Learn how to cook bacon in an air fryer! Quick and easy, this air fryer bacon recipe can make crispy bacon without making a mess.
The complete ingredients + instructions are on the final recipe card. Before you scroll or jump down, Don’t miss the useful tips in the post!
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Bacon in the oven It has always been my preferred method of making bacon, but this year I learned how to cook bacon in an air fryer, and now this is my hand favorite Suitable for small and medium batches. (Microwave Bacon It is also suitable for small batches, but I prefer air fryer. ) This simple air fryer bacon recipe can be cooked in 10 minutes, very crispy, and faster than the oven. Addictive at the first try!
If you are looking for a more delicious way to use the air fryer, please try Air Fryer Zucchini Slices, Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks, Or Air Fryer Pork Chop.
Can you cook bacon in an air fryer?
Yes, cooking bacon in an air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook crispy bacon without having to open the oven or mess up the stove.
Why you will love this air fryer bacon recipe
- Very crispy bacon (bake more evenly than the oven)
- Pleasant wavy appearance (different from an oven)
- No mess and easy to clean up
- Less than 10 minutes to complete
- Ideal for small and medium batches

Choose your bacon
- Thick cut, middle cut or thick cut -Choose your favorite! The cooking time will vary according to the thickness of the bacon, but any type will do.
- Humane breeding vs traditional breeding – I prefer to use humanely raised pork products, but you can buy the products that suit you best.
- appearance – Look for bacon that is a mixture of fat and meat—not too fat and not too thin.

How to cook bacon in an air fryer
This section shows how to make bacon in an air fryer, with step-by-step photos and detailed information about the technique. For complete instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Warm up. Warm up Air fryer Will make sure it is hot and ready for bacon. It is much faster than an oven and only takes a few minutes.
Optional step: Add water to the air fryer. If you want to take extra care to prevent smoke from the air fryer, cover the bottom of the air fryer tray with water. But see the section below to understand why this may not even be necessary.
- arrangement. Place the bacon in a single layer, overlapping slightly.

- chef. Boil the bacon for 6 minutes, adjust the slices so that they do not overlap, and cook for another 1-5 minutes, depending on the size and desired degree of cookedness.

Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to cook bacon in an air fryer?
One of the best things about cooking bacon in an air fryer is that it cooks very fast!
- Average bacon – 7-10 minutes
- Thinner bacon – 6-8 minutes
- Thick cut bacon – 9-11 minutes
What is the temperature to cook bacon in an air fryer?
The best air fryer bacon temperature is 370 degrees FThis is lower than the smoke point of bacon fat, but as high as possible to make the bacon crisp.
Can you cook frozen bacon in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen bacon in an air fryer, but it will take longer. Starting at 8 minutes, spread the bacon, then cook for another 4-8 minutes, until it is done according to your preference.
Can you make turkey bacon this way?
Yes, you can cook turkey bacon in the same way in an air fryer. Adjust the time if necessary.

Tips for the best air fryer bacon
Follow these 6 tips to make the best bacon in an air fryer!
- Use uniform fragments. You can cook bacon of any thickness in an air fryer, but the easiest way is to choose pieces of the same thickness so that they can be done at the same time. If you have any thick or thin outliers, they may need more or less time to cook than others.
- Arrange the bacon in a single layer. A little overlap is okay because it will shrink, but not too much.
- Spread the bacon slices halfway. If the bacon slices initially touch or overlap slightly, that’s okay, but you need to open the air fryer after 5-6 minutes to unfold them when they start to shrink. This will make all edges brittle.
- For a smaller air fryer, cut the bacon in half. This is not required The air fryer I use, But if you can cut the bacon in the air fryer more efficiently into smaller pieces, it will help. Please note that if you cut the bacon in half, the air in the bacon will explode a bit faster.
- use Air fryer For larger batches. My regular air fryer is the right size, but it can only put 8 slices of bacon at a time. If you want to cook a whole package or more, buy an air fryer oven so that you can use multiple racks. Rotate them during the cooking process for best results.
- Finally let the bacon cool down. Like any other method, air fryer bacon will be more brittle when cooled.
How to prevent air fryer bacon from smoking?
- Air fry bacon at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. This is lower than the smoke point of bacon fat, but as high as possible to make the bacon crisp.
for reference: Bacon fat is a type of lard, which has a smoke point of 374 degrees Fahrenheit [*]. Therefore, air bombing below the smoke point can prevent smoking.
- add water. If you cook bacon in an air fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit as described above, this is not entirely necessary, but if you want to be extra careful, you can add a little water to the air fryer under the grate. The water cools the bacon fat that drips during cooking.
- Bread method. I personally do not use this method, but you can put a slice of bread under the grate to absorb the bacon grease.
- Keep the air fryer clean. Remove any bacon fat drops from the air fryer between batches. Also wipe off the basket and top burner. Any remaining grease on the heating element or elsewhere will start to smoke, and if it is on the heating element or other foods in other recipes, its smoke point may even be lower.
Storage instructions
- Storage: Store the cooked bacon in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Use a paper towel to reheat the bacon in the microwave.
- freeze: Freeze the cooked bacon for 2-3 months.

How to use bacon
Now that you know how to cook bacon in an air fryer, here is how to use it. (Of course, except for eating!)
Reader’s favorite recipe
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Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
Learn how to cook bacon in an air fryer! Quick and easy, this air fryer bacon recipe can make crispy bacon without making a mess.
Preparation time 2 minute
Cooking time 7 minute
total time 9 minute
raw material
Click on the underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn off Safari reader mode to view the ingredients.
Instructions
Tap the time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while cooking.
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Warm up Air fryer To 370 degrees Fahrenheit (187 degrees Celsius).
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Optional step: Add a little water to the drip pan of the air fryer to prevent smoke. The amount just covers the bottom of the tray under the grate; this is 1/2 cup in my air fryer.
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Place a single layer of bacon in an air fryer rack or basket, overlapping slightly. (The bacon in the air fryer shrinks as it cooks.) Depending on the size and shape of your air fryer, cutting the bacon in half may help.
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Cook 6 minutes. Open the air fryer and spread out the bacon slices so that they do not overlap.Cook 1-4 minutes Regular bacon, or Another 3-5 minutes Cut the bacon thick, or until you like it.
Recipe notes
Serving size: 1 slice of air fried bacon
nutrient content
The amount per serving. The amount in the formula description above.
Calories 43
fat 3.3g
protein 3 grams
Total carbohydrates 0.1g
Net carbohydrates 0.1g
fiber 0 grams
sugar 0 grams
The nutrients are provided out of courtesy. Have questions about the calculation or why you get different results?Please see our Nutrition policy.
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