the drip tray clean to prevent smoking.

One common and avoidable complaint about air frying greasier foods such as bacon is that the air fryer smokes. Bacon releases a good amount of fat while it crisps, which ultimately drips into the drip tray. Steer clear of this pitfall by cleaning out the air fryer drip tray BOTH before and after cooking, and sticking with the temperature in the recipe. (You don’t want to cook at a temperature higher than the smoke point of bacon fat.) A tip that some air frying aficionados embrace: Add a piece of bread to the drip tray to absorb excess fat. 

What can I use air fried bacon for? 

Literally any recipe that calls for cooked bacon is a place for air-fried bacon. And the best part is while you prepare the recipe, that air fryer can do the bacon cooking for you. Try crumbling the air-fried bacon onto baked potatoes. If you air fry the potatoes, toss the bacon into Cobb Salad, sprinkle it over corn in these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cobbs, or check out these 100 Seriously Delish Bacon recipes for almost endless ideas. Bottom line: This perfect, crisp bacon will not go to waste.

Tried this method? Let us know how it went in the comment section below! 

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Yields: 8

Prep Time: 0 hours 5 mins

Total Time: 0 hours 15 mins

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1. Lay bacon inside air fryer basket in a single layer.
2. Set air fryer to 400° and cook until crispy, about 10 minutes. (You can check halfway through and rearrange slices with tongs.)

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Is there anything better than waking up to the smell of bacon in the morning? It’s hard to beat, in my opinion! Traditional ways of preparing breakfast can involve a lot of cleanups. One of the best parts about owning an air fryer is that cleanup is a breeze!

The star of the show at breakfast in my house is bacon. We pair it with eggs, pancakes, and sometimes I’ll make some extra to make a BLT for lunch. We also sometimes have breakfast for dinner, which my kids get a kick out of! 

Cooking bacon in the air fryer makes things taste even better. This air fryer bacon recipe is so easy that it comes together in just 10 minutes. 

For a full breakfast, why not try air fryer bacon and eggs? But, I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let’s learn how to cook bacon in the air fryer.

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

• Step-by-step instructions for cooking bacon in the air fryer
• My special trick for removing excess grease from your air fried bacon and keeping your air fryer clean!
• How to prevent your air fryer from smoking while your bacon cooks
• Techniques to make crispy bacon and non-crispy bacon in the air fryer

If you’re wondering how to cook bacon in the air fryer, you’ve come to the right place. After making this recipe, you’ll never go back to stovetop or microwave bacon!

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon 

STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Place 1-2 pieces of bread at the bottom of your air fryer, under the basket. This will help catch any excess grease from causing a mess in your air fryer.

STEP TWO: In an even layer, put the bacon in your air fryer. If you’re using long bacon, cut the strips in half so they fit easily in your air fryer.

STEP THREE: Cook at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until the bacon reaches your desired crispiness. Remove and enjoy immediately!

Looking for a change-up? Try cooking these 25 air fryer breakfast recipes! Includes turkey bacon, breakfast burritos, and even hash brown patties!

Tips for Making Crispy Bacon in the Air Fryer

If you’ve never made air fryer bacon before there are a few tips you need to know about before you get started:

• Use these long tongs to remove the bacon from your air fryer. You’ll avoid burning yourself!
• Make sure that you use thick, uncured bacon for this recipe. It’s the most flavorful!
• When cooking bacon in the air fryer, don’t overcrowd the basket with multiple layers.
• For the crispiest bacon, flip the bacon strips halfway through.
• For added flavor, season the raw bacon before you air fry it. Options include pepper, maple syrup, or brown sugar!

Can You Put Raw Bacon in An Air Fryer?

You can cook bacon in an air fryer, you just need to make sure that you cook it at the correct temperature. Verify that your air fryer is clean and preheat it to 350 degrees F.

This is the perfect temperature to get crispy bacon strips. 

If your bacon is frozen, use our air fryer frozen bacon recipe here.

How to Prevent Your Air Fryer from Smoking While Cooking Bacon

There are two ways to prevent your air fryer from smoking while cooking bacon:

• With bread: This method is my personal favorite. Place 1-2 pieces of bread underneath your air fryer’s basket. The bread acts as a sponge and soaks up any excess grease that could cause your air fryer to smoke!

• With water: Use this method if you don’t have any bread at home. Put a small amount of water in the drawer of your air fryer, which you’ll find under the basket. Be careful not to use too much water as this can make your bacon soggy.

It’s also important to clean your air fryer right after cooking the air fryer bacon to keep the grease from getting baked on. Learn all you need to know about cleaning your air fryer here!

Do I Need to Preheat My Air Fryer?

Yes, every type of air fryer should be preheated to ensure even cooking. These popular cooking appliances are known for making foods crispy and delicious.

To get the crispiness you’re after, you need to preheat.

How Long Do You Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer?

How long to cook bacon in the air fryer depends on the thickness of the bacon:

• Regular Bacon: For crispy bacon, cook at 350 degrees F for 8-9 minutes. For non-crispy bacon, cook for 7 minutes.

• Thick Bacon: For the crispiest bacon, cook at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. For non-crispy bacon, cook for 9-10 minutes.

Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love: