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When my mornings feel rushed, I grab my trusty air fryer to cook up crispy bacon without breaking a sweat. You’ll get golden slices in under fifteen minutes, no hovering and almost zero mess. Love chewy centers or crunchy edges? You can tweak texture every time to match what you’re craving.
I honestly didn’t expect much but after my first bite, I was sold. My family couldn’t believe it could get this crisp in the air fryer and not on the stove.
Tasty Ingredients
- Freshness: For the tastiest bacon, check dates in the store and skip anything looking gray
- Cut type: Want meatier bites? Go thick. For crunch, grab classic strips
- Bacon slices: Pick your favorite, but look for a good mix of fat and lean for best crunch
Easy Step Guide
- Repeat as Needed
- Doing several batches? Pour out grease between rounds so it doesn’t smoke, then cook the next round as before
- Drain That Bacon
- Lift the bacon out gently and let it hang out on a paper-towel lined plate so the extra grease soaks up and the slices stay crackly
- Cook Away
- Set it for eight to ten minutes if you’re after softer pieces. For super crispy or if you’ve got thicker bacon, go up to twelve minutes. Flipping isn’t needed.
- Layer the Bacon
- Put your slices in the basket, it’s fine if they touch a bit but big overlaps aren’t great. With a small basket, slice bacon in half so everything fits nice and flat.
- Heat Up the Air Fryer
- Preheat to three fifty Fahrenheit. Three minutes does the trick so things get sizzling as soon as bacon hits the basket.
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Honestly, I always sneak an end piece straight off the pan before anyone else has a shot. My kids are always peeking in asking how much is left for sharing.
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, pop bacon in an airtight box and it’ll stay good in the fridge up to five days. Made a ton? Layer pieces with parchment and freeze for as long as half a year. When hunger hits, just warm it up in your air fryer, skillet or even microwave.
Swap Outs
Turkey bacon cooks up quick, usually done in about six to eight minutes so check early. Want extra flavor? Go for applewood or peppered slices. Got veggie friends? Plant-based bacon totally works, too.
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Fun Ways to Enjoy
Try it alongside eggs sunny side up or pancakes. My crowd loves BLT sandwiches for lunch. I sprinkle some chopped bits on baked potatoes or salads just for a salty snap.
How Air Fryer Bacon Upped the Breakfast Game
Bacon’s been an American breakfast favorite forever. Air fryers just make it even simpler so you can whip up these classics any morning. It keeps your stove free for pancakes and you don’t have to dodge hot splatters anymore.
FAQs About the Recipe
- → What's the temperature I should set for cooking bacon in the air fryer?
Crank your air fryer to 350ºF (177ºC) and let it preheat for a few minutes—about three is enough. That helps the bacon cook up evenly and get that perfect crunch.
- → Should I flip the bacon while it's cooking?
Don't worry about flipping. The air fryer blows hot air all over, so both sides get crispy on their own.
- → How do I stop the bacon from making smoke in the air fryer?
If you're making a lot, just dump out the bacon fat between batches from the basket. That keeps the smoke down.
- → Is thick bacon fine with this method?
Yep! Just let thicker strips cook a bit longer—give them anywhere from 9 to 12 minutes. Check and pull them when they look as crispy as you like.
- → What's the best way to stash any extra bacon?
Cool down your bacon, then toss it in a sealed container. It'll stay good in the fridge for up to five days, or you can pop it in the freezer for about six months.
- → How do I reheat bacon and keep it crunchy?
Want it crispy again? Warm it up in your air fryer, a pan, or even the microwave. Lay it on paper towels after, so it doesn't get soggy.