Air Fryer Bacon: The Unhealthy, Messy Truth

Bacon is a greasy, fatty food that can be cooked in many ways. However, cooking bacon in an air fryer is not recommended. Here are some reasons why you should avoid cooking bacon in an air fryer.

Bacon is a high-fat food, which releases a lot of grease as it cooks

Bacon doesn't require any excess oil or butter to cook because it's so full of fat. Therefore, bacon doesn't benefit from one of the air fryer's main selling points: cooking with less oil. There are plenty of other options for cooking crispy, delicious bacon.

Some cooks swear by air fryer bacon, but it's best to avoid this method. Not only will you have to deal with the mess of grease, but you also run the risk of food poisoning.

This grease can coat the inside of your air fryer, which is difficult to clean

Bacon is a high-fat food, which means that it releases a lot of grease as it cooks. This grease can coat the inside of your air fryer, which is difficult to clean. It can also start smoking in the fryer, which is never a good sign. The hot air circulated around the bacon fills the air fryer with rendered bacon fat, which then burns and may release smoke. Adding water to the air fryer drawer can help reduce smoking, but this is a safety hazard as it can cause hot oil to spray in all directions.

Too much grease can start smoking in the fryer

Bacon is a high-fat food that releases a lot of grease as it cooks. This grease can coat the bottom and inside of your air fryer, which is difficult to scrub out. Too much grease can also start smoking in the fryer, which is never ideal. When hot air is circulated around the bacon, your air fryer will fill up with rendered bacon fat, which will then burn and may even release smoke from your machine. Adding water to the air fryer drawer can help reduce any smoking, but this is a safety hazard as it can cause hot oil to spray in all directions.

Adding water to the air fryer drawer to reduce smoking is a safety hazard

Air fryers have become a staple in modern kitchens for their enticing promise of crispy, oil-free versions of our favourite fried foods. This makes bacon a prime candidate for the air-fried treatment. However, cooking bacon in an air fryer can be problematic. Bacon is a high-fat food and releases a lot of grease as it cooks, which can coat the inside of your air fryer. Too much grease can start smoking in the fryer, which is never ideal. When hot air is circulated around the bacon, your air fryer will fill up with rendered bacon fat, which will then burn and may even release smoke from your machine.

Some people suggest adding water to the air fryer drawer to help reduce any smoking. However, adding water to hot oil or bacon fat is a safety hazard. This is because the water can expand and cause hot oil to spray in all directions.

While adding water to the air fryer drawer can help protect the heating element and reduce the amount of smoke produced, it is important to be cautious. The amount of water that can be added will depend on the size and capacity of the air fryer. Most models will allow for up to 1/4 cup of liquid without causing any damage or fire hazards. However, it is always recommended to check the user manual for specific instructions on how much liquid should be added for optimal performance and safety.

In summary, while it is possible to cook bacon in an air fryer, it is important to be aware of the potential hazards. Adding water to the air fryer drawer can help reduce smoking, but it should be done with caution to avoid safety hazards.

You run the risk of food poisoning when cooking bacon in an air fryer

Air fryers are not designed to cook bacon, as it is a high-fat food that releases a lot of grease as it cooks. This grease can coat the inside of your air fryer and is difficult to clean. Too much grease can also start smoking in the fryer, which is a fire hazard.

The uneven cooking of bacon in an air fryer can also lead to food poisoning. When the bacon is uncooked in some areas, you run the risk of getting food poisoning. Air fryers can also become hazardous due to the build-up of bacon grease, which can splatter out across the air fryer's heating element, causing the gadget to start smoking.

According to Candess Zona-Mendola, editor of a food safety blog and a paralegal for a food safety law firm, if you make food in a dirty air fryer and don't clean it between uses, you put yourself at a much higher risk of food contamination.

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