Air Fryer Bacon
Crisp, evenly cooked bacon is easy to make in the air fryer with less splatter than a skillet. Use this simple method for breakfast plates, sandwiches, salads, and meal prep.
Total
12 min
Servings
4 servings
Level
Easy
Air fryer bacon is a tidy way to cook a small batch without standing over the stove. The hot air moves around the bacon, helping it crisp while the grease drips into the basket below.
The exact timing depends on your air fryer and the thickness of your bacon. Thin slices may be ready in about 7 minutes, while thick-cut bacon can take closer to 12 minutes.
This method works well for breakfast, BLTs, burgers, chopped salads, and crumbled toppings. Keep an eye on the first batch so you can learn the timing for your machine.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
4 items · 4 servings
- 8 slices bacon, regular or thick-cut
- Optional: freshly ground black pepper, brown sugar, or maple syrup for seasoning after cooking or during the last fewu00
- Optional: water for the bottom drawer if your air fryer tends to smoke, about 1 to 2 tablespoons, only if allowed by the
- Optional: paper towels for draining
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Check your air fryer
Read your air fryer manual before adding water or liners. Some models allow a small amount of water in the drawer to reduce smoking, while others do not. Make sure the basket and drawer are clean, because old grease can smoke.
2. Arrange the bacon
Lay the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket. A little overlap is fine because the strips shrink as they cook, but do not stack them. Work in batches if needed.
3. Set the temperature
Set the air fryer to 350°F. This moderate temperature helps the fat render, which means melt out slowly, before the bacon gets too dark.
4. Cook the first side
Cook regular bacon for 5 minutes, or thick-cut bacon for 6 minutes. If your air fryer runs hot, start checking at 4 minutes.
5. Turn the bacon
Use tongs to flip the bacon. If any pieces have curled into each other, separate them so the air can move around each strip.
6. Finish until crisp
Cook for 3 to 6 minutes more, depending on thickness and how crisp you like it. The bacon will crisp a little more as it cools, so remove it just before it looks perfect.
7. Drain and rest
Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Let it rest for 1 to 2 minutes before serving. This helps the surface firm up and catches extra grease.
8. Repeat safely
If cooking another batch, carefully pour off the hot grease into a heatproof container, or let it cool slightly first. Wipe out excess grease if needed before starting the next batch.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- For make-ahead bacon, cook it until just crisp, cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 325°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
- To freeze cooked bacon, place cooled strips between sheets of parchment paper and freeze in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Thin bacon cooks quickly, so check early. Thick-cut bacon needs more time and may benefit from one extra flip near the end.
- If your air fryer smokes, lower the temperature to 325°F, clean out old grease, and avoid cooking too many slices at once. If your manual allows it, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water to the drawer before cooking.
- For peppered bacon, sprinkle the strips with black pepper before cooking. For sweet bacon, brush with a little maple syrup or sprinkle lightly with brown sugar during the last 2 to 3 minutes so it does not burn.
- Turkey bacon can be cooked the same way, but it usually has less fat and may need only 6 to 8 minutes total. Check often because it can dry out.
Cook's note
Air fryer models vary a lot. The first time you make bacon in yours, treat the timing as a guide and check the basket a few minutes early. Never pour bacon grease down the sink; let it cool and discard it in the trash, or save it in a covered jar for cooking.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Do I need to preheat the air fryer for bacon?
Usually, no. Bacon starts well in a cool or just-started air fryer because the fat has time to render. If your model requires preheating, reduce the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes and check early.
What temperature is best for air fryer bacon?
350°F is a good starting point. It is hot enough to crisp the bacon but not so hot that the grease smokes right away. If your air fryer runs hot, try 325°F.
Can I use foil or parchment paper?
Only use foil or air fryer parchment if your manual says it is safe. Do not block all the holes in the basket, because air needs to circulate. Also, never add loose parchment during preheating, as it can lift into the heating element.
Why did my bacon smoke in the air fryer?
Smoke usually comes from grease hitting a very hot drawer or from old grease left in the machine. Cook at 325°F to 350°F, clean the drawer between batches if needed, and avoid overcrowding.
How do I make extra-crispy air fryer bacon?
Cook it in a single layer and give it another 1 to 2 minutes after flipping. Remove it when it looks almost crisp enough, then let it rest on paper towels. It will firm up as it cools.
05Keep cooking
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