Are you tired of dealing with splattering grease and unevenly cooked bacon? Then ditch the pan and embrace the air fryer! This amazing kitchen gadget makes cooking bacon incredibly easy, resulting in crispy, delicious bacon every single time. This guide will walk you through the best methods to achieve air fryer bacon perfection.
Why Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer?
There are several compelling reasons why air frying bacon is superior to traditional methods:
- Crispy Perfection: The air fryer circulates hot air, ensuring even cooking and resulting in perfectly crispy bacon without the need for flipping.
- Less Mess: Say goodbye to greasy stovetops and messy cleanup. The air fryer contains most of the grease, leaving you with minimal cleanup.
- Even Cooking: Unlike pan-fried bacon, which can cook unevenly, the air fryer guarantees consistent crispiness from end to end.
- Healthier Option (Slightly): While not drastically healthier, the air fryer uses less oil than pan-frying, reducing overall fat intake.
Methods for Air Fryer Bacon:
There are a few different ways to cook bacon in an air fryer, each with its own advantages.
Method 1: Single Layer for Maximum Crispiness
This method guarantees the crispiest bacon, but requires you to cook it in batches if you have a lot.
Instructions:
- Arrange the bacon: Lay the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap.
- Cook time: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 6-8 minutes, checking frequently. Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the bacon.
- Check for doneness: Bacon is ready when it is golden brown and crispy. If it needs more time, cook in 1-minute increments.
- Remove and enjoy: Carefully remove the bacon from the air fryer using tongs and place it on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess grease.
Method 2: Stacked Bacon for Faster Cooking (Larger Quantities)
This method is ideal for cooking larger quantities of bacon, but may result in slightly less crispy bacon.
Instructions:
- Layer the bacon: Fold the bacon strips in half or thirds, and stack them in the air fryer basket. Don't overcrowd the basket.
- Cook time: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy. Again, keep an eye on it and adjust cooking time as needed.
- Check for doneness: Use tongs to check for crispiness.
- Remove and enjoy: Carefully remove the bacon and let it drain excess grease on a wire rack or paper towels.
Method 3: Bacon Wrapped Anything!
The air fryer isn't just for cooking bacon alone! It's great for cooking bacon-wrapped items like dates, asparagus, or even chicken. Simply wrap your chosen food with bacon, place it in the air fryer basket, and cook according to the food's cooking instructions and the bacon's crispness preferences.
Tips for Air Fryer Bacon Perfection:
- Don't overcrowd the basket: Overcrowding will lead to uneven cooking and soggy bacon.
- Use a wire rack: Placing a wire rack in the air fryer basket helps promote even air circulation and crispier bacon.
- Check frequently: Cooking times can vary depending on the air fryer model and bacon thickness.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper: This can make cleanup even easier. However, it might slightly affect the crispiness.
Beyond the Crisp: Serving Suggestions
Enjoy your perfectly cooked air fryer bacon in countless ways:
- Breakfast classic: On top of eggs, pancakes, or waffles.
- Salads: Add crumbled bacon to your favorite salad for a salty crunch.
- BLTs: The quintessential bacon sandwich.
- Mac and Cheese: A sprinkle of crispy bacon elevates this comfort food to another level.
- Soups and stews: Add a smoky depth of flavor to your favorite soups and stews.
Now that you know how to cook bacon in an air fryer, there's no reason to settle for anything less than perfectly crispy bacon every time. Happy cooking!
