This is my favorite new way to use my Air Fryer so far. This air fryer bacon is done in less than 10 minutes, even with thick-cut bacon, and there is no greasy mess on the stove! I also show you how to make sure there is no smoke while making bacon in the air fryer. This recipe is perfect for cooking small batches of bacon. If you want to feed a crowd, I recommend cooking your bacon in the oven.
The air fryer is the new buzz worthy appliance and with good reason. When you cook bacon in the air fryer, it gets crispy in 8 to 10 minutes and doesn’t make a mess on the stove. I also notice that this bacon is more tender than bacon cooked on the stove top. It will become your go-to method for the crispiest bacon.
Like most people, I am a lover of bacon. Over the years, I’ve tried many ways to make the best bacon, and I think this is my new favorite! For another bacon-based treat in the air fryer, check out my bacon-wrapped asparagus.
When cooking bacon in a skillet (traditional way) it splatters all over the stove. When making oven-baked bacon, it splatters all over the oven. Because I want a method with less mess, I now air fry bacon. It makes the least amount of mess and always gives me perfectly cooked bacon slices.
The easiest way to cook bacon is in an air fryer, and the bacon will always taste great. It really changes the game. It holds 6 quarts of food and can cook 7 pieces of thick-cut bacon at once. This method also works with smaller air fryers. If you want to fit more bacon in your air fryer, cut the strips in half across the middle and then lay them out in a single layer in the basket. This also helps the bacon cook quicker!.
The cook time for this simple air fryer bacon recipe will depend on how thick the bacon is. Thin bacon, regular bacon, and thick-cut bacon will all take different times to cook. What kind of bacon do you have? This is the best way to cook it quickly and make it taste great.
Air fryers provide a convenient, mess-free way to cook crispy bacon without needing to watch the stove. But air frying can still produce frustrating bacon curls if you aren’t careful. Thankfully it’s easy to maintain flat evenly cooked bacon in an air fryer with just a few tweaks to your technique.
Why Bacon Curls in the Air Fryer
First, let’s look at why air frying causes bacon to ripple and warp. The main factors are:
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High concentrated heat from the top – This can cause fast shrinking of the upper meat layers
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Lack of flipping – One-sided direct air flow causes more curling on top.
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Overcrowding – Too many strips limit air circulation
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Inconsistent sizing – Differently sized strips cook unevenly.
With the right precautions, you can avoid uneven cooking and get beautifully flat bacon from your air fryer every time.
Tips to Keep Bacon Flat in an Air Fryer
Follow these simple tips for lying-flat, uniformly crispy bacon made in air fryers:
1. Cut Bacon to Uniform Thickness
Start with bacon slices that are equally thick for even cooking. Thinner parts will shrivel faster while thick pieces remain underdone.
2. Separate Slices
Air fry bacon in a single layer without overcrowding. Keep slices separate to allow air flow on all sides.
3. Use a Rack
Cooking directly on the basket can block air circulation. Use the air fryer’s rack to elevate bacon over the bottom.
4. Preheat 5 Minutes
Warm up the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes before adding bacon to prevent temperature drops when loading cold food.
5. Cook at 350°F
Fry at a lower temp of around 350°F to prevent aggressive top shrinking before the fat renders.
6. Flip Halfway
Like pan frying, flip halfway through cooking for less one-sided curling at the top.
7. Pat Down Curls
If they happen, flatten any curls by pressing down gently with a spatula.
8. Work in Smaller Batches
Don’t overload the fryer. Stick to 8 slices or less per batch. Repeat for remaining bacon.
How Long to Air Fry Bacon
Cooking times can vary a bit by the above factors, but in general:
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Thin cut bacon – 7-9 minutes
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Medium cut bacon – 9-12 minutes
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Thick cut bacon – 10-15 minutes
Check frequently and remove slices as they reach your desired level of doneness. Undercooking is better than overcooking to allow carryover cooking.
Extra Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
For ultra crispy bacon, you can optionally finish off the strips by placing them directly on the basket after initially cooking on a rack. Cook for 1-2 minutes more, watching closely to avoid burning.
Making Other Bacon Treats in an Air Fryer
Beyond basic bacon slices, air fryers let you quickly cook up all kinds of fun bacon creations:
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Bacon wrapped food like chicken, shrimp, and asparagus
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Bacon topped tater tots
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Brussel sprouts and bacon
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BLT sandwiches
With a few easy tips, you can enjoy perfectly flat and delicious bacon from your air fryer anytime. Crispy, shapely bacon slices are just minutes away without any messy pans to clean up.
Is it safe to cook bacon in an air fryer?
It is important that you follow the directions and safety precautions of your particular air fryer. I have a Nuwave Brio 6 quart air fryer and their instructions do not prohibit the cooking of greasy foods.
You can also use an air fryer oven. To make cleanup easier, put aluminum foil over the drip tray. The best part of this crispy air fryer bacon recipe is the clean up!.
If your air fryer starts to make white smoke while cooking bacon, that’s the bacon grease going bad. Most likely, this is because the temperature on your air fryer is set too high. You may also need to wipe down the inside of your air fryer (at room temperature) to get rid of any extra grease on the heating element.
The smoke point of bacon fat is 325F, so we cook the bacon in the air fryer at 320F. This is the temperature at which bacon fat starts to oxidize and smoke. So we don’t get smoke while cooking bacon! If you want to cook more bacon right after the first batch, you need to wipe out the basket and drain any grease. This keeps the fat from going rancid.
Cooking times – thickness of your bacon matters
Setting the air fryer to 320F and 9 minutes was the right setting for this recipe. This is truly the best temperature to avoid smoke and for the best results. This is with thin bacon, so if your bacon is thicker, it will take a little longer. You can check on the bacon and add more time if you need to. This method also works with turkey bacon.
Place the bacon strips in a single layer in your air fryer. This method will work no matter what size air fryer you have.
Air Fryer Bacon
FAQ
How to stop bacon curling up in an air fryer?
How to keep bacon from flying around in an air fryer?
Do you put foil in the air fryer when cooking bacon?