Time To Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer
Bacon is one of the simplest and most delicious items to make in an air fryer. The best part, in my opinion, is not having to think about splatting like you do when using a skillet. If you haven’t tried making bacon in the air fryer yet, today is the day!
How long does it take to cook bacon in the air fryer? The air fryer, contrary to its name, is not a fryer at all. It’s a countertop convection oven. If you want thinner bacon, cook it for 8 to 10 minutes and cook thick-cut bacon for 12 to 15 minutes.
Crispy bacon is the best bacon, and the air fryer makes the tastiest, crispiest bacon you’ve ever had! Plus, it’s an air fryer, so it’s good for you. Eating bacon in moderation is safe. So, gather your favorite bacon and your air fryer, and read on for tips!
Is It Okay to Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer?
Is cooking bacon in an air fryer even possible? Believe me when I say that you’ll be ecstatic with the outcome.
It would help if you cooked bacon in your air fryer. It cooks quicker than it does on the stovetop or in the oven, and it also gets very crispy. The scale of your air fryer is the limiting factor. Larger baskets will contain more bacon strips.
Cooking Bacon with an Air Fryer
- No oil is required; however, parchment paper should be used to prevent food from sticking to the basket.
- If you want, you can use gasoline.
- Preheat the air fryer to the temperature you want it to be.
- Fill the basket with food but don’t clutter it.
- Cook for the desired amount of time. Flip the food halfway through to achieve a crust on both sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- On the first go-around, I suggest starting at 350°F and adjusting up or down as needed. If you prefer your bacon to be crispier, a higher temperature might be better.
- To reduce smoke, pour water into the bottom of your air fryer.
- Place the bacon in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. If you want to make the bacon better, cut it in half.
- Cook thinner bacon for 8 to 10 minutes and thick-cut bacon for 12 to 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Tips and Tricks
Air Fryer Smoking
When the air fryer is used for cooking high-fat foods, a cloud of white smoke can form inside the unit. Please don’t get too worked up about it; it will turn out perfect. There are also several pointers for preventing this. Check them out below:
- Using water – Fill the air fryer drawer where the basket sits with a small amount of water. Start with around 1/4 cup because you won’t need much.
You won’t like it if any water comes into contact with the bacon. Because every air fryer is different, you can experiment to find the right amount of water for yours. - Using bread – Place a slice of bread (or two, if necessary) in the basket’s drawer in the air fryer. The bacon grease will be sucked up by the bread, which will result in no smoking.
- Using oil – In my air fryer, I almost always use oil, but you don’t have to! The oil coats the food, allowing the seasoning to bind to it. Also, it keeps the food from sticking to the basket of your air fryer.
If you want to cook low-fat, you should omit oil from the recipe. You can use parchment paper to keep items from sticking. You won’t need to use oil in your air fryer if you’re cooking high-fat foods like bacon.
Evenly Cook Your Food by Preheating
The air fryer can cook food fast, but you want it to be evenly and thoroughly cooked. For the best results, I recommend preheating your air fryer. There is no preheat setting on certain air fryers.
If yours doesn’t have a preheat feature, set your temperature and run the air fryer for two to five minutes. It will warm up before you add your food to the basket. You’ll need less time to preheat your air fryer if it’s smaller.
Leave Space in Your Air Fryer Basket
Air fryers work by circulating and depositing oils and fats onto the food by shifting air across the basket. Overcrowding your basket will result in food that is not crispy, which is a disappointment. If you spread it out in your air fryer basket, it will be much crispier.
Flip and Shake the Basket
You’ll want to shake the basket regularly or turn the food halfway through cooking. This will cause the food to cook evenly on both sides, resulting in a crispy outcome.
Modifying a Recipe for an Air Fryer
When it comes to cooking, air fryers are often much more effective. I always recommend setting the air fryer to a lower temperature. Also, track the cooking progress because the air is moving, similar to a convection oven.
Even at lower temperatures, your food can cook faster than you expect. As a general rule, reduce the cooking temperature by 10 percent and reduce the cooking time by 25 percent.
Is It Possible to Cook Bacon When It Is Frozen?
Yes, indeed! It will take around 50 percent longer, but it is possible. Put your frozen bacon in the air fryer and cook it. Naturally, it will be pressed together to form a bacon block.
Preheat the fryer to 370°F and cook for five minutes. When the bacon has begun to thaw, you can break it into individual bits.
You’ll want plenty of room around the pieces to achieve ultimate crisp standards. My suggestion is to arrange just enough pieces so that they’re well-spaced.
Conclusion
Cook two slices of bacon at a time in your air fryer at 400°F for eight minutes. However, air fryers will remain too smoky after conducting tests recommended as a safe cooking process.
Stick to tried-and-true cooking techniques like the oven, a pan, or even the microwave when you want bacon.
