Crispy Air Fryer Bacon (Best Bacon Every time!)
Are you tired of the greasy mess of frying bacon on the stovetop? Do you crave that perfect crispy bacon but dread the clean-up afterward?
I knew I was until I tried air fryer bacon. Let’s say I have never looked back since then!
I used to pan-fry my bacon, which left my kitchen with greasy and unevenly cooked strips. The splatter, the smoke, and the constant attention can make breakfast a nightmare first thing in the morning.
I’m sure this image of grease splattered all over your stove, a smoky kitchen, and burnt bacon slices is familiar to most.
That chaos added to my boys running around shouting, “Is it done yet?”. And now, I can happily wave goodbye to that!
These days, I pop the bacon slices into my Ninja Foodi air fryer while my boys are brushing their teeth, and Tada, I get consistently crispy bacon every time.
Not only does it taste great, but the air fryer also offers a blissfully easy cleanup. Say goodbye to greasy stovetops and hello to hassle-free, delectable bacon!
Cook bacon in your air fryer once, and you’ll never go back. I know I didn’t! So now, let me answer some of those burning questions running through your head about air-frying bacon.
Best bacon cut for air fryer bacon?
We all have our favorite bacon cuts, and yes, the air fryer can cook all of them!
However, you must change the cooking settings slightly for the best results. I have air-fried these four popular bacon cuts, and here’s what I noticed.
Streaky bacon: Also known as Regular bacon, it is a narrow, long strip of bacon. It is cut from the fattier part of the belly, so you will see a fair bit of fat between the meat.
It typically comes in thin slices, which makes the crispiest bacon in the air fryer.
Thick-cut bacon: These bacon strips are thicker versions of the Streaky bacon that take a bit longer in the air fryer but deliver a heartier chew. However, if you chop up the bacon into smaller pieces, this helps with lowering the cooking time.
Canadian bacon: Also known as Back bacon, it is more like thicker ham slices with less fat. These bacon slices also cook quickly in the air fryer.
Pancetta: This Italian-style bacon, rolled into a log and sliced into rounds, offers a delicate, savory flavor. Depending on the thickness of the cut, you may want to consider wrapping it around other heavy ingredients (like sausages) when air-frying it.
If it is too thinly sliced, the strong fan in your air fryer may cause it to fly around. Ideally, it should be around the thickness of Streaky bacon (1/16th of an inch thick).
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
Now, let’s talk about the air fryer’s cooking time and temperature to get that perfectly cooked bacon.
Here’s a little insider tip: your cook time might vary a bit depending on your air fryer, but I’ve found the sweet spot is usually between 365°F and 374°F (that’s 180°C to 190°C).
You’ll want to give those bacon strips a good 6 minutes, then peek in on them. If they’re shy of that golden crispy standard, let them sizzle for up to 4 more minutes.
But here’s the thing—the cut of your bacon affects the cooking settings as well. Thick-cut bacon strips will need a tad more time, while fattier bacon strips may need a lower heat so that your air fryer does not smoke.
And if you’re working with thinner bacon slices, they might be ready quicker than you can say “crispy perfection.” Trust me, once you nail down the timing for your favorite type of bacon, you’ll be dishing out the most amazing, crispy bacon with ease.
How to prevent bacon smoking in an air fryer
All bacon lovers know there is a smoky little problem when trying to get that extra-crispy bacon—yep, I’m talking about bacon smoke.
As an air fryer fan, I’ve learned a thing or two about keeping things smoke-free. You see, bacon grease has a smoke point of about 325°F (163°C), and when we crank up the heat too high, the air fryer can start to look like a fog machine.
So, here’s my top tip: keep an eye on that temperature. It might be time to turn the heat down a notch if you notice some smoke.
But that’s not all—managing bacon fat is key. Before you start, try trimming off some excess fat from your bacon strips. Less fat means less grease and less grease means a lower chance of smoking.
And don’t forget to check your air fryer basket a little while cooking. If there’s a pool of bacon fat at the bottom, just carefully wipe it out with a paper towel.
Finally, ensure the bacon strips are laid out in a single layer (just a few pieces at a time). This way, less bacon fat will be cooked in one batch, reducing the chances of smoke.
Making bacon with less mess in the air fryer
Well, making bacon has always been messy, with all that splattering grease. The air fryer contains all that mess in one place, but I’ve got a few tips to make the clean-up even easier.
The first one is parchment paper! And it has to be perforated parchment paper. These are parchment papers with holes so the bacon fat can drip through the holes to the bottom of the air fryer basket.
How does this help? It prevents bacon pieces from sticking to the air fryer basket, which means there is no need for scrubbing to dislodge them.
My second tip is no overcrowding. Give your bacon strips some breathing room. This not only ensures they get evenly crispy but also reduces the amount of grease that can splatter around.
And here’s a little cleanup trick: once you’re done cooking and the basket has cooled down, soak up any leftover grease with a paper towel or damp cloth before it hits the sink.
This way, you’ll not have to deal with a slippery, greasy basket, and you’ll save your drain from a clog-up.
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer I used my Ninja Foodi air fryer in this recipe
Ingredients
- Yourpreferred bacon asmany slices as you'd like; just ensure they fit in a single layer
Instructions
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 356°F (about 180°C) and let it heat up for a few minutes. A good preheat ensures that your air fried bacon starts cooking immediately for that perfectly crispy texture.
- Parchment Paper Magic: While it's heating up, grab a sheet of parchment paper and cut it to fit the size of your air fryer basket. You can also buy it from Amazon or Walmart. This little trick will save you so much cleaning time later!
- Arrange the Bacon: Lay your bacon slices on the parchment paper in a single layer. If your strips are too long, cut them in half. You want to avoid overlapping so each piece gets evenly cooked.
- Time for Air Frying: Slide the basket into your air fryer and set the timer for 6 minutes. This is your starting point, but keep in mind that the perfect crispiness depends on the thickness of your bacon, so we might adjust as we go.
- Flip the Bacon (Optional): Halfway through cooking, you can check on your bacon. Give those bacon slices a gentle flip if you want both sides golden crispy. But be careful—it's hot there, souse some tongs!
- Check for Crispiness: Take a peek after the initial 6 minutes. Give it a few more minutes if your bacon isn't quite at that perfectly crispy level. Anywhere up to 4 more minutes would do it. Keep an eye on it, as it can go from perfect to overdone pretty quickly.
- Drain the Grease: Once your bacon has reached its peak crispiness, carefully remove the basket from the air fryer. If there's excess grease, let the bacon sit on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. This step helps get that extra crunch.
- Repeat: if you are cooking a second batch of bacon, make sure that you clear out the bacon grease from the first batch first. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe the grease away. Then, repeat steps 2 to 7.
Air Fried Bacon Serving Suggestion:
Now, for the best part—serving up this delicious bacon! There are so many ways to enjoy crispy air-fried bacon. Here are a few of my favorite serving suggestions to get you started:
Classic Breakfast Plate: Pair your perfectly crispy bacon with sunny-side-up eggs, a side of toast, and some fresh fruit for a breakfast that’ll keep you fueled all morning.
BLT Sandwich: Elevate your BLT with this air fried bacon. Add lettuce, tomato, and a smear of mayo between two toasted bread slices for a lunchtime classic.
Bacon Salad Topping: Crumble your bacon over a fresh garden salad for a delightful crunch. It’s a great way to add a protein punch and a smoky flavor to your greens.
Loaded Baked Potatoes: Take your baked potatoes to the next level by topping them with sour cream, chives, shredded cheese, and a generous helping of crispy air fried bacon bits.
Avocado Toast with a Twist: Spread ripe avocado on your toasted bread and top it with bacon for a trendy and satisfying snack or light meal.
Remember, complementing the bacon’s smoky flavor and crispy texture is key to a great serving suggestion.
Why air fry bacon instead of the stovetop?
I have one final note on why I use the air fryer instead of pan frying when making bacon. I’ll quickly compare the two cooking methods, and you will understand why I always choose the air fryer.
Stovetop Pan Frying
Ah, the traditional pan frying on the stovetop is the classic way we’ve all learned to cook bacon with that sizzle and pop we know and love. However, this method is a bit outdated in the modern kitchen.
Pan Frying Pros:
- Instant Control: You can adjust the heat as needed, giving you immediate control over the cooking process.
Pan Frying Cons:
Grease Splatter: We’ve all been there—dodging grease splatters that seem to leap out of the pan with a vengeance.
Uneven Cooking: Sometimes you get pieces that are too crispy or not crispy enough because the bacon doesn’t always cook evenly in a pan.
Constant Supervision: You need to babysit your bacon, flipping it and keeping an eye out to prevent burning.
Clean Up: After you’re done, you’re left with a greasy stovetop and a pan that’ll need some serious scrubbing.
Air Fryer Method
Now for the modern air fryer method. Let’s have a look at what it can offer, and its imitations.
Air Frying Pros:
- Less Mess: The air fryer contains the grease, so there are no more splatters all over your stovetop and countertops.
- Even Cooking: The air fryer circulates hot air around the bacon, cooking it evenly and giving you that perfect crispiness every time.
- Set It and Forget It: No need to stand guard. Just set the timer and temperature, and you’re free to multitask while your bacon cooks. Although I would still be nearby to make sure that there is no smoke.
- Easy Clean Up: With the air fryer, clean up is a breeze. The grease drips into the bottom of the basket, so you can simply pour it out and give it a quick wash or pop it in the dishwasher.
Air Frying Cons:
- Experimental: It might take a couple of tries to get used to the timing and settings to get your bacon to the right level of crispiness.
- Capacity: You might be limited by your air fryer basket size, especially if you’re cooking for a crowd.
So, why air fry bacon instead of stovetop?
It’s simple. The air fryer offers a cooking process that’s cleaner and easier and gives you perfectly crispy bacon every single time.
Plus, the clean-up is so straightforward it almost feels like cheating.
Sure, the stovetop method has charm, but for a modern twist on this breakfast staple, the air fryer is better for cooking bacon.
It’s all about enjoying that mouthwatering crunch without any of the mess or fuss. Trust me, once you try air fried bacon, you’ll never want to go back!
