Air Fryer Bacon: The Perfect Crisp

Cooking bacon in an air fryer oven is a quick and easy way to make a few slices of bacon with minimal mess and hands-off cooking. It's also a great option during the summer months when you want to avoid turning on the oven. To cook bacon in an air fryer, you'll want to set the temperature to between 350°F and 400°F and cook the bacon for around 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it.

How to get crispy bacon

Cooking bacon in an air fryer oven is a quick and easy way to get crispy bacon. It takes about 10 minutes to cook and, once you've tried it, you may not want to cook bacon any other way.

To get started, lay 4 or 5 slices of thick-cut bacon flat in the basket of the air fryer. It's important that the bacon is in a single layer, with some overlap being okay. Set the air fryer to 350-400°F and preheat for 10 minutes. Then, cook the bacon for 8-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. For tender-crisp bacon, cook for 8-10 minutes, but for shattering-crisp bacon, cook for 10-12 minutes. If you're using thin-cut bacon, check it after 5-6 minutes as it will cook faster.

Use tongs to carefully transfer the bacon from the basket to a paper-towel-lined plate. This will soak up any excess grease. Then, carefully drain the hot grease from under the basket and discard it. Repeat the process with any remaining bacon.

You can make bacon in an air fryer up to four days in advance. Simply store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to cook bacon with minimal mess

Cooking bacon in an air fryer oven is a speedy, zero-fuss affair that takes about 10 minutes to cook. Here are some tips to cook bacon with minimal mess:

First, line your air fryer basket with foil. This will catch any grease that drips from the bacon and make for an easy clean-up. Place 4 or 5 slices of thick-cut bacon, lying flat, in the basket. Make sure the bacon is in a single layer, with some overlap being okay. Set the air fryer to 350-400°F and preheat for 10 minutes.

Cook the bacon for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. For thin-cut bacon, check after 5-6 minutes as it will cook faster. Use tongs to carefully transfer the bacon from the basket to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease. Drain the hot grease from under the basket and discard. Repeat the process with any remaining bacon.

How to cook bacon in an air fryer with foil

Using an air fryer to cook bacon is a speedy, zero-fuss affair that takes about 10 minutes to cook. You can cook any type of bacon you like in the air fryer, but thick-cut bacon will take longer than thin-cut bacon.

First, set your air fryer to 350-400°F and preheat for 10 minutes. While you're waiting, line your air fryer basket with foil. Then, place 4 or 5 slices of bacon, lying flat, in the basket. Try not to overlap the bacon, but some overlap is okay.

Cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes for tender-crisp bacon, or 10-12 minutes for shattering-crisp bacon. Thin-cut bacon will cook faster, so check the bacon after 5-6 minutes.

Using tongs, carefully transfer the bacon from the basket to a paper-towel-lined plate. Carefully drain the hot grease from under the basket and discard. Repeat the process with the remaining bacon.

How to cook thick-cut bacon

Air-frying bacon is a quick and easy way to cook bacon with minimal mess. You can cook any type of bacon in an air fryer, including thick-cut bacon. Here's how to do it:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F for 10 minutes.
• Place 4 or 5 slices of thick-cut bacon in the basket of the air fryer, lying flat in a single layer. It's okay if the bacon comes up the sides of the basket slightly, but avoid overlapping the slices too much.
• Cook the bacon for 8-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. For tender-crisp bacon, cook for 8-10 minutes. For shattering-crisp bacon, cook for 10-12 minutes.
• Use tongs to carefully flip the bacon halfway through the cooking time.
• When the bacon is done to your liking, transfer it to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease.
• Carefully drain the hot grease from under the basket and discard it.
• Repeat the process with any remaining bacon.

Make-ahead tip: Bacon can be made up to four days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to cook bacon in advance

Cooking bacon in an air fryer oven is a quick and easy way to prepare bacon with minimal mess. You can cook any type of bacon in an air fryer, and it's a great option if you only want to cook a few slices.

To cook bacon in advance, you can follow the same steps as above, but you'll need to store the cooked bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bacon cooked in an air fryer can be made up to four days in advance.

• Preheat your air fryer oven to 350-400°F.
• Place 4-5 slices of thick-cut bacon, or any bacon of your choice, lying flat in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer. It's okay if there is some overlap, but try to avoid stacking the bacon slices.
• Cook the bacon for 8-12 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness. For tender-crisp bacon, cook for 8-10 minutes, and for shattering-crisp bacon, cook for 10-12 minutes. Thin-cut bacon will cook faster, so check after 5-6 minutes.
• Use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease.
• If you are cooking more bacon, carefully drain the hot grease from under the basket and discard it.
• Repeat the process with the remaining bacon slices.

By following these steps, you can cook bacon in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to four days. This method ensures that you have perfectly cooked bacon ready to go whenever you need it, making it a convenient option for meal prep or busy mornings.

Frequently asked questions