Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. Among the many foods you can make in an air fryer, bacon is a top choice for many people. Air frying bacon produces crispy, delicious bacon without all the added fat and grease from pan frying. It’s a quick and easy way to cook up everyone’s favorite salty, savory breakfast meat.
Benefits of Cooking Bacon in an Air Fryer
There are several advantages to cooking bacon in an air fryer rather than a skillet:
- Less greasy – Air fryers cook using super heated air rather than oil, resulting in bacon that has significantly less grease.
- Fewer calories – Less grease means fewer calories. Air fried bacon can have up to 70% less fat and calories than pan fried bacon.
- Quick cooking time – Bacon cooks fast in an air fryer, usually taking just 8-15 minutes compared to 20-30 minutes in a skillet.
- Less mess – With no hot grease popping, there’s minimal mess or splatter to clean up afterwards.
- Even cooking – The hot air circulates around the bacon, cooking it evenly on all sides.
- Crispy texture – The intense heat makes the bacon nice and crispy.
- Can cook large batches – Air fryers easily accommodate cooking bacon for the whole family.
For these reasons, using an air fryer is an excellent way to cook up delicious bacon that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
How to Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer
Cooking bacon in an air fryer is very simple. Just follow these easy steps:
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F.
- Slice bacon strips to desired thickness. Thinner bacon will cook faster and crispier.
- Lay bacon slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8-15 minutes, depending on bacon thickness. Check frequently during cooking.
- When desired crispness is reached, remove basket and transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Blot bacon with additional paper towels to absorb excess grease.
- Enjoy your delicious air fried bacon!
Tips for the best results:
- Use thick cut bacon for crispy texture.
- Make sure bacon lays flat and doesn’t overlap to ensure even cooking.
- Brush air fryer basket with oil or spray with nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
- For less curling, place a bacon press or another basket on top as it cooks.
- Check frequently as oven temperatures vary. Adjust cook time as needed.
- Let bacon cool slightly before eating to avoid burning your mouth!
How Long to Cook Bacon in a Power XL Air Fryer
The Power XL Air Fryer is a popular digital model with 7-quart capacity. When using this air fryer, you’ll find these approximate cook times for bacon:
| Bacon Thickness | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| Regular sliced (1/16 inch) | 8-10 minutes |
| Thick sliced (1/8 inch) | 10-12 minutes |
| Extra thick sliced (3/16 inch) | 12-15 minutes |
As a general guideline, thin sliced bacon takes 8-10 minutes, regular cut bacon takes 10-12 minutes, and extra thick cut bacon is 12-15 minutes. Check frequently and adjust time if needed based on your preference of crispness.
Tips for Power XL Air Fryer
Here are some tips when cooking bacon in the Power XL Air Fryer:
- Let air fryer fully preheat before adding bacon.
- Use cooking tray or line basket with foil for easier cleanup.
- Arrange bacon evenly in single layer.
- Set timer for minimum recommended time.
- Check bacon every few minutes and shuffle pieces around.
- Add 2-3 minutes if you want bacon very crispy.
- Let bacon cool 1-2 minutes before eating.
- Adjust time as needed based on thickness and how crispy you like your bacon.
Conclusion
Cooking bacon in the Power XL Air Fryer produces crispy, crunchy bacon in way less time compared to the oven. It also requires minimal prep and cleanup. Following the recommended cook times of 8-15 minutes depending on thickness will result in perfectly crisped bacon every time. Just be sure to keep an eye on it and adjust cook time based on your preferred level of crispness. Enjoy your quick and easy air fried bacon for breakfast, on sandwiches, salads, and more!