CrispenAir Fryer Bacon
Flat, evenly crisp strips with no stovetop splatter and far less smoke.
Air fry regular-cut bacon at 350°F for 9 minutes, starting in a cold basket, until browned and crisp. Check at 6 minutes and pull any strips that are already done. The trick: a clean, grease-free drawer and a moderate temperature keep the smoke down.
Bacon in the air fryer cooks in hot, moving air, so both sides crisp at once and you don't need to flip it. Starting in a cold basket lets the fat render slowly, so the strips stay flatter instead of curling. At 350°F the fat melts away without burning, which means crisp bacon and far less smoke than a high setting gives you.
Bacon: times for every size
| What | Temp | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 regular-cut strips, halved | 350°F | 9 min | check at 6 min |
| Chewy regular-cut bacon | 350°F | 7-8 min | pull while still bendy |
| Thick-cut bacon | 350°F | 12-14 min | flip halfway |
| Turkey bacon | 350°F | 8-10 min | flip halfway |
| Second batch (fryer already hot) | 350°F | 7-8 min | pour off the grease first |
More foods in the air fryer cooking times chart. Converting an oven recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter.
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Air Fryer Bacon
Regular cut · 6 strips · Prep 8 min · Cook 9 min · Total 17 min
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
With the air fryer cool, empty old grease from the drawer and wipe it clean.
- 2
Halve long bacon strips. Lay them flat in the cold basket, not overlapping. Cook in batches, pouring off the grease between them.
- 3
Air fry the bacon until browned and crisp.
9 min at 350°F · Check the bacon at 6 min · Take out any bacon that is already crisp at 8 min
- 4
Move the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate with clean tongs. Let it drain, then serve.
- 5
Let the fryer cool. Pour the bacon grease into a container and throw it away, never down the sink.
How to tell it's done
Browned and crisp.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated per serving from USDA FoodData Central values for the ingredients.
Tips for the best results
- Start with a clean drawer. Old grease from the last cook is what smokes, not the fresh bacon.
- Cut long strips in half so they lie flat in one layer. Overlapping strips steam and stay pale where they touch.
- Keep it at 350°F. Higher heat burns the fat before it renders and fills the kitchen with smoke.
- Pour off the grease between batches. A pool of hot fat under the basket is the main cause of smoking.
- Bacon crisps more as it cools. Pull it when it's a shade lighter than you want and let it drain on paper towels.
Variations
Candied bacon
Sprinkle the strips with brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne before cooking. Watch the last 2 minutes closely, because sugar burns fast.
Maple bacon
Brush the cooked strips with a thin layer of maple syrup and air fry 1 more minute until glossy.
Peppered bacon
Press coarse black pepper onto the raw strips. It toasts in the rendered fat and gives a peppery crust.
Bacon bits
Cook the strips 1-2 minutes past crisp, let them cool, then crumble. Sprinkle on salads, baked potatoes and eggs.
Storing and reheating
Keep cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat at 350°F for 1-2 minutes, until hot and crisp again. You can also freeze cooked strips between paper towels for up to a month and reheat them from frozen for 2-3 minutes.
Questions
Do you preheat the air fryer for bacon?
No. Lay the bacon in a cold basket and start cooking. The fat renders gently as the fryer heats, so the strips stay flatter and smoke less. Later batches start in a hot fryer, so check them a minute or two sooner.
How long does bacon take in the air fryer?
Regular-cut bacon takes about 9 minutes at 350°F. Thick-cut needs 12-14 minutes and turkey bacon 8-10. Start checking a few minutes early, since thickness varies by brand.
Do you need to flip bacon in the air fryer?
Not for regular-cut bacon. The hot air crisps both sides at once. Thick-cut bacon browns more evenly if you flip it halfway.
Why does my air fryer smoke when I cook bacon?
Usually it's old grease in the drawer or a temperature that's too high. Wipe the drawer clean before you start, cook at 350°F and pour off the fat between batches. Don't overfill the basket either.
How do you get rid of bacon grease from the air fryer?
Let the fryer cool, pour the grease into a container and throw it in the trash. Never pour it down the sink, because it hardens and clogs pipes. Then wash the drawer and basket in warm, soapy water.
Never guess an air fryer time again
- Save a recipe from any video or website in two taps, converted for your air fryer
- Lots of chef-curated air fryer recipes, from crispy wings to cookies
- Turn a craving into a full recipe with AI
- Remember every cook, so you nail it every time after
Join the waitlist and get the founder price at launch.
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