Yes, you absolutely can cook bacon in an air fryer for quick, crispy results with less mess and splatter than a skillet, typically at around 375-400°F (190-200°C) for 8-12 minutes, depending on thickness and desired crispiness, with tips like adding bread to the bottom to absorb fat.
So technically, you can cook bacon in an air fryer. But I'd argue it's not the best way to cook bacon for a few reasons. First of all, if you need more than a few pieces at a time, you're going to have to cook the bacon in several batches.
Set the air fryer to 200C and cook streaky bacon rashers for 6-10 mins – just-cooked bacon will take 6 mins, but crispier bacon will take 9-10 mins. Cook back bacon rashers for 4-8 mins, depending on your preference.
If you're a fan of BLTs, then you've got to get on the air fryer train because it's the perfect solution when you just want a few slices of bacon without turning on your oven or splattering in a frying pan. I take the tray out and I line my basket with foil.
Our testing found that 350ºF (175ºC) was the ideal temperature for cooking bacon in an air fryer, producing tender-crisp bacon at 10 minutes and crunchier, more brittle bacon at the 13 minute mark. The lower temperature helps to effectively render the pork's fat, making it less greasy.
“It's important to be mindful of grease that may have accumulated in your air fryer and air fryer components. Plus, the food and oil will be hot,” Edwards says. “Oil may splatter when you flip the bacon halfway through, so be cautious.” You should clean the air fryer tray and basket well after you cook the bacon.
For one thing, most air fryer baskets can go straight into the dishwasher once you're done with them. And forget any starter oil. The hot air circulation ensures even cooking while excess fat drips away, resulting in perfectly crispy bacon without it swimming in hot oil.
I cooked bacon using my stove, oven, air fryer, and microwave to see which had the best results. A pan on the stove may be the classic approach, but it was messy and extra greasy. The oven is great for big batches of bacon, but the air fryer created the perfect taste and texture.
People are getting rid of air fryers due to small basket sizes limiting family meals, issues with peeling non-stick coatings, difficulty cleaning, safety concerns like melting components, the perception they're just small ovens, limitations on certain foods (like wet batters), and sometimes switching to cheaper, more efficient appliances like halogen ovens. Many find they outgrow basic models, leading to batch cooking, and eventually replace them with larger or different appliances.
If you're cooking greasy food in your air fryer (like bacon), you could see some white smoke shooting out the unit. To solve this- just pour a little (around 2Tbsp) of water in the bottom of the basket.
Cooking fatty foods like bacon in the air fryer at high temperatures can sometimes cause smoking. Carefully adding a tablespoon or two of water to the basket can help prevent smoking, which won't compromise texture or flavor.
Second, the main concern with high heat cooking methods like deep frying or air frying is the formation of acrylamide, a chemical that can form if the food is cooked at high temperatures that is above 120 degree Celsius or 248 degrees Fahrenheit. While acrylomide has been shown to cause cancer in animals.
Method
⭐️ How many rashers to cook at once
Quite simply, as many as your air fryer can fit in a single layer. Touching each other is fine (as they will shrink as they cook) but don't lie them on top of each other. I have a Russell Hobbs XXL and find it plenty large enough for 8 rashers.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of your air fryer basket before you cook the bacon. This will prevent the rendered bacon fat from creating smoke. As long as they don't overlap in the air fryer basket, you may be able to cook more than 4 strips of bacon at a time.
In just a few minutes, you get perfectly cooked eggs. Whether it's a quick breakfast or a tasty topping for rice bowls or toast, air fryer eggs are fast, fuss-free, and seriously delicious.
Recipes that use a wet batter, including fried chicken, will end up being very messy if cooked in an air fryer. This is because there won't be enough hot oil to set the batter, and it will likely drip everywhere rather than forming a crunchy coating.
The "Air Fryer 20/20 Rule" is a guideline for converting conventional oven recipes, suggesting you reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the temperature by 20°C (or about 20°F) to account for the air fryer's faster, more intense cooking. While a good starting point, it's essential to monitor your food and potentially shake or flip it halfway through for even cooking, as air fryer models and foods vary, notes this BBC article.
You can't cook foods with wet batter, liquids, or loose items like leafy greens in an air fryer as they make a mess; also avoid rice, pasta, popcorn, and large roasts that need even liquid-based cooking or have too much drippings, as they won't cook properly or will burn the machine. Essentially, anything requiring boiling, stewing, or a significant amount of liquid, or very delicate items that blow around, should be avoided.
Set the air fryer to 200C and cook the bacon for 7-10 minutes depending on how you like it. If you're making more than one bacon sandwich, you can cook in batches. Once cooked, carefully remove the bacon and make the rest of your sandwich.