How to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer

Bacon cooked in an air fryer snaps and sizzles like dry leaves crunching underfoot on a cool fall day, coming out crispy around the edges and soft in the middle, glowing with a rich red color and packed with tasty, lower-fat flavor. This gadget takes bacon from fryer to plate without the greasy mess of frying in a pan. The crunch and flavor surprise everyone who tries it, showing why air frying bacon flips the script completely. Get ready to discover a clever way to enjoy bacon’s bold flavor without the hassle. Keep reading to unlock the secret to perfect bacon every time.

Why cook bacon in an air fryer?

• No preparation or smoke (if it smokes, try putting a bit of water in the tray next time)
• You don’t have to deal with popping grease
• It’s very easy to gather grease for future use
• No need to drain the bacon or use paper towels

Directions

1. Get your bacon
2. Cook it for 8-10 minutes at 360°F-400°F (adjust it a bit depending on thickness and how crispy you want it).
3. Try this in a BLT or bacon, avocado, and basil pasta salad!

Tips

• Do not leave the air fryer unattended. Bacon gets burned incredibly fast in an air fryer.
• Depending on the amount of bacon in the basket and its size, toss and shake so every piece gets a chance to cook.

Candied bacon

Follow the same process, but sprinkle 1 TSP of brown sugar on each slice.

Clean-up afterwards

1. Put the grease away in the fridge. Pro tip: try making popcorn with it!
2. Wipe the air fryer basked and rinse it with hot water. Scrub off bits of bacon if there are any left.
3. Use a towel to dry the basket.

Make Ahead

You can make this even esaier on you by preparing a bit ahead:

1. Take a whole pack of bacon and cook it 3/4 of the way in the oven.
2. Let it cool.
3. Refrigerate it.
4. When you need it, take a piece out and put it into the air fryer.

Done in a minute, and no mess.

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