There is no better way to make bacon than with this easy recipe! The bacon comes out perfectly cooked and crispy, and it’s faster and less messy than frying on the stove!
Super easy air fryer bacon goes PERFECTLY with my Fluffy Scrambled Eggs or Classic French Toast.
It only takes 10 minutes to learn how to use an air fryer to cook bacon.
Also, a HUGE bonus, minimal cleanup or grease splashing all over the stove or in the oven!
If you’re a fan of Air Fryer Recipes, you’ll love the air fryer method. Making bacon on the stove or in the oven takes twice as long. This is helpful when you’re making a Creamy BLT Pasta Salad or Bacon Mac and Cheese.
Cooking bacon in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make crispy, delicious bacon with less mess and splatter compared to frying it in a skillet on the stovetop. Air fryers like the Gourmia circulate hot air around the food to cook it evenly, resulting in crispy bacon in a fraction of the time it takes to cook it in the oven
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to learn how to cook bacon to crispy perfection in your Gourmia air fryer.
Benefits of Cooking Bacon in an Air Fryer
Cooking bacon in the air fryer has several advantages over other cooking methods:
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Less splattering and mess: The enclosed chamber of the air fryer contains grease splatter. There’s no need for a splatter guard like when cooking bacon on the stovetop.
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Quick cooking time: Air frying cooks bacon in about half the time as the oven. Expect perfectly cooked bacon in just 8-12 minutes.
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Even cooking: The circulating hot air crisps up the bacon evenly on all sides. No need to flip the bacon halfway through.
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Crispy texture: The airflow and higher heat of the air fryer makes the bacon extra crispy.
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Perfect results every time: The air fryer takes the guesswork out of getting bacon just the right texture.
How to Cook Bacon in a Gourmia Air Fryer
Follow these simple steps for crispy, evenly-cooked bacon from your Gourmia air fryer.
1. Select the Right Amount of Bacon
When cooking bacon in the air fryer, it’s important not to overcrowd the basket. Laying too many strips down may cause them to not cook evenly.
For a standard 6-quart air fryer like the Gourmia, aim to cook around 6 slices of bacon at a time. Cut long strips in half if needed.
For thick-cut bacon, you may need to cook 4-5 strips per batch.
2. Preheat Air Fryer (Optional)
You can preheat your Gourmia air fryer if you want the bacon to start cooking right away, but it’s not required.
If preheating, set the air fryer to 350°F for 3-5 minutes before adding the bacon.
3. Add Bacon to Basket
Place bacon slices in a single layer on the mesh air fryer basket. Make sure strips are not overlapping.
You don’t need to brush the bacon with oil or use parchment paper. The bacon will release enough grease on its own.
4. Cook Bacon
Set air fryer to 350°F and cook for:
- Regular sliced bacon: 7-9 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon: 10-12 minutes
Make sure to set the timer for the minimum cook time and check frequently until desired crispness is reached. Cook times can vary slightly based on your preferred crispness and the amount of bacon cooked.
5. Remove and Drain on Paper Towels
When the air fryer timer goes off, use tongs to transfer the cooked bacon from the air fryer basket onto a plate lined with paper towels.
The paper towels will soak up any excess grease for crisper bacon.
6. Repeat with Remaining Bacon
If you have more than 6-8 slices to cook, repeat steps 2-4 with the remaining amount, working in batches.
Make sure to remove any collected bacon grease from the air fryer basket between batches by wiping with a paper towel.
And that’s it! Your bacon is ready to enjoy. Follow these tips for crispy perfection every time.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Bacon
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Use regular sliced or thick-cut bacon. Turkey bacon will have a slightly shorter cook time.
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Make sure not to overload the air fryer basket. Cook just 6-8 slices at a time.
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Flip bacon halfway through for even cooking if there’s overlap in the basket.
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For less greasy bacon, place a raised metal rack in the basket so the bacon isn’t sitting in its own grease.
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If bacon isn’t quite crisp enough, cook for 1-2 minutes longer and check again.
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For crispiest results, blot bacon with paper towels before serving to remove excess grease.
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Refrigerate cooked bacon and re-crisp leftovers in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes before serving.
Common Air Fryer Bacon Questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cooking bacon in the air fryer.
Do I Need to Flip the Bacon?
Flipping isn’t necessary since the hot air circulates around the food in all directions. But if there is overlap, you may want to flip halfway through for even cooking.
Does Bacon Pop and Splatter in the Air Fryer?
There will be some sizzling and popping from the hot grease, but much less than skillet frying. The enclosed chamber contains most splatters.
Can I Make a Whole Package of Bacon at Once?
It’s best not to overload the basket. For a standard 6-quart air fryer, aim to cook 6-8 slices at a time. Cook additional batches as needed.
How Long Does Bacon Last in the Fridge After Cooking in the Air Fryer?
Properly stored in an airtight container, cooked bacon will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Re-crisp leftovers in the air fryer before serving.
What Setting Should I Use to Reheat Bacon?
Set air fryer to 350°F and reheat for 1-2 minutes until hot and crispy. Check frequently to avoid overcooking.
More Tasty Air Fryer Bacon Recipes
The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking bacon in the air fryer. Here are just a few recipe ideas to get you started:
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Candied Bacon: Coat bacon strips with brown sugar and spices before air frying.
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Maple Bacon: Brush bacon with maple syrup and pepper before air frying for a sweet and savory treat.
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BLT Chicken Salad: Crumble air fried bacon over chicken salad served with lettuce and tomato.
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Bacon Wrapped Shrimp: Wrap jumbo shrimp in bacon and air fry until the bacon is crisp.
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Bacon and Broccoli Salad: Toss crisp bacon pieces with fresh broccoli, shredded cheese, craisins, and dressing.
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Bacon Ranch Chicken: Top chicken breasts or tenders with ranch dressing and air fried bacon crumbs.
With the quick cooking time and mess-free results, your Gourmia air fryer may become your new favorite way to cook bacon! Follow this simple guide for crispy, evenly-cooked bacon every time.
Tips For Cooking Bacon in Air Fryer
- Make sure there aren’t too many slices in the pan. Based on the type of air fryer, a 12-ounce package of bacon can usually be cooked in two batches.
- Cook at 350 degrees F. to prevent bacon smoking. Since bacon grease smokes at 400 degrees, cooking at a lower temperature gives you the great smell of bacon without the smoke!
- Do not preheat the air fryer. For this recipe, you don’t need to heat the oven up first, but your bacon might get too done or burn.
- Discard the grease in between batches. And wipe with a clean paper towel. Any grease that gets on the heating element can make smoke, so wiping it down between batches will also help keep bacon from smoking.
- Bacon strips can be kept in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.
- For about a minute, heat up leftovers in the air fryer at 350 degrees F until they are hot all the way through and crispy.
- Put cooked bacon strips in a container or zip-top bag that can go in the freezer. You can do this for up to three months.
How To Make Air Fryer Bacon
I’ll walk you through the process of how to cook both regular-cut bacon and thick-cut bacon.
I often get asked about my preferred air fryer. I love this Gourmia 7 quart Air Fryer because you can pick it up at Costco for super cheap. It works great and cleans up nicely.
Place the bacon strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cut strips in half if needed to fit in the basket properly.
For the regular bacon cook at 350 degrees F. for 7-9 minutes, or until desired crispiness has been reached.
For the thick cut bacon, cook at 350 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes, or until desired crispiness has been reached.
Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard any bacon drippings between batches of cooking.
TIP: I keep my bacon grease in the fridge in a glass mason jar so I can use it for cooking. Do not discard bacon grease down the sink drain!.
Do I need to flip the bacon?
There is no need to turn the bacon halfway through since the air circulates in the air fryer.
Is baking spray needed to air fry bacon?
No, there is no need to add extra oil to the air fryer before cooking the bacon.
How long does it take bacon to air fry?
It depends on the thickness of the bacon, and how crispy you want your bacon. 7-9 minutes for regular, and 10-12 minutes is for medium crispy bacon.
You can always check the bacon to make sure it’s cooking to your desired crispiness.