Less mess and less time, but with all of the smoky flavor. What’s not to love?
Bacon is easily one of the most popular breakfast foods (at least in my house!), but there is one problem: it often requires a lot of hands-on work and it can be a pretty messy.
Traditionally prepared in a skillet, there is often a lot of flipping involved, and grease splattering all over the kitchen (and your skin). Between this air fryer bacon recipe and my oven-baked bacon, I’ve basically stopped preparing it the traditional way.
Air fried bacon is by far the easiest and the cleanest, leaving just an air fryer basket to clean up. I just know you’re going to love it as much as we do!
Why You’ll Love It:
- Fast. Compared to the skillet method or oven baked bacon, air fried bacon is FAST.
- Easy. No babysitting or flipping needed. Just stick it in the air fryer, and once it’s done you’re ready to enjoy!
- Crispy. Because of the circular air flow and elevated tray the bacon cooks perfectly crispy every single time.
- Consistent. Since there are no hot spots like in a skillet, you’ll get consistent, evenly cooked strips.
Ingredients
- Bacon: You can use whatever type of bacon you like best! You’ll find a list of adjustments to make if you’re using thick cut, half slices, turkey bacon, etc.
Needed Equipment
- Air fryer: We typically use a Cosori basket-style air fryer, but this recipe has been tested with a toaster oven-style model as well (I use my Cuisinart air fryer). It works well for both tray-style and basket models.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
All types of bacon (except for Canadian bacon) should be cooked at 350ºF (177ºC) in the air fryer.
The times are as follows:
- Regular cut: 8-10 minutes
- Half slices: 7-9 minutes
- Thick cut: 9-12 minutes
- Turkey bacon: 7-10 minutes
- Canadian bacon: 400ºF (204ºC) for 6-10 minutes
Less or more crispy: If you like your bacon softer (or more crispy), you can reduce or increase the cooking time to get the desired result.
How to Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer
Step one: Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF (177ºC) for at least 3 minutes.
Step two: Place the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket. No slices should overlap.
It’s okay if the slices go up the sides of the basket slightly, but if they are too long, you can cut them in half.
Step three: Cook in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes, or until they are cooked and crispy to your liking.
There is no need to flip the bacon, it should cook pretty evenly on both sides.
Step four: Remove the cooked bacon from the air fryer, and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess bacon grease.
What should I do with the bacon grease?
Pour off the rendered bacon fat that collects in the bottom of the fryer basket in between batches.
This will prevent smokiness during subsequent batches, and can be reserved in a glass jar in the fridge for baking and cooking (if desired).
Top tip: For extended storage, strain the reserved bacon fat through a funnel lined with a coffee filter. This will remove any bacon pieces.
Cooking Half Slices
Tip: If your bacon is very long, or your air fryer model is quite small, you can cut the bacon into half slices to fit them more easily.
Step one: Cut the bacon into half slices and place them in a single layer in an air fryer.
Step two: Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until they are cooked to your liking.
Remove the strips and drain before serving (if desired).
How to Store Cooked Bacon
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, transfer the cooked pieces to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat in a microwave, air fryer, or skillet if you want your bacon hot.
- Freezer: Transfer cooled bacon to a freezer bag. Remove the excess air, seal, and label with the date and contents. Freeze for 3-6 months, and reheat from frozen.
- Re-crisping: For the best results, re-crisping your prepared bacon is recommended. I like to drain the reheated pieces on paper towel to remove excess grease, which helps with crispiness.
- Skillet- Heat a skillet over medium heat, and warm for 30-60 seconds per side.
- Air fryer- Using the “reheat” option, heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Microwave- Heat in 30 second intervals until heated throughout.
Recipe FAQs
Ways to Use Cooked Bacon
- BLT sandwiches
- Deviled eggs
- Broccoli salad
- Breakfast casserole
- Twice-baked potatoes
- Dips
- Soups (like my loaded baked potato soup – yum!)
Air Fryer Bacon (Easy & Crispy)
Ingredients
- 4-5 slices bacon
Instructions
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Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF (177ºC) for 3 minutes, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Lay bacon slices into the air fryer basket. If they don’t fit whole, slice them in half first. For whole slices, it’s okay if the ends don’t quite fit – just fold them up the sides of the basket.
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Air fry for 8-10 minutes, or until the desired level of crispiness is reached. No flipping is required.
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For half slices, 7-9 minutes, and for thick cut bacon, air fry for 9-12 minutes.
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Remove the slices from the air fryer and place them on a paper towel lined plate to drain.
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Serve and enjoy!
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For repeat batches, cook as directed in the recipe. Drain the bacon grease as needed to prevent smoking during cooking.
Notes
- Thick cut: This may require a bit of extra time, about 9-12 minutes total.
- Storage: Transfer cooled bacon to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Transfer cooled bacon to a freezer bag, seal, and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Reheating: Reheat and re-crisp bacon in the microwave, air fryer, or skillet. Drain on paper towels before serving for the crispiest results.
