Cooking bacon in the oven is a tried-and-true method. But I’m here to introduce you to a game changer: air fryer bacon.
The air fryer may make the crispiest bacon of all time without a crazy amount of grease-and no time wasted standing over a hot skillet-and is perfect for small batches.
You can still get all of the enticing smells of bacon without much effort, which is something we can get behind. Another advantage of air frying over baking bacon is that you get those beautiful, curly, crispy strips, whereas oven-baked bacon tends to lay flat.
Too many slices prevent the food from browning and becoming crisp. One important aspect of air-frying any food is to ensure that there is adequate airflow around each piece.
Any recipe that calls for cooked bacon has a spot for air-fried bacon. The best part is that the air fryer can cook the bacon for you while you prepare the recipe.
Crumble the air-fried bacon on top of the baked potatoes. If you air fry the potatoes, you can toss the bacon into the Cobb Salad or sprinkle it over the corn in these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cobbs.
Can You Fry Bacon In An Air Fryer?
As always, bacon is delicious, and using an air fryer makes perfect bacon incredibly simple.
They’re crisp or tender and cooked uniformly. How finished they are can be managed. Whatever level of crispness or tenderness you like, it will still be delicious.
How long does it take to cook bacon in an air fryer?
- In the air fryer, regular bacon takes 6 to 8 minutes.
- Cook time should be increased to 8–10 minutes for thick-cut bacon.
- Reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes for softer, less crispy bacon.
Keep an eye on your air fryer as the bacon cooks, and carefully remove the basket if necessary. Take note of the cooking time! Cook times vary between air fryers, and bacon can easily burn.
Types of Bacon
Bacon is a type of cured and smoked pork that has a rich, salty flavor that makes it a popular ingredient in many dishes.
Bacon comes in a variety of flavors. Most are available smoked for a distinct smoky flavor or uncured for you to season to your liking. Of course, the best results will come from using high-quality bacon.
It is made from pork belly or back cuts and is typically sold in thin slices, though thicker bacon strips are available. Because it is high in saturated fat and calories, it should be consumed in moderation.
Back Bacon
Back bacon, which is taken from the back of the pig, is the most commonly cooked in the UK. It is a slice of bacon that contains less fat than other types.
Cut into thin or thick-cut bacon from the same area as pork chops. This air fryer bacon is suitable for breakfast.
Cook for 8 minutes at 200°C/400°F for thick-cut British back bacon. It is not necessary to preheat the air fryer first.
When it’s done to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a plate lined with paper towels.
Bacon Medallion
Because of the higher meat-to-fat ratio, these small, round slices of bacon cut from the loin are ideal for quick and easy, healthier meals.
It’s ideal if you don’t like bacon fat because it contains very little of it! A popular slimming world breakfast or other low-fat diet option
Medallions cook in the air fryer in less time, about 6 minutes at 200°C/400°F.
Streaky Bacon
This American-style bacon is made from the pig’s belly and is extremely fatty, with a high fat-to-meat ratio. The fat content contributes to super crispy air fryer bacon. The most crispy bacon.
To ensure extra crispy bacon, I like to preheat the air fryer to 200 °C (400 °F) before cooking streaky bacon in it. 6 minutes in the oven
Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon is less fattening than pork bacon. It is made from turkey meat and can be a healthy food option for those looking to reduce their fat and calorie intake.
It lacks the flavor of pork bacon, but it can be a good alternative for those who avoid pork for religious or dietary reasons.
Pancetta Bacon
Pancetta is Italian bacon made from pig belly that has been cured in salt and spices. You can crisp up pancetta slices or cook diced pancetta to add to all of your recipes.
How do you keep bacon from splattering in an air fryer?
You can use the “twist method,” which involves twisting each piece of bacon into a ringlet shape. This allows you to fit more bacon in, though it may not get as crispy.
The “dump and go” method is also an option. Stack your bacon in there and cook it, stirring once during the cooking process. This method works, but if you want your bacon to be extra crispy, the cooking time will probably be longer.
Can You Put Frozen Bacon In Air Fryer?
Yes! It may take 50% longer, but it is possible.
Place the frozen bacon in the air fryer. Of course, they’ll be glued together to form a bacon brick. Cook for 5 minutes at 370°F in an air fryer.
When the bacon starts to thaw, you can separate it into individual pieces. Try to arrange only enough pieces to ensure that they are well-spaced; you’ll need plenty of space around each piece to achieve the best crisp levels.
Watch this video for more information
is air-fried bacon healthy?
Because the food is suspended in the air fryer basket, the majority of the bacon fat will be rendered off during cooking. Because air-fried bacon does not cook in its grease, it is significantly healthier than bacon cooked in the oven or on the stovetop.
Because the smoke point of bacon fat is 400 degrees Fahrenheit, we air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid any smokiness while cooking bacon. Also, if cooking in batches, make sure to drain any excess oil from the drip pan and wipe it clean with a paper towel.
The nutrition facts of air-fried bacon remain the same whether you air fry, bake, or cook it on the stovetop.
how do you cook bacon in an air fryer?
The first step is to remove the desired bacon strips from the package. You can cook the entire package, but you should do so in batches.
Cut the bacon strips in half next. This step is optional, but it allows me to fit more bacon in my air fryer without having to overlap it.
Avoid overlap. Arrange the bacon slices in the bottom of your air fryer basket. More space around your food means crispier edges and faster cooking.
Cook the bacon in the air fryer for 6–8 minutes at 350°F (177°C). The total cooking time will be determined by how crispy you like your bacon.
Although much of the bacon fat will end up at the bottom of the air fryer, drain the bacon on paper towels to soak up any excess crease and allow the bacon to crisp up. Finally, serve and have fun!
nutritional value of air-fried bacon
Air-fried bacon seems very healthy. It isn’t cooked for long periods, so you don’t have to worry about all the carcinogens. Let’s take a look at the nutritional content that you can attain from bacon:
| Nutritional Content | Serving 4 Pieces |
| Calories | 101 kcal |
| Proteins | 7 g |
| Cholesterol | 21 mg |
| Vitamin A | 7 IU |
| Vitamin B3 | 2 mg |
| Vitamin D | 8 IU |
| Sodium | 321 mg |
| Calcium | 2 mg |
| Magnesium | 6 mg |
| Phosphorus | 100 mg |
| Potassium | 106 mg |
| Zinc | 1 mg |
| Niacin | 3 mg |
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Bacon
- Allow it some breathing room. Even if it means cooking in smaller batches, ensuring that no pieces of bacon overlap or touch each other is critical to achieving a fully crisp texture.
- Clear out the bottom. If you’re making multiple batches of bacon, take a moment to drain or wipe the excess grease from the bottom of the air fryer to avoid burning and smoking.
- Keep your eyes peeled. Air fryers have the advantage of allowing you to frequently check the progress of your bacon, so use your eyes and the timer to determine when the bacon is cooked to your liking.
- Keep the grease. Rendered bacon grease can add incredible flavor to a variety of recipes, so keep it in an airtight glass mason jar at room temperature or the fridge for up to 6 months.
- Make it tasty. To make candied bacon, rub the bacon slices with a small amount of brown sugar before cooking—but be careful of burns from the melted sugar!
- If any parts of the bacon overlapped and didn’t crisp up, simply straighten them out before air-frying for 1 to 2 minutes at 250F, or until cooked through. Because of the lower temperature, the cooked portion does not burn.
Is It Okay To Cook Raw Bacon In An Air Fryer?
It is acceptable to cook bacon in an air fryer, but you must first clean it and set it the proper temperature.
350 degrees F is the exemplary temperature for air frying bacon. The bacon will get crisp without smoking or scorching as a result.
summary
- Bacon in the air fryer is pretty easy. All you have to do is get yourself the perfect one, cut it up, and let the air fryer do the rest.
- Bacon can be cooked for 6, 10, or 12 minutes depending on its thickness. It is quite healthy with all the vitamins and minerals in it.
- There are five types of bacon that you can use to air fry. Frozen bacon can take more time to get cooked and may need 5 more minutes.
- With this, I hope this blog was quite informational for you regarding bacon and air fryer.