Bacon is a side dish, mainly used in breakfast, and is loved by many. This fatty strip of flattened meat is extremely delicious if made right.
Now the question arises if we can make it healthily and the answer to this question is, yes, you can cook bacon in a healthy form by cooking it in an air fryer.
We have already talked about how an air fryer works so it would be unnecessary to go into that whole process one more time.
It is a fact that an air fryer makes your eating experience healthy but the question arises, how can we get all benefit from this kitchen appliance by making our lifestyle healthy?
Before making your bacon in an air fryer be sure to know that bacon has extreme fat in it.
Today, let us figure out which is the better way for cooking bacon, how long it takes to air fry bacon, and much more, in detail! So let’s get going!
How does an Air Fry work?
Despite its name, the air fryer does not fry meals. It does, however, mimic the cooking process of fried food by giving it that crispy outer layer and delicious taste.
The air fryer, like a convection oven, cooks food with heat. The electronic device has a mechanical fan that circulates hot air quickly. Hot air circulates through the food, resulting in convection heating and cooking.
An air fryer, on the other hand, holds the food in a perforated basket, allowing hot air to circulate and evenly cook the food.
Is it really possible to cook bacon in an air fryer?
So, technically, bacon can be cooked in an air fryer. However, I would argue that it is not the best way to cook bacon for several reasons.
First and foremost, if you need more than a few pieces at a time, you’ll have to cook the bacon in batches. The air fryer basket was not designed to hold a pound or even a half-pound of bacon at once.
What’s more problematic about cooking bacon in the air fryer is that you’re almost certain to end up with a burnt, smoky mess. This is why: Because bacon is so high in fat, it doesn’t require much oil or butter to cook. As a result, when hot air circulates around the bacon, your air fryer will fill with rendered bacon fat, which will then burn and possibly emit smoke from your machine.
Some people recommend adding water to the air fryer drawer to help reduce smoking, but adding water to hot oil (or spitting bacon fat in this case) is a safety hazard because it can expand and cause hot oil to spray in all directions.
Another “solution” is to drain the hot bacon grease after each batch. But this is hardly a practical solution, and isn’t the air fryer supposed to be all about convenience? It’s also a good way to get a bad burn.
Having said that, we understand the appeal of cooking bacon in an air fryer, as you would expect far less mess than with the traditional stovetop method. However, if you want to avoid a greasy mess, I recommend using the oven method, especially for large batches.
Is it better to air fry or bake Bacon?
There are both kinds of people, one who likes their bacon baked and then there are people who like their bacon to be air fried.
The problem with baked bacon is that it often lays flat and is not in the best shape they are supposed to be for optimal cooking.
Whereas, when bacon is cooked in an air fryer, you can enjoy it in its curly and crispy form that one desires the most. I mean, isn’t that the essence of bacon? That curl, that crisp?
The main tip for a fine texture for your bacon is to keep them flat and not overfill the basket.
Baked bacon is often chewy from the middle. There are ways in which you can make your bacon crispy in an oven too but it is too much effort and too much time that is required for it because an oven and an air fryer do not work the same way.
Check out the video and be your judge.
How long does it take to cook Bacon in an Air fryer?
Air fryers are wonderful for quick and fast cooking and people are enjoying this feature of an air fryer the most.
The total cook time that bacon needs in an air fryer is 8 minutes but unlike other food items, bacon needs pre-heating before getting started with the actual cooking.
Fortunately, the pre-heating time for an air fryer is still lesser than the preheating time of an oven.
Make sure you do not overlap your bacon and do not overcrowd your air fryer basket for the best results ever.
Here I would like to remind you, that due to less space in air fryers, you can only make a small portion of your food. If you are planning to make a huge batch of bacon for a party or a big family, go for an oven as an oven is more spacious than an air fryer.
Here see the table and know the time required for cooking bacon with three different appliances.
| Kitchen Appliances | Cooking Time |
| Air fryer | 8 to 10 minutes |
| Oven | 14 to 18 minutes |
| Microwave | 3 to 4 minutes |
Do you flip bacon in an air fryer?
Yes, you do flip bacon in an air fryer, you MUST flip it halfway through it for the crispiest results ever.
I cannot stress more the fact that overcrowding bacon can only make your bacon air frying experience worst. For the best results be sure to be easy on the number of bacon you are putting inside the basket and flip it when the bacon is half done.
Also, check if you have old burnt oil in the basket from your previous frying. If that is the case, make sure to clean it thoroughly before cooking because this affects the results of your air-fried bacon.
If you are thinking to flip your bacon in an air fryer because you want to season it then think about it one more time. I am not going to stop you from doing that but I am sure going to let you know that it is not necessary.
Always season your bacon before putting it inside your air fryer basket.
Cook it till it’s crunchy.
How to cook Bacon in an Air fryer?
There are so many ways through which you can cook bacon but for me, the healthiest of them all is the air-fried one.
Nothing comes to you just like that; there are always tricks and tips for better tasting and looking food, and I will share some with you.
As I have already mentioned above how it is important to get rid of excessive oil from your basket as it can mess up your recipe.
And how it is important to not overlap and overcrowd your bacon in the basket.
All you have to do is preheat your air fryer at 390 F, place the bacon in the basket, cook for 5 minutes, flip them and arrange them after that time, dump the excessive oil, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.
Summing it up
Bacon is one of the most loved dishes by many people. It is mostly used as a sider or else in breakfast.
Bacon is so delicious that they have experimented the most. We know now which appliances are best to make it quickly and crisply.
Here is what I have summed up here.
- Baked bacon is good but air-fried bacon is easily made with more crispiness and crunch.
- Air-fried bacon cannot be made in huge batches but in the oven, you can do it.
- For a more crispy experience, make sure your bacon is not overlapping each other or overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- The shortest time for bacon preparation is taken by microwave and an air fryer takes about 8 to 10 minutes to cook bacon to perfection.
- You must flip your bacon when it is half done.