Why You’ll Love These Bacon In Air Fryer Instructions
So many reasons why! Let me list a few
Hands off. You put the bacon in there, you walk away, and you come back to perfectly crisp Air Fryer bacon.It’s pretty fast. It takes less time than preheating the oven and baking.No splatters. It makes clean up so much easier. Best of all, just put everything in the dishwasher for even faster cleanup. Even cooking. No burned edges, and soggy middles.Crisp but not fatty. The fat drips down in the bottom of the tray so your bacon isn’t fat-logged, just perfectly cooked.
Best of all, because the fat is at the bottom of the pan? You can still collect it later and save it for future use. I always have a small 1-pint mason jar to save bacon grease. Just pour the hot grease into the jar before it congeals. It is pure goodness, people.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Bacon. Yep, that’s it. You’ll just need bacon and an air fryer to make this incredibly easy air fryer bacon. But, is it good for your body? Calories. Bacon is surprisingly low in calories since most of the fat is usually cooked off. Bacon has about 43 calories per cooked slice. Turkey bacon has about 30 calories per cooked slice. Keto advantages. If you’re currently living a Keto lifestyle, or have in the past, you know that bacon is the golden meat of Keto. It’s high in protein and the bacon grease makes an excellent fat source. Taste. You can’t beat the taste of a perfectly cooked piece of bacon. This is why Air Fryer bacon is so incredible. All the desirable taste, and none of the fuss and mess of traditional cooking methods. But if you’re anything like me or my kids, there’s nothing like bacon to get the whole family out of bed on a lazy weekend morning. A slice of bread (optional). This is to soak up some of the fat that is released during the cooking cycle. But if you don’t have a piece of bread (low carb foodies understand that struggle) just use a piece of aluminum foil in your air fryer basket to prevent the renderings from hitting the hot tray. Save yourself all of the extra ingredients and cleanup time. All you’ll need is an air fryer, bacon, and a slice of bread (or aluminum foil) to get the perfect breakfast protein.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Bacon In The Air Fryer?
I love how perfectly crisp bacon turns out when it is cooked in the oven. Unfortunately, the time it takes to preheat the oven before you even begin to cook can be frustrating if you’re in a hurry. That’s why I decided it was time to give it a shot in the air fryer. Plus I absolutely ADORE my air fryer, so why not use it? In as little as 8-10 minutes you can have perfectly cooked air fryer bacon!
How To Prevent Your Air Fryer From Smoking While Cooking Bacon
Air Fryer bacon doesn’t create any more smoke than cooking it on the stovetop, that’s for sure. But there are a few options for reducing the smoke even further.
Water. Put a little bit of water in the bottom pan/basket of the air fryer. You put some water in it, you put the bacon on the rack/grill part of the basket, and you have at it.Bread. Place pieces of bread at the bottom and let them soak up all that lovely grease! Foil. I would not recommend parchment paper if you plan to use the bacon grease, as it is very hard to pour it out of a sheet of parchment. You are better off using foil to gather than bacon fat instead when making Air Fryer Bacon.
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Depending on who you ask, it can be even easier than air fryer bacon. You can actually cook an entire giant package at a time. You also get very little smoke from this method and once again, it’s fairly hands-off and cleanup is easy.
What To Make With Air Fryer Bacon
Cooked bacon is a versatile ingredient that can add a delicious smoky flavor and crispy texture to a variety of dishes. Here are some recipes where you can incorporate your air fried bacon:
Breakfast Tacos- Warm soft tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, crumbled cooked bacon, shredded cheese, and a dollop of salsa or sour cream. Garnish with fresh cilantro or chives.Bacon and Spinach Salad- Combine fresh spinach, sliced hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, and cherry tomatoes. Toss with a vinaigrette dressing and top with shaved Parmesan cheese.Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich (BLT)- Toast your favorite bread and layer with mayonnaise, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cooked bacon. Add a twist with avocado slices or a fried egg.Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes-Top baked sweet potatoes with sour cream, chives, shredded cheese, and crumbled bacon. For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning or garlic powder.
How Long Does It Last?
Air fryer bacon, once cooked, can last in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days if stored properly. To maximize its shelf life, you should store the bacon in a shallow airtight container or wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This will help to prevent the bacon from drying out and preserve its flavor and texture.
Can You Freeze It?
If you want to store the bacon for a longer period, you can freeze it. Properly stored, cooked bacon can last in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. To freeze bacon, wrap it in heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap, or place it in freezer bags. When you’re ready to use the frozen bacon, thaw it in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the microwave, oven, or back in the air fryer.
More Recipes Using Bacon
Air Fried Green Beans and Bacon - easy and delicious!Mushrooms with Bacon - not air fried, but super simple.Swiss Chard with Bacon - done in a few minutes on the stovetop.Cauliflower Mac-N-Cheese with Bacon and Jalapenos - as good as it sounds.Tacos De Alambre - all the taco flavor plus bacon.Easy Baked Chicken Poppers - easy Keto meal or appetizer.Brussels Sprouts with Bacon - made with yummy caramelized onions.Philly Cheesesteak - Not traditionally served with bacon, but it’s delicious.
Air fried bacon is going to be your new favorite way to cook bacon. You’ll soon be free of grease splatters, and will have a belly full of crispy bacon instead. Originally Published January 20, 2020 And don’t forget to check out my air fryer cookbooks! Every day easy air fryer, and Air Fryer Revolution.
