Description
This recipe shows you how to make perfectly crispy bacon using an air fryer. The method is quick, less messy, and produces deliciously crunchy bacon every time with minimal smoke thanks to the simple water trick.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 8 strips thick cut bacon
- ¼ cup water (to reduce smoking)
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C) for 5 minutes to ensure an even cooking temperature for crispy bacon.
- Add Water to Reduce Smoke: Pour ¼ cup of water into the bottom of the air fryer basket. This helps minimize smoke during cooking. Alternatively, you can place a layer of bread instead of water to absorb the drippings.
- Arrange the Bacon: Lay the thick-cut bacon strips in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket, making sure the pieces don’t overlap for even cooking.
- Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon for 12 to 16 minutes depending on your preferred crispiness. For thick cut bacon, 12 minutes will yield slightly chewy bacon, while 16 minutes will be extra crispy. Standard cut bacon typically cooks in 8 to 10 minutes.
Notes
- Check bacon halfway through cooking and rearrange if needed to cook evenly.
- Cooking times vary by air fryer model; monitor the first time you try this recipe.
- For less smoke, avoid overcrowding the basket.
- Save bacon grease collected in the air fryer drawer for cooking other dishes.