Air Fryer Bacon – Perfectly Crispy Strips With No Splatter

Air fryer bacon cooks at 180°C / 355°F for 8–10 minutes for regular slices and 12–14 minutes for thick-cut. It comes out evenly crisp, nothing splatters across the stove, and the fat collects in the bottom of the basket where it is easy to deal with.

Frying bacon in a pan means standing over it, turning strips and dodging hot fat. In the air fryer you lay the slices down, close the drawer and come back when it beeps. The only real decisions are the temperature, which controls smoke, and the time, which depends on how thick your bacon is.

Air Fryer Bacon Time Chart

Brands vary a lot in thickness and water content, so check the first batch a minute or two early. After that you will know exactly how your bacon and your air fryer behave together.

Why Use the Air Fryer for Bacon?

• No splatter: the basket and drawer keep the grease contained.
• Even crispness: hot air reaches the top and bottom at the same time.
• Hands-off: no standing at the stove turning strips.
• Easy cleanup: pour off the cooled fat and wash the basket.

The one downside is batch size. A standard basket holds 5–7 regular slices, so for a big family breakfast you will cook in two rounds. Keep the first batch warm on a plate in a low oven.

What You Need

• 6–8 slices bacon, regular or thick cut
• 2 tablespoons water in the drawer under the basket (optional, reduces smoke)
• A slice of bread in the drawer (optional, soaks up the grease)

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon

1. Lay It Flat

Arrange the slices in a single layer. A little overlap at the edges is fine because bacon shrinks as it cooks, but stacked slices stay pale and chewy where they touch.

2. Air Fry

Cook at 180°C / 355°F for 8–10 minutes. There is no need to preheat; starting cold actually helps more fat render out before the edges darken.

3. Flip If Needed

Regular slices are usually fine without turning. For thick cut, flip once halfway so both sides crisp evenly.

4. Drain

Move the bacon to a paper towel for a minute. It keeps crisping as it cools, so take it out slightly before it looks perfect.

If Your Air Fryer Smokes

White smoke while cooking bacon is fat hitting a very hot surface. It is common and easy to reduce. Keep the temperature at 180°C rather than 200°C, put a couple of tablespoons of water or a slice of bread in the drawer to catch the drips, and pour off the fat before a second batch. If the smoke smells burnt, look for old grease stuck under the heating element and clean it once the machine is cool.

Tips

Ways to Use Air Fryer Bacon

Crumble it over salads and baked potatoes, layer it into sandwiches or chop it into pasta. It is especially good on top of Air Fryer Burgers with a slice of cheddar. Cooked bacon also freezes well: lay the slices on a tray, freeze, then bag them and reheat straight from frozen for 2–3 minutes.

Air Fryer Bacon FAQ

The Easiest Way to Cook Bacon

A moderate temperature, a single layer and a quick drain give you crispy air fryer bacon without the mess of a frying pan, and once you have done it a couple of times you will barely need to watch it.

For another breakfast staple, try Air Fryer Sausages.

Written by

James Wilson

Air Fryer Recipe Creator & Food Writer

James Wilson is an air fryer recipe creator and food writer who loves making simple, crispy, and flavorful meals easier to prepare at home. He focuses on practical air fryer recipes, helpful cooking tips, and easy-to-follow ideas designed for everyday kitchens.