Air Fryer Bacon: Layering For Crispy Perfection

Cooking bacon in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve crispy, evenly cooked bacon with minimal mess and fuss. But can you layer the bacon to cook more at once? The short answer is no – layering bacon in the air fryer basket is not recommended as it can lead to uneven cooking. The key to successful air frying is to ensure proper airflow around each piece of food. By layering bacon, the strips on the bottom may not crisp up properly due to steaming from the bacon above. So, when cooking bacon in an air fryer, it's best to arrange the strips in a single layer, avoiding any overlap. If you have more bacon than can fit in a single layer, it's advisable to cook it in batches.

How long to cook bacon in an air fryer

Cooking bacon in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, evenly cooked bacon. The cooking time depends on the doneness, thickness, and style of your bacon, as well as the type of air fryer you have.

For regular cut bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 7 minutes for softer bacon, and 8 to 9 minutes for crispy bacon. If you're using a toaster oven-style air fryer, you may need to add a minute to the cooking time.

For thick-cut bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 9-10 minutes for softer bacon, and 10-12 minutes for crispy bacon. Again, you may need to add a minute if you're using a toaster oven-style air fryer.

If you like your bacon extra crispy, you can cook it for a little longer. One source recommends cooking thick-cut bacon for 15 minutes at 400˚F for the crispiest results.

It's important to note that you don't need to preheat your air fryer or add oil to the bacon before cooking, as the bacon will release grease during the cooking process. It's also a good idea to check on your bacon halfway through cooking to see if anything needs to be rearranged or flipped.

Once your bacon is cooked to your desired level of doneness, use tongs to transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess grease.

How to prevent an air fryer from smoking

Air fryers are a great way to cook bacon, but it's important to be mindful of the smoke point of bacon fat, which is 400˚F. Cooking bacon at a lower temperature, such as 350˚F, can help to avoid any smokiness. Here are some other ways to prevent your air fryer from smoking:

Keep the Air Fryer Clean

It is important to clean your air fryer regularly, especially after cooking greasy foods. Leftover grease, oils, or crumbs from previous cooking can cause smoke. Clean the inside, heating elements or coils, and the basket gently with a warm soapy cloth when the air fryer is completely cool. Make sure to remove any old grease from the bottom of the air fryer as well.

Use Water or Bread

If your air fryer is smoking, you can place a couple of tablespoons of water in the bottom of the appliance to stop the smoking. The water will turn into steam and prevent greasy food from causing more smoke. Alternatively, you can place a slice of bread in the bottom of your air fryer to absorb any grease that drips through the basket. This helps to avoid smoke by preventing the grease from reaching the heating element.

Don't Overcrowd the Basket

Make sure not to overcrowd the basket with food. Even if your food has little oil, cooking too much at once can cause oil or food particles to splatter onto the heating element and create smoke.

Use the Right Temperature

Some air fryers cook at very high temperatures. If your air fryer is causing food to burn and smoke, try lowering the temperature setting and cooking the food for a longer time.

Use the Right Oil

Use oils with high smoke points, such as light/refined olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil. These oils can help minimize smoke when cooking at higher temperatures.

Ventilate the Kitchen

If you are still having issues with smoke, try ventilating your kitchen by opening windows or turning on your vent hood. A well-ventilated kitchen can help to reduce smoke buildup.

How to get crispy bacon

Preparation

Before you start cooking, gather your bacon (thick-cut or regular) and your air fryer. Choose high-quality bacon for the best flavour. You can also use pre-cooked bacon.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheating your air fryer is not always necessary, but it can improve efficiency. Set your air fryer to about 400°F (204°C) and let it heat up for 3-5 minutes.

Prepare the Bacon

Lay the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overlapping is okay, but avoid overcrowding as this can lead to uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut the bacon in half or cook it in batches. If your air fryer allows, use a rack or separator to prevent overlapping.

Air Fry the Bacon

Set the timer for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon and how crispy you like it. For thinner bacon, you may only need 7 minutes. Check halfway through and rearrange the slices with tongs if necessary.

Flip and Cook Again (Optional)

For extra crispiness, flip the bacon with tongs halfway through the cooking process. This step can enhance the texture, especially for thick-cut bacon.

Drain and Cool

Once the bacon has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess grease. Allow the bacon to cool for a minute; it will continue to crisp as it cools.

Tips and Tricks

• Experiment with seasonings: try adding black pepper, cayenne, or maple syrup for exciting variations.
• Batch cooking: cook in batches if you're preparing bacon for a crowd or plan to use it in several meals. Just monitor the cooking times to ensure evenness.
• Don't overcrowd the basket: stick to a single layer of bacon and cook in batches if necessary.
• Avoid cooking at low temperatures: cooking bacon at a low temperature can make it greasy and chewy rather than crispy.
• Clean the drip tray before and after cooking to prevent smoking.
• You can add a slice of bread to the drip tray to absorb excess fat.

How to store leftover bacon

Leftover bacon is a rare occurrence but sometimes it happens. Here are some tips to make sure you can enjoy your leftover bacon for as long as possible.

Short-term storage:

If you want to keep your bacon crispy for a few hours, the oven is your friend. Set the temperature to 200ºF and centre a baking rack. Lay your cooked bacon on a baking sheet and place it in the oven.

If you don't want to heat up the oven, simply avoid covering your warm bacon with anything airtight. As the warm bacon releases steam, the covering will trap the moisture and ruin the bacon's crunch. Instead, use a breathable towel.

Medium-term storage:

If you want to keep your bacon for a few days, the refrigerator is your best option. When stored at or below 40ºF, the growth of harmful bacteria is slowed, which helps prevent spoilage.

Before putting your bacon in the refrigerator, allow it to cool to room temperature. This will limit the formation of condensation after you seal the bacon, which will help it stay as crispy as possible. Once the meat is cool, place it in an airtight bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing and placing it in the refrigerator. By following this method, your bacon should stay fresh for up to five days.

Long-term storage:

For long-term storage, the freezer is your best bet. Similar to refrigerating bacon, allow the meat to cool before sealing it in an airtight bag. Remember, condensation is the enemy of crunchy bacon! When properly sealed, frozen cooked bacon will stay fresh for about a month.

To avoid condensation, you can also lay the bacon out on a parchment-paper-lined baking tray and flash-freeze it for an hour before transferring it to an airtight container.

Reheating:

If you're storing your bacon, chances are you're going to want to reheat it later. Here are some ways to do that:

• Using a skillet: Heat a skillet (ideally cast iron) on medium-low heat. Place the bacon strips in the pan and heat them for 1-2 minutes. There’s no need for any oil because the bacon will release some fat.
• Using the oven: Preheat the oven to 400ºF and lay the bacon out on a foil-lined baking tray. Put the bacon in the oven and heat for 5-10 minutes depending on if you want to cook the bacon any further. The oven is best for reheating big batches of bacon.
• Using the microwave: Line a microwave-safe dish with a paper towel. Place the bacon on the towel and cover with another layer of paper towel. Microwave for around 10 seconds per slice of bacon. The bacon will crisp up quickly once you take it out of the microwave.
• Using an air fryer: Set your fryer to 350ºF then cook your bacon for 3-4 minutes. Keep an eye on it because bacon will burn very quickly in the air fryer!

The best type of bacon for an air fryer

Air-fried bacon is a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook bacon. It's less messy than cooking bacon on a stovetop, in a microwave, or in the oven, and it produces the crispiest bacon with minimal grease.

For softer regular cut bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 7 minutes. If you prefer crispy bacon, increase the cooking time to 8 or 9 minutes. Thick-cut bacon will need a little more time: 9-10 minutes for softer bacon, and 10-12 minutes for crispy bacon.

When cooking bacon in an air fryer, it's important to arrange the bacon slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. A few overlaps or folds are okay, but be sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this will prevent the bacon from browning and turning crispy.

Happy cooking, and enjoy your delicious air-fried bacon!

Frequently asked questions