Making bacon in the air fryer is the only way or method you'll want to cook bacon from now on. No more grease splatters and easy clean up. Plus, the bacon is ready in under 10 minutes!
Over the past couple of days, I've been trying many different methods for cooking bacon. There's baking bacon in the oven, cooking bacon on a stovetop, and even in your microwave to name a few different methods. If you have an air fryer you're going to love cooking homemade bacon in it.
For more air fryer recipes be sure to check out Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts, Everything Bagel Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Quesadillas, and Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu.
How to prevent Smoke
Have you ever tried cooking bacon in the air fryer and your smoke detector goes off? This has even happened to me when I'm cooking bacon in my air fryer. The smoke or steam comes out of the air fryer and reaches the smoke detector.
Parchment Paper: To prevent this from happening you can cook your bacon between two pieces of parchment paper or add some water to the bottom of your air fryer basket. If you try the parchment paper method you may need to cook the bacon a little longer.
Bread Method: Place 1 or 2 slices of bread on the bottom of the air fryer basket. The sponge will soak or pick up any grease that drips from the bacon.
Water method: If you don't have any bread water works well too. The water goes underneath the air fryer basket.
How long to cook bacon in the air fryer?
Lay strips of bacon out onto the bottom of your basket. Set your air fryer to 350 degrees and follow the cooking times for different cuts of bacon below. If the bacon isn't crispy enough for you set the timer for 2 minutes longer. You can use a wire rack below to keep your bacon from flying around in the air fryer. If you don't have one, no problem.
Regular Bacon - 8 to 9 minutes
Thick Cut Bacon - 10 - 12 minutes
Turkey Bacon - 8 to 10 minutes
What can I make with air fryer bacon?
Bacon can be made with so many things and be added to so many dishes. It's like the food that makes anything taste 10 times better. Try some of these ideas if you have plenty of leftover air fried bacon.
Deviled Eggs - use bacon as a garnish on top
BLT Sandwiches or Club Sandwich
Air Fryer Bacon and Egg Toasts
Bacon Cheddar Fries - use leftovers for garnish on top
Add to Omelets, Salads, Potato Salad, Wraps, or on top of Pizza
Tips for the best Air Fryer Bacon
Do I have to preheat the air fryer?
Every air fryer is different and some don’t require preheating and some do. Just follow the cooking instructions that came with your air fryer to see if it needs to be preheated.
How to prevent bacon from smoking? Cook the bacon inside some parchment paper. Or, you can add some water to the bottom of the basket or rock salt.
Can I use turkey bacon? Yes, it’s the same cooking time as regular bacon in the air fryer.
What air fryers are the best?
I've had 3 or 4 different air fryers or the past 5 years and each one of them has worked very well with the air fryer recipes on this site. If you want to be able to cook more food for your family at once then get an air fryer with a large basket such as 5.3 quarts. Look for ones that say nonstick on them and has multiple program settings.
Power XL Air Fryer 5.3 Quart Basket. - This was my very first air fryer.
Our 5.3QT Power Air-Fryer comes in handy in preparing amazing meals from your cookbook, and frying a variety of dishes, such as: French fries, chicken, steak, roasts, fish tacos and sticks, waffle fries, pies, pudding and donuts.
Ninja Foodi Grill and Air Fryer - This air fryer works very well too but the air fryer setting doesn't go below 300 degrees. If there's a recipe that calls for lower temperatures you have to use the bake setting. It air frys, roasts, grills, and dehydrates food.
Cosori 4 Qt Air Fryer- This air fryer doesn't require any preheating and has several different functions for cooking chicken, meat, frozen foods, etc. There are 5 different functions.
GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
Air fryer temperature settings vary according to brand and model. If your air fryer does not have the exact temperature setting called for in the recipe, consult your manual for suggested temperature settings.
Other air fryer recipes
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Knots
The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Air Fryer Chik Fil A Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This youtube video shows you how to make Candied bacon but it basically is the same process. Just cook it for 8 minutes instead of 12 if not using any brown sugar. Check out my youtube channel.
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Air Fryer Bacon
- Prep Time: 1 min
- Cook Time: 7 to 9 minutes
- Total Time: 41 minute
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Air Fryer Bacon - You'll never want to bake bacon in your oven again!
Ingredients
- 6 strips of bacon
Instructions
- Place the bacon in the bottom of your air fryer basket. I have a 3.5 quart air fryer and was able to get 6 strips of bacon on the bottom. Place the wire rack over your bacon that came with air fryer. This is optional. If you don't have a wire rack that came with your air fryer, then you don't need one.
- Cook at 350 for 7 to 9 minutes. Open up the air fryer and flip the bacon. Put the air fryer basket back in and cook for another 3 minutes or until however crispy you like your bacon.
Notes
myWW points
Blue Points: 5; Green Points: 5; Purple Points:5
- Category: Side
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 37
- Sugar: .1
- Saturated Fat: 2.8
- Carbohydrates: .1
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2.7
John says
For all of you, it’s not steam coming out of you air fryer when you cook bacon. It’s smoke. Steam is from water vapor, and I’m assuming you don’t put water in your air fryers. The bacon grease starts to smoke because the temp has surpassed 374 F. This is called the smoke point, the grease starts to oxidize (breakdown). Smoke and steam are not the same thing. But you are right in one thing, cooking at 350 or just well below the smoke point should eliminate this problem. Lastly I don’t get how anyone could be going through air fryers that fast? They are meant to last years when used correctly.
Tanya says
I tried this tonight. It was my first time cooking bacon in an air fryer! The bacon turned out great. I did have to cook it a little longer but that was probably the kind of bacon I had. This recipe is awesome because you don’t have to fuss with the bacon or have it spitting in your face. I have a insta pot vortex air fryer so all the fat drained through the rack. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★
Jenna says
Unfortunately, I have that issue as well. Sometimes the steam from the air fryer even sets my smoke alarm off. 🙂
Jim says
How do you keep the grease from fouling the burners?
Steve says
Bacon can't stick if it does NOT touch and Even in the oven I cut in half ... I buy my bacon from a butcher and very lean ... I make a lot of can die bacon ... honey and bourbon ...
david adams says
It is EXCELLENT! i agree very quick
★★★★★
MMakeda Queen says
1st time user. It is EXCELLENT!
★★★★★
mitch says
This is the best way to make bacon
★★★★★
kathleen says
using the air fryer for bacon was a waste of time. took forever, the bacon all stuck together. for me the best way to do bacon is on a foil lined baking sheet in the oven.
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