Make perfectly crisp bacon in an air fryer in half the time it takes to pan fry it. The best part is that the bacon grease drips away as it cooks!.
Crispy, savory bacon is a staple breakfast food for many. But traditionally fried bacon can be high in calories and fat. Air frying bacon provides a healthier cooking method that cuts down on grease while still delivering deliciously crunchy bacon But just how many calories does air fried bacon contain? Let’s take a closer look.
Understanding Air Frying
Air frying has surged in popularity in recent years as a way to enjoy fried foods with less oil. Air fryers use rapid hot air circulation to crisp and brown foods. Little to no oil is required compared to deep frying.
Air frying produces similar results to deep frying but reduces overall calories and fat since less oil is used. Foods end up crispy on the outside but tender inside.
Air fryers come in two main styles – basket air fryers and oven-style air fryers. Both work great for cooking bacon with no preheating needed.
Calorie Content of Air Fried Bacon
When it comes to air fried bacon, a typical serving of 3 slices contains approximately:
- 101 calories
- 8g of fat
- 7g of protein
This is based on cooking regular cut bacon in a preheated air fryer at 350°F for about 8 minutes.
Let’s compare these nutrition facts to traditionally pan fried bacon
- 3 slices of pan fried bacon has 153 calories
- 12g of fat
- 7g of protein
Looking at these numbers, we see air frying saves over 50 calories and 4g of fat per serving compared to frying in a skillet! Those calories and fat really add up over time.
Air frying makes bacon a bit healthier by reducing the overall fat content. And using an air fryer requires minimal added oil. It’s a win-win.
Factors That Affect Calories
There are a few factors that can alter the calorie content of air fried bacon:
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Thickness of the bacon – Thick cut bacon will have slightly more calories and fat than regular sliced bacon. Thick cut takes a few extra minutes to cook as well.
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Cooking time – The longer the bacon cooks, the more fat renders out which may slightly change the nutrition facts
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Added ingredients – While no oil is needed for basic air fried bacon, adding a bit of maple syrup or brown sugar will increase calories and carbs. Herbs and spices add flavor with no calories.
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Serving size – Nutrition facts are usually based on a serving of 3 strips. Eating 6 strips would double the calories, fat, etc. Pay attention to suggested serving sizes.
As long as you stick to regular cut bacon and the recommended air fryer cooking times, the calorie content will be very similar to the nutrition facts listed above.
Tips for Air Frying Bacon
Here are some top tips to get perfect, crispy air fried bacon every time:
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Use regular sliced bacon rather than thick cut to reduce overall fat and calories.
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Cook at 350°F to avoid smoking from the bacon grease. No preheating needed.
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For crispy bacon, cook regular cut for 8-9 minutes. Thick cut takes 10-12 minutes.
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Air fry in a single layer, cutting strips in half if needed. No overlapping.
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Drain grease between batches by removing air fryer basket and wiping clean.
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Blot bacon after cooking with paper towels to soak up excess grease.
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Add herbs or spices to add flavor if desired. Avoid sugary glazes.
Following these simple tips will give you tasty and crispy air fried bacon with less fat and calories to enjoy!
Healthier Ways to Eat Air Fried Bacon
Aside from eating air fried bacon in the usual way with eggs and toast, here are some healthier ideas for enjoying it:
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Add to a fresh salad for a protein and flavor boost
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Make a BLT sandwich with crisp lettuce and tomato
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Wrap in collard greens or lettuce leaves for a low carb option
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Crumble on top of baked potatoes or sweet potatoes
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Sprinkle into omelets or frittatas
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Mix into brown rice or quinoa with veggies
With 101 calories per serving, air fried bacon can be enjoyed as part of a balanced breakfast or meal when used to add flavor and crunch.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are really in air fried bacon? You can enjoy 3 slices of air fried bacon for just 101 calories and 8g of fat.
This represents over a 50 calorie and 30% fat savings compared to pan frying. Not bad!
The quick cooking time and minimal prep and cleanup with an air fryer also makes it easier than ever to cook up deliciously crispy bacon.
So give air frying a try for your next batch of bacon. Your waistline and tastebuds will thank you! Crispy, healthier bacon can be on the breakfast table in under 10 minutes.
How to cook bacon in an air fryer
Step 1: Arrange bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step 2: Air fry 8 minutes at 400°F.
Step 3: Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
Step 4: Place bacon on a paper towel lined plate.
- You can use an air fryer to make turkey bacon if you don’t eat pork.
Air-fried bacon and scrambled eggs are a great breakfast combination. Save the bacon fat to use on vegetables or for hot salad dressing.
Bacon bits made with leftover bacon are a great salad topper. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat by air frying for 1-2 minutes.
- Wash hands after handling raw bacon.
- Add cook time for extra crispy bacon or thicker bacon.
- Use bacon with no sugar added.
- If you don’t want a greasy mess, put parchment paper under the basket and on the bottom of the air fryer.
Yes, you can cook frozen bacon in an air fryer. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
Carbs in bacon – 0g
Get crispy bacon in half the time it takes to pan fry bacon!
If you love bacon, youll love making bacon in an air fryer. [feast_advanced_jump_to]
Bacon is perfect for keto at zero carbs per slice.
See the nutrition facts label in the recipe card below.
For perfectly crispy bacon, all you need is bacon.
- If you don’t want your blood sugar to rise, use bacon that doesn’t have any brown sugar or added sugar. Thick cut bacon or thinly sliced bacon will both work. There is no need for cooking spray.
See recipe card for quantities.
To air fry bacon, youll need an air fryer. Its quick and easy to cook bacon in an air fryer. Cooking bacon “in the air” results in the crispiest bacon. Hot, circulating air cooks both sides of the bacon. No need to flip the bacon. The bacon grease drains into the air fryer drip tray under the air fryer basket. Use the excess grease for frying chicken wings or fried whole fish.
- air fryer oven
- tongs for handling hot bacon
Air Fryer Bacon
FAQ
Is bacon less calories in an air fryer?
How many calories are in one slice of fried bacon?
How many calories are in 2 slices of cooked bacon?
Does air frying reduce calories?
How do you cook bacon in an air fryer?
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. Arrange bacon slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Air fry bacon at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through for even cooking. Once bacon is crispy and golden brown, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess grease.
How long does it take to air fry bacon?
For a twist, try adding a sprinkle of black pepper to your bacon. Cut the Bacon Slices. Lay them in the air fryer basket in a single layer (if you do multiple layers, it won’t be as crisp). Air Fry. Air fry bacon at 350 degrees F for 5 to 9 minutes (for thin-cut bacon) or 10 to 12 minutes (for thick cut).
Does an air fryer make bacon crispy?
The air fryer transforms any type of bacon — from skinny strips to thick-cut slabs — into crispy perfection, and cleanup is minimal. Did I mention it’s quick, too? Most regular or thick-cut bacon will get crispy in seven to 11 minutes, and that’s total time, since there’s no preheating necessary.
What temperature do you air fry bacon?
Air fry bacon at 370 degrees F. This is below the smoke point of bacon fat, which is 374 degrees F [ * ], but as high as possible to crisp up your bacon nicely. Add water.