Air Fryer Bacon
This recipe takes the guesswork out of cooking bacon. You get consistent results every time, with edges that turn deeply golden and a center that stays juicy instead of rubbery. It also frees up your stovetop for eggs, pancakes, or hash browns while the bacon cooks itself in the drawer below. Ready in about 10 minutes total, with almost no hands-on work, no grease splatter, and easy cleanup.
Equipment
- Digital air fryer with basket 5-quart or larger recommended
- Silicone-tipped kitchen tongs
- Paper towels for draining
- Aluminum foil optional, for easier cleanup between batches
- Flat bacon press optional, keeps strips from curling
- Air fryer parchment liners optional, perforated for airflow
- Heatproof container for draining bacon fat
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick cut applewood smoked bacon or regular cut; about 8 slices
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper optional
Instructions
- Remove bacon from packaging and separate strips. Cut in half crosswise if needed to fit your basket without overlapping. Pat dry with paper towel if very wet.
- Lay strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket with no overlapping. Place bacon press on top if using. Sprinkle with black pepper if desired.
- Set air fryer to 350°F. Cook regular cut for 7-9 minutes or thick cut for 10-12 minutes. Flip halfway through if your air fryer browns unevenly. Watch closely during last 2 minutes.
- Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate using tongs. Let rest 1-2 minutes to firm up. Blot tops with another paper towel to remove excess grease.
- Pour rendered fat into a heatproof container between batches. Wipe basket and drawer with paper towel before starting next batch. Repeat with remaining bacon, reducing time slightly since air fryer is already warm.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Overlapping strips cook unevenly and take longer to crisp.
- Start at 350°F to avoid smoke, since bacon grease starts smoking around 325-400°F depending on the brand.
- Save the rendered bacon fat in a jar in the fridge for cooking eggs or roasting potatoes later.
- Check your bacon a minute or two before the timer ends the first time you make this, since every air fryer runs slightly differently.
- Never discard hot bacon grease down the sink. Let it cool completely first.
- For candied bacon: brush strips with maple syrup and a pinch of brown sugar during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- For turkey bacon: cook at 350°F for 6-8 minutes, checking often since it crisps faster than pork bacon.
- To cook frozen bacon: cook straight from frozen at 350°F, adding about 3 extra minutes and separating strips as they thaw.
- Store cooled bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze flat for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or in a skillet over medium heat for about a minute per side.
Nutrition
Serving: 2slicesCalories: 80kcalProtein: 6gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 260mgPotassium: 45mgIron: 1mg
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