Why You Can Trust CNET
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Bacon may be one of the most perfect foods out there. Whether you like yours crispy or soft, it's a great snack or centerpiece for your home-cooked breakfast. The only problem is cooking it. Tossing those strips in a pan can make for a frustrating, messy time. Luckily, there's an easy solution. Bacon made in the oven is a great alternative, but it can take a while to produce a lot.
Air fryer bacon was next on our list of methods to test, and things worked out well.
Air fryer bacon turned out as crispy as any method with minimal mess to clean and, best of all, bacon takes only 7 to 10 minutes depending on the recipe you follow. Does that make air fryer bacon the best bacon? We'll let you decide, but if you want crispy bacon in a flash, an air fryer is the fastest way to make crispy bacon.
Making bacon in the air fryer is also simple, takes almost no skill, very little time and no special equipment other than your air fryer. If there's one drawback, it's that air fryers have limited capacity so you might not be able to cook an entire package in your air fryer depending on its size. But air fryer bacon cooks so fast, that making it in batches is no big hassle.
One Reddit user even suggested placing pieces of bread beneath the bacon to function as a grease trap, which could potentially save a lot of cleaning time with the air fryer later. There are some leftovers from the cooking process you might want to use later though, so keep that in mind when you're starting to place the bacon in the air fryer.
For more cooking tips, find out how to make bacon in the oven and what to do with leftover bacon fat, and see how using your air fryer can actually save you money.
A small air fryer can handle a burger patty and two slabs of bacon.
Pamela Vachon/CNETHow to cook bacon in an air fryer
Air fryers have replaced the larger oven for a ton of recipes around here. We've cooked cheeseburgers, whole chicken, salmon filets and of course, plenty of wings, fries and frozen snacks in the speedy countertop cooker. That has us wondering, can you make crispy bacon in an air fryer?
According to TikTok chef Skyler Paladino, aka @cookswithskye, you can make perfect bacon in your air fryer in 8 to 10 minutes. You just have to make sure the machine is cleaned thoroughly and that you haven't set the temperature too high.
Paladino, who has nearly 180,000 followers, says bacon made in an air fryer tastes the same as it would in a frying pan.
Don't let your strips of bacon overlap in the air fryer.
Getty Images"The air fryer just makes it easier to cook, allowing for more even cooking and control," he told CNET.
Fill the bottom with water to help avoid smoking.
TikTok: cookswithskyeHow to make bacon in the air fryer
- Place your bacon in the air fryer. Lay the strips next to each other, careful not to overlap them. You may have to make your bacon in batches or cut strips into smaller pieces if they're too long.
- Fill the bottom with water to cut down on smoke. If your air fryer doesn't have a bottom, Paladino said, be sure to clean the drip tray between each batch and keep a close eye on your fryer while it cooks.
- Set the temperature on your air fryer. There's some wiggle room depending on how thick your bacon is, what kind of machine you have and how you like your bacon done.
- Cook for 7 to 9 minutes on air fry and voila, that's it.
How long should you cook bacon in the air fryer
Paladino -- who likes his crispy -- recommends air frying your bacon for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (The smoke point for bacon is 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you'll want to keep it under that.)
Food blogger Natasha Kravchuk, who has more than 3 million YouTube followers, suggests 7 minutes for softer bacon and 8 to 9 minutes if you like it crunchy.
If you have thick-cut bacon, according to Kravchuk, cook it a bit longer: 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 10 minutes for tender strips, and 10 to 12 for crispy.
FAQ
How do I stop the bacon from making a mess in my air fryer?
Placing bread in the grease trap can help prevent some of the greasy mess that comes with cooking up bacon. Alternatively, pouring a small amount of water in the bottom of the air fryer can help cut back on the smoke as the strips of bacon are cooking. Always make sure to keep an eye on your air fryer as it cooks, no matter what you put in the grease trap or on the bottom.
How much bacon can I fit in my air fryer?
Your mileage may vary, but you can expect to fit at least three thick slices of bacon in the air fryer at a time. The quick speed with which a batch is cooked makes this a more alluring option. Just make sure the bacon strips aren't overlapping one another before you start cooking them.