How to Cook Bacon in Air Fryer
If you’re curious about how to cook bacon in an air fryer, you’re in the right place! Air frying bacon is a quicker, cleaner, and more reliable way to get that perfect crispy texture without all the mess. Let’s face it, cooking bacon on the stovetop can be a real pain—grease splatters everywhere, and it’s hard to get that ideal crisp without burning a strip or two. That’s where the air fryer comes in, making bacon-cooking super easy and stress-free.
Please continue scrolling down to find the recipe card below, which contains the complete list of ingredients with measurements, detailed recipe instructions, additional notes, and nutritional information.
Why Use an Air Fryer for Bacon?
Air fryers are popular for good reasons, and when it comes to bacon, they’re a total game-changer. Here’s why I always cook bacon in my air fryer:
- No Grease Splatter: One of the biggest complaints when cooking bacon on the stovetop is the grease. It pops and splatters, leaving you with not only a mess to clean up but also the possibility of a burn. In an air fryer, all that mess is contained.
- Even Cooking: With the air fryer, bacon cooks evenly without needing to flip it constantly. Hot air circulates around each piece, giving every strip the same amount of heat.
- Quick and Easy: Forget standing over a hot stove. In about 10 minutes, you can have crispy, perfectly cooked bacon.
- Less Grease, Less Guilt: Air frying allows the excess grease to drip off the bacon while it cooks. The result is crispy bacon that’s not sitting in its own fat.
How to Cook Bacon in Air Fryer?
Important Note
Before you start cooking, note that times may differ among air fryers. I develop my recipes using a Cosori 6.8 air fryer. If you’re using a different air fryer, view my recipes as a general guide and tweak the cooking time—add a bit more or cook slightly less as needed.
Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You don’t want to overcrowd it because air needs to circulate around the bacon for even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the bacon in batches. I can cook 6 back bacon rashers in one go in my Cosori 6.8 air fryer.
Set the timer for 8-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. If you prefer softer bacon, 8 minutes might be enough, but if you like it super crispy, you can go up to 10 minutes. Be sure to flip the bacon halfway through so both sides get crispy.
Once the bacon is done, carefully remove it with tongs and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. This helps absorb any remaining grease.
Adjusting Cook Time for Different Bacon Thicknesses
Not all bacon is the same! Thin, regular, and thick-cut bacon can all be cooked in the air fryer, but you’ll need to adjust the cook time based on the thickness.
- Thin-Cut Bacon: Cooks quickly, usually in about 7-8 minutes.
- Regular Bacon: This is the most common type and will take 8-10 minutes.
- Thick-Cut Bacon: If you like your bacon extra thick, expect to cook it for 10-12 minutes to get that desired crispiness.
Remember, these are just guidelines. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your bacon toward the end of the cooking time to prevent overcooking.
Expert Tips From The Chef
- Always cook bacon in a single layer. If the pieces overlap, they won’t cook evenly, and you’ll end up with some soggy spots.
- Air fryers cook quickly, so it’s a good idea to check your bacon about a minute or two before the timer goes off. Bacon can go from perfectly crispy to burnt pretty fast.
- If you’re cooking multiple batches of bacon, pour out the grease between each one to prevent smoking and keep your air fryer working efficiently.
What to Do with the Bacon Grease
One of the perks of cooking bacon is that leftover grease! In an air fryer, the grease will collect at the bottom of the tray, making it easy to pour off and save for later. Bacon grease can add flavor to many dishes, from sautéing vegetables to frying eggs.
How to Store Bacon Grease
- Cool It Down: Let the grease cool in the air fryer tray until it’s safe to handle.
- Strain It: Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solid bits.
- Store It: Pour the strained grease into a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. You can store it in the fridge for up to three months or freeze it for even longer.
Creative Ways to Use Air Fryer Bacon
Bacon is versatile, and when cooked in the air fryer, it becomes a quick ingredient you can use in a variety of dishes.
- Bacon-Topped Salads: Crumble your air-fried bacon and toss it on top of salads for a bit of salty crunch.
- Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: Make a simple breakfast sandwich with air fryer bacon, egg, and cheese on a toasted English muffin or Homemade Air Fryer Biscuits.
- Breakfast Platter: Serve your air fryer bacon alongside fried eggs, sautéed mushrooms, Air Fryer Frozen Hash Brown Patties, Air Fryer Roasted Tomatoes, Breakfast Sausage in Air Fryer, and Air Fryer Toast.
Storage and Reheating
You can keep the leftover bacons in an air tight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
To reheat, place cold bacon pieces in your air fryer on 180 ℃ (356 ℉) for 3 to 4 minutes, until warmed thoroughly.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You’ll just need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Separate the strips as they thaw for even cooking.
375°F (190°C) is the ideal temperature for evenly cooked, crispy bacon.
If your air fryer starts to smoke, it’s usually due to excess grease. Pour out the grease between batches to avoid this.
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Please give us a five-star rating and leave a comment below.
I hope you enjoy the process of preparing this deliciously crispy Air Fryer Bacon just as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit!
How to Cook Bacon in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 6 back bacon rashers
Instructions
- Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You don’t want to overcrowd it because air needs to circulate around the bacon for even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the bacon in batches. My Cosori 6.8 air fryer can cook 6 back bacon rashers in one go.
- Set the timer for 8-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. If you prefer softer bacon, 8 minutes might be enough, but if you like it super crispy, you can go up to 10 minutes. Be sure to flip the bacon halfway through so both sides get crispy.
- Once the bacon is done, carefully remove it with tongs and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. This helps absorb any remaining grease.
Notes
- Always cook bacon in a single layer. If the pieces overlap, they won’t cook evenly, and you’ll end up with some soggy spots.
- Air fryers cook quickly, so it’s a good idea to check your bacon about a minute or two before the timer goes off. Bacon can go from perfectly crispy to burnt pretty fast.<
- If you’re cooking multiple batches of bacon, pour out the grease between each one to prevent smoking and keep your air fryer working efficiently.
