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Air Fryer Bacon

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Crispy, evenly browned bacon cooked entirely in the air fryer — fat drips away through the basket, no grease spatter, and cleanup is just a drip tray rinse.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 strips bacon (regular-cut or thick-cut)
  • Optional: black pepper, brown sugar, or cayenne for seasoning

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes. Preheating ensures fat begins rendering immediately rather than pooling.
  2. Lay bacon strips flat in the basket in a single layer without overlapping. Cook in batches if needed — a standard 5–6 qt basket fits 5–6 regular-cut or 4–5 thick-cut strips.
  3. Cook at 375°F. For regular-cut bacon, cook 9 minutes total, flipping at 4 minutes. For thick-cut, cook 12 minutes total, flipping at 6 minutes. In the final 2 minutes, monitor closely — bacon moves quickly from done to overdone.
  4. Remove bacon with tongs and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Rest 2 minutes before serving — bacon continues to crisp as the fat cools and solidifies.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd: Overlapping strips steam each other and stay soft. Always cook in single-layer batches. Second and subsequent batches cook 1–2 minutes faster since the basket is already hot.

Brand-specific tips: Ninja AF101 — check regular-cut at 7 min; Cosori Pro (5.8 qt) fits 6–7 strips; Instant Vortex Plus runs hot, check regular-cut at 6 min; Philips Essential — use 350°F for 10 min.

Thick-cut vs. regular-cut: Thick-cut is more forgiving with a wider window before overcooking. Regular-cut requires close attention in the last 1–2 minutes.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-bacon/