Emilie Meyer
Cooking bacon in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve crispy, evenly cooked bacon with less fat. The air fryer's ability to circulate hot air underneath the bacon allows all parts of it to cook evenly, resulting in beautiful, curly, crispy strips. This method is perfect for small batches and those who crave crispy bacon without the mess and grease of traditional stovetop or oven methods. By following a few simple steps, anyone can learn how to cook bacon in a power air fryer and enjoy delicious, crispy bacon in under 15 minutes.
Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Bacon in a Power Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 350-400˚F |
| Preheat | Not necessary but some recipes recommend preheating for 3 minutes |
| Cook Time | 6-15 minutes depending on the thickness and crispiness |
| Flip | Halfway through |
| Clean | Clean the drip tray before and after cooking |
| Absorb Grease | Use a slice of bread or aluminium foil |
| Batches | Recommended to avoid overcrowding the basket |
| Spacing | Evenly space out the bacon with little overlap |
| Storage | Store leftover bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer depends on the make and model of your air fryer. For example, the Instant Vortex (basket), Instant Omni Pro (oven), and the Power XL AirFryer Pro (oven) all require preheating. However, some recipes and air fryer models suggest that preheating is unnecessary for cooking bacon.
If your air fryer model does require preheating, you should preheat it to a temperature of around 350˚F or 390˚F (200˚C) for at least 3 minutes before cooking. This temperature is low enough for the bacon to render off excess fat, but high enough to achieve a crisp texture.
When preheating your air fryer, it is important to ensure that the drip tray is clean to prevent smoking. The smoke point of bacon fat is 400˚F, so it is recommended to cook the bacon at a lower temperature of around 350˚F to avoid any smokiness.
After preheating your air fryer, you can proceed to cook the bacon. The cooking time will depend on the thickness and leanness of the bacon slices, with thicker and fattier slices taking longer to cook.
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Arrange the bacon in a single layer
When arranging the bacon in the air fryer, it's important to place the strips in a single layer. This ensures even cooking and prevents overcrowding, which can lead to uneven browning and crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cut the bacon strips in half to fit more comfortably. It's also important to leave a little space between each strip to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.
When arranging the bacon in a single layer, try to avoid overlapping the strips. However, some overlap is generally acceptable, especially if you prefer your bacon cooked medium-well to well-done. If your air fryer has a metal rack, you can even cook on two levels, adjusting the timing accordingly. For example, if you're cooking thick-sliced bacon, you might cook the top layer for 8 minutes and the lower layer for 10 minutes.
If you're using wire racks, you may need to cut the bacon strips in half to ensure they fit properly. This will also help you achieve that perfect crispiness all over. If you're cooking multiple batches, remember that the second batch will usually cook faster since the air fryer is already heated up.
To make cleanup easier, you can line the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminium foil. Just make sure not to cover the holes, as this will allow the excess grease to drip off, resulting in leaner and crispier bacon slices.
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Cook time and temperature
The ideal cook time and temperature for bacon in an air fryer will depend on the type of bacon you are cooking, the desired crispiness, and the style of your air fryer.
Firstly, it is important to note that the smoke point of bacon fat is 400˚F, so it is recommended to air fry at 350˚F to avoid any smokiness while cooking bacon. Some sources recommend preheating your air fryer to 350˚F for at least 3 minutes, while others suggest preheating to 390˚F or 200˚C. However, preheating is not mandatory for all air fryers, and some recommend placing the food in the air fryer before it reaches this temperature.
For regular cut bacon, the cooking time will vary depending on the desired crispiness. For softer bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 7 minutes, and for crispier bacon, increase the cooking time to 8 to 9 minutes. If you are using an oven-style air fryer, you may need to cook the bacon for a little longer, and be aware that the oil may splatter more.
If you are cooking thick-cut bacon, the cooking time will be slightly longer. For softer thick-cut bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 9-10 minutes, and for crispier bacon, cook for 10-12 minutes. If you are using turkey bacon, which is leaner and thinner, reduce the cooking time to 5-7 minutes.
It is generally recommended to flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking. Additionally, be sure to leave some space between each strip of bacon to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, which can prevent the food from browning and crisping evenly.
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Flip halfway through
When cooking bacon in an air fryer, it is generally recommended to flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process. This is because one side of the bacon will be exposed to the direct heat of the heating coil, so flipping it ensures even cooking.
The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the bacon, the style of your air fryer, and how crispy you like your bacon. For example, if you are cooking regular-cut bacon, you should air fry it at 350˚F for 7 minutes for softer bacon, and 8-9 minutes for crispy bacon. For thick-cut bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 9-10 minutes for softer bacon, and 10-12 minutes for crispy bacon. However, some recipes suggest cooking at a higher temperature of 390˚F for 8 minutes, flipping the bacon halfway through, and then cooking for another 7 minutes.
It is important to note that you should not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will prevent the bacon from browning and becoming crispy. It is also a good idea to clean out the air fryer drip tray before and after cooking to avoid smoking, as bacon releases a lot of fat during cooking.
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Clean-up and storage
To clean up, start by removing the cooked bacon from the air fryer and placing it on a paper-lined plate to absorb excess grease. Then, if you've cooked in batches, be sure to discard any oil in the drip pan and wipe it clean with a paper towel. You can also use a baster to get the grease out of the fryer. To make cleaning even easier, try lining the bottom of the basket with aluminium foil or placing a thin slice of bread in the bottom of the air fryer (beneath the basket) to absorb grease.
If you have leftover bacon, you can store it in an airtight container or plastic Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also store the rendered bacon grease in an airtight glass mason jar at room temperature for up to six months to use when cooking other dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to cook bacon at 350˚F to avoid any smokiness while cooking.
The cooking time depends on the thickness of the bacon and the style of the air fryer. For regular-cut bacon, it takes 7-9 minutes for softer bacon and 8-9 minutes for crispy bacon. For thick-cut bacon, it takes 9-12 minutes for softer bacon and 10-12 minutes for crispy bacon.
Cut the bacon strips in half if needed to fit more in the air fryer. Place the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring that the layers are not overlapping.
It is best to flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.
To avoid smoking, clean out the air fryer drip tray before and after cooking. You can also add a piece of bread to the drip tray to absorb excess fat.
