Air Fryer Bacon
Bacon on the stovetop spits grease across the kitchen and takes constant attention. Air fryer bacon cooks in 8 to 10 minutes at 400 °F, comes out evenly crisp and flat, and leaves most of the grease in the drawer. This page gives you times for regular and thick-cut strips, plus fixes for smoke.
- Temperature
- 400°F200 °C
- Total time
- 13min
- Prep time
- 2min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 90kcal
Why the air fryer works for bacon
Bacon is mostly fat. In a skillet it sits in its own grease, so it fries unevenly and spits. In the oven it needs a sheet pan to wash and a lot of time for the oven to heat. In the air fryer, the strips lie in the basket above the drip tray, hot air hits them from all sides and the fat runs down and away. You get flat, evenly crisp bacon in less time than it takes to make coffee.
Bacon in the air fryer works best in a single layer. A 4 qt basket takes 4–5 strips, a 6 qt takes 8 or so. If you cook more, work in batches and wipe out the drawer in between; a build-up of old fat is the main cause of smoke. Save the clean fat if you like, and strain it into a jar for cooking eggs or vegetables.
How to make bacon in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Add water to the drawer Pour the water into the bottom drawer of the air fryer, under the basket. It keeps the dripping fat from smoking.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F for .
- Add the bacon Lay the strips in the basket in a single layer, without overlapping. Cut the slices in half if they are too long. Cook the bacon in two rounds if your basket is small.
- Cook Cook for , checking after . For chewier bacon, stop at ; for crisp, go to 10. Thicker spots take a little longer.
- Drain Lift the strips out with tongs and set them on a plate lined with paper towels for . They crisp more as they cool.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Bacon | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-cut bacon | 400 °F (200 °C) | 8–10 min |
| Thick-cut bacon | 400 °F (200 °C) | 10–12 min |
| Lower-splatter | 350 °F (180 °C) | 12–14 min |
| FrozenSeparate after 3 min | 350 °F (180 °C) | 12–14 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Add water to the drawer. A couple of tablespoons keeps the dripping fat from smoking and does not affect the bacon.
- Cut long strips in half. Shorter pieces lie flat and cook evenly, and they fit the basket better.
- Choose by thickness. Regular-cut bacon is done at 8–10 minutes. Thick-cut needs 10–12, and maple or sugar-cured bacon browns faster, so watch it.
What to serve with bacon
Bacon belongs on the breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, pancakes and toast, and in BLT sandwiches, on burgers and crumbled over baked potatoes or salads. Pair it with breakfast sausage patties for a full brunch.
Storing and reheating
Cooked bacon keeps for 4 to 5 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator, or for 1 month in the freezer. Reheat strips in the air fryer at 350 °F for 1–2 minutes until crisp. Crumbled bacon is useful for soups, salads and baked potatoes.
Variations
- Candied bacon: Sprinkle each strip with 1 tsp brown sugar and a little black pepper, then cook at 350 °F for 10–12 minutes.
- Maple bacon: Brush the strips with maple syrup during the last 2 minutes.
- Turkey bacon: Cook at 375 °F for 6–8 minutes, as it has less fat and dries out faster.
- Wrapped: Wrap bacon around asparagus, dates or shrimp before cooking, and add 2–4 minutes.
- Turkey Bacon: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer turkey bacon.
If it does not turn out right
- The air fryer is smoking
- Bacon fat smokes when it gets too hot. Add 2 tbsp of water to the drawer, cook at 350 °F instead of 400 °F, and wipe out the drawer between batches.
- The strips curl or stick together
- Lay the strips flat and do not overlap them. Overlapping pieces stay soft. If the strips ball up, press them flat with tongs after the first 2 minutes.
- Some strips are burnt and others are soft
- Strips near the heating element cook faster. Check after 7 minutes, remove the finished ones with tongs and give the rest another minute or two.
Questions and answers
How long does bacon take in the air fryer?
Regular-cut bacon takes 8–10 minutes at 400 °F. Thick-cut bacon takes 10–12 minutes. Start checking early, as every air fryer runs a little different.
What temperature is best for bacon in the air fryer?
400 °F gives crisp bacon in under 10 minutes. At 350 °F it takes 12–14 minutes but splatters and smokes less, which is useful for thick-cut or fatty bacon.
Can you cook bacon from frozen in the air fryer?
Yes. Cook at 350 °F and separate the strips with tongs after 3 minutes. The total time is about 12–14 minutes.
Is air fryer bacon better than oven or microwave bacon?
The air fryer is faster than the oven and gives crisper strips with less grease than the microwave. The oven is better when you need to cook a full pound at once.
Can I use parchment paper or foil in the basket?
A perforated parchment liner is fine as long as the bacon is on top before the basket goes in. Never put loose paper or foil in the basket during preheating, since it can fly up into the heating element.
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