If you own an air fryer, you must be excited to try out different recipes on a daily basis. Not many people are aware that bacon can also be prepared using an air fryer. On some days, turning on the oven for just 3 to 5 strips is not worth it, so an air fryer is a great alternative. However, the question is, does bacon splatter in an air fryer?
No, unlike in a pan, bacon does not splatter in an air fryer. Just add a little less than 1 cup of water to the air fryer’s basket to reduce smoke and any chances of splattering.
Moreover, the cleanup afterward is a lot easier as the grease does not stick to the air fryer.
So, let’s take a look at how bacon can be cooked using an air fryer.
Why you should cook bacon in your air fryer
As mentioned earlier, the primary reason you should be using an air fryer to cook bacon is neither it splatters nor sticks to the basket. This means you won’t have to worry about a thorough cleanup post-cooking. However, there are several other reasons as well.
Better texture
When you fry bacon in an air fryer, all the fat melts and falls to the bottom of the air fryer basket. This way, the strips don’t keep cooking in grease and turn out nicely crisped up. Therefore, the texture is relatively more appealing.
Faster cooking
Even though people prefer cooking bacon in the oven, an air fryer can get the job done much quicker. It takes only 10 minutes for an air fryer to fry bacon, which is half the time an oven takes.
Is it alright to layer food in an air fryer?
Less curling
Bacon cooked in an air fryer does not curl when cooked at the right temperature. Instead, the bacon will crisp up, and you won’t need a bacon press. Because the fat falls to the bottom of the air fryer basket, there isn’t enough fat left to curl the bacon.
The amount of time it takes to cook air fryer bacon
The amount of time required to cook bacon in an air fryer depends on the type and cut.
Regular-cut bacon takes around 8-9 minutes for a crispy result. However, if you want more pliable bacon, you should reduce the cooking time to 7 minutes.
For thick bacon, you will need 10-12 minutes for a crispy result. And if you desire more pliable bacon slices, you should reduce the cooking time to 9 minutes.
Note: If you want the crispiest bacon, you will have to flip it halfway through the cooking time.
Steps to prevent the bacon grease from smoking
The only issue with cooking bacon is the grease at the bottom that smokes. However, you can get rid of this by following our tips below.
- Make sure that the temperature is set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the bacon crisps up perfectly without smoking.
- If you wish to cook multiple batches of bacon, be sure to drain the grease from the bottom before placing a new batch.
What to do if your air fryer starts smoking? When is it dangerous?
Here are two ways of preventing the grease from smoking:
- Put 1 or 2 pieces of bread under the air fryer basket. All the grease will be absorbed by the bread at the bottom, then causing smoke.
- Add some water to the drip pan or the air fryer’s bottom. It’s best to do this when flipping the bacon pieces.
Conclusion
Concluding, bacon cooked in an air fryer does not splatter, provided you follow the right cooking techniques and tips. You may struggle on your first attempt, but the second time is going to be effortless. Happy air frying!