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    Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Bacon – No Smoke!

    Published: Nov 30, 2020 · by: jenniferbanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Air Fryer Bacon – No Smoke!

    I love finding new and exciting ways to use my Air Fryer and this is my favorite trick yet. This air fryer bacon is finished in under 10 minutes (even with thick cut bacon), and no greasy mess all over the stove!  I give tricks for insuring there is no smoke while making bacon in the air fryer!  This recipe is perfect for cooking a small amount of bacon.  If you want to feed a crowd, I recommend cooking your bacon in the oven.

    The air fryer is the new buzz worthy appliance and with good reason.  Bacon in the air fryer yields crispy bacon that is ready in no time at all and with no mess on your stove top.  I also notice that this bacon is more tender than bacon cooked on the stove top.  That is a win in my book!

    crispy bacon in an air fryer

    Like most people, I am a lover of bacon.  I have tried different ways to make bacon over the years and I think I have found this bacon to be my favorite!  Also check out my bacon wrapped asparagus for another bacon treat in the air fryer.

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    When cooking bacon in a skillet it splatters all over the stove.  When cooking bacon in the oven, it splatters all over the oven.  I have been covering it lately with parchment paper, but then it takes about 20-25 minutes to get crispy.  Cooking bacon in the air fryer is such a cinch!  I have a 6 quart air fryer and I can cook up to 7 pieces of thick cut bacon at a time.  This method also works with cooking turkey bacon.  The trick for fitting more bacon in your air fryer is to cut the strips in half, widthwise.  This also helps the bacon cook quicker!

    raw bacon strips in the air fryer

    For this recipe, I set the temperature to 350F, and the time to 9 minutes.  This is with thick cut bacon, so if your bacon is thinner, start with 5 minutes.  You can check on the bacon and add more time if you need to.

    We cook the bacon in the air fryer at 350F because bacon has a smoke point of 374F.  This is the temperature at which bacon fat starts to oxidize and smoke.  This is how we avoid smoke while cooking bacon! If you want to cook a second batch of bacon immediately after the first, you need to drain any grease from the basket and wipe it out so the fat doesn’t oxidize.

    Is it safe to cook bacon in an air fryer?

    It is important that you follow the directions of your particular air fryer.  I have a Nuwave Brio 6 quart air fryer and their instructions do not prohibit the cooking of greasy foods.

    Bacon smoking?

    If you are cooking bacon in your air fryer and it starts to produce white smoke, that is the grease oxidizing.  This is probably because your air fryer is set on too high of a temperature, or it could mean you need to wipe out the inside of your air fryer (when it is cold) to remove any splattered grease from the burner.  350F is the perfect temperature to cook the bacon because bacon fat has a smoke point (the temperature at which the fat starts to smoke) of 374F.

    Is cooking bacon in the air fryer healthier?

    No, there is nothing different about cooking bacon in the air fryer than in the oven or in a skillet (if you drain your bacon on paper towels).  The air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven. What would make bacon “healthier” as in less calories, is to make it as crispy as possible which would render as much fat from the bacon as possible.  If you cook your bacon to where it is not very crispy, it will have more fat, which means more calories.

    Checkout these other keto friendly recipes:

    • Coffee Cake Muffins
    • Keto Double Chocolate Bundt Cake
    • Strawberry Quick Bread
    • Keto Hamburger Stew
    • Keto Chocolate Fruit Dip
    • Keto Egg Drop Soup
    • Blueberry Muffin in a Mug

    Checkout these other keto friendly air fryer recipes:

    • Air fryer crispy Brussels sprouts
    • Chicken wings in the air fryer
    • chicken breast in the air fryer
    • Air Fryer pork chops

    I hope you enjoy this air fryer bacon recipe.  Here at Low Carb with Jennifer we aim to deliver family friendly keto recipes that are easy to make with ingredients found in most grocery stores.  No crazy ingredients here!  If you are interested in more keto friendly recipes, I have a cookbook that is now available for pre-order!  You can find that here: Jenniferbanz.com/cookbook

    cooked bacon in an air fryer basket

    Crispy Air Fryer Bacon - No Smoke!

    I love finding new and exciting ways to use my Air Fryer and this is my favorite trick yet. The bacon in the Air Fryer is finished in under 10 minutes (even with thick cut bacon), and no greasy mess all over the stove!
    5 from 12 votes
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gluten free, recipe for air fryer bacon
    Prep Time: 1 minute
    Cook Time: 9 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories:
    Author: Jennifer Banz

    INGREDIENTS

    • 3-7 Pieces Bacon, cut in half widthwise

    EQUIPMENT

    • Air Fryer (Here's the air fryer I like best on Amazon)

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Lay the bacon in the Air fryer basket in a single layer
    • Cook the bacon at 350F for 9 minutes (thick cut bacon) or shorter for thinner bacon.  Check the bacon throughout the cooking time to make sure it isn't overcooking.

    JENNIFER'S TIPS

    • If you want to cook a second batch of bacon immediately after the first, you need to drain any grease from the basket and wipe it out.
    • After cooking and the air fryer is cool, take a damp paper towel and wipe any grease that has splattered onto the inside of the air fryer...especially the burner at the top.  This will keep the bacon from smoking next time.
    • Bacon smoking?:  The smoke point of bacon fat is 374F.  Since we are cooking this bacon at 350F, there should be no smoke.  If there is smoke, that would be from leftover grease on the inside of the air fryer that has oxidized.  When your air fryer is cool, wipe the inside with a damp cloth.
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      Recipe Reviews




    1. Parrot says

      May 02, 2021 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      The top about the temp bacon will produce smoke was soooo helpful. I won’t be cooking bacon any other way now. This was quick, easy and delicious.

      Reply
    2. Steve UMBREIT says

      April 06, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      Can’t have bacon any other way now! I do 360 for 10 minutes. Crispy and delicious.

      Reply
    3. Matt Steele says

      February 16, 2021 at 9:56 am

      I’m going to try this tonight

      Reply
    4. Leo says

      February 08, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      Great solution! I tried this method today. It was a mess-free experience.

      Thank you/

      Reply
    5. Amanda says

      January 21, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      I tried this for the first time. I have a slide in air fryer (Bella brand) and it has trays that slide in similar to a toaster oven, so not a basket style fryer. I did turn down the temp but it still smokes a lot. The only way I can think to work around is to open the door and let it release some smoke and then resume. That kept the smoke from billowing up too much inside which definitely risks setting off my overly sensitive smoke detector. I cut my pieces in half to fit the trays. I had problems with my pieces completely curling up. I like the suggestion of laying a metal sheet on top and might try that next time. The other issue with this method is I could only do 4 total pieces across two metal trays. It,would take quite awhile to do a full package using this method, but it does keep the grease contained and not splattering all over my kitchen and my clothes. It might be perfect for someone who wants to cook up just a few pieces at a time.

      Reply
      • Stephanie says

        April 21, 2021 at 5:58 am

        5 stars
        i appreciate all the tips.

        Reply
    6. Phillip says

      January 10, 2021 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      Finally…perfect air fryer bacon! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

      Reply
    7. Jamie says

      December 04, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      I was super excited to cook bacon in my new air fryer until I saw this picture. Looks like you can only cook 5 pieces of bacon at one time. I always cook 1 lb over the weekend. It wound be less time and hassle to pan fry or bake it in the oven.

      Reply
    8. Frieda says

      December 03, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the fat oxidizing information. I have been cooking at 400, but will cook my bacon at the lower temperature. I always put a flat rack on top of the bacon so it doesn’t fly around and it cooks flat.

      Reply
    9. Kelly says

      October 16, 2020 at 10:12 am

      I have the Brio 6 qt and my first time using it I have chosen to try cooking bacon. Was I Supposed to pre heat before I put the bacon in? After 9 mins the bacon (3 1/2 pieces) was still very raw. Not even close to being cooked.

      Reply
      • jenniferbanz says

        October 19, 2020 at 8:55 am

        I usually don’t pre-heat. Your bacon may have just been on the thicker side

        Reply
    10. Peggy Baker says

      February 10, 2020 at 12:20 am

      How do you cook pork chops in the air fryer..Please share any other recipes you may have for air fryer cooking..I have watched the bacon, chicken wings, chicken breast n Brussels sprouts video you have shared..thank you for sharing..

      Reply
      • jenniferbanz says

        February 13, 2020 at 9:40 am

        Hi Peggy, I have a whole air fryer section right here: https://jenniferbanz.com/category/recipes/air-fryer

        Reply
    11. Lexi says

      January 05, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Perfect timing and temp. 🙂 thank you for sharing!
      To people questioning about the grease and clean up.. I line my bottom pan (under rack with bacon on it) with aluminum foil. Then, when cooled I remove and discard safely. Easier clean up, along with your suggestion of the damp rag when fryer is cooled.

      Reply
      • Kim says

        January 20, 2020 at 4:38 pm

        I find the foil prevents consistency throughout the slice, effecting that final bite!

        Reply
    12. Italian93 says

      December 31, 2019 at 9:17 pm

      I have done this recipe plenty of times and it’s the only way I do bacon anymore. I think other reviewers have said something about the remedy to the smoke issue, but I will just say I pour 1/4 cup of water in the bottom and have had Zero smoke

      Reply
    13. Alicia says

      November 07, 2019 at 11:50 am

      I’ve had my air fryer for a year and looked non-stop for an answer to this question. My airfryer (a digital Gourmia) has slits all through the sides of the basket, which makes draining the bacon fat A NIGHTMARE. Has anyone come up with a smarter way to drain it than dumping it in a big metal bowl so the grease will flow through the top AND slits?

      Reply
      • jenniferbanz says

        November 08, 2019 at 8:56 am

        I guess I’m not understanding your question. That air fryer has a removable basket, correct? So the bacon fat would fall down into the drawer and you remove the basket, then drain the fat from the drawer.

        Reply
        • Kelsey says

          December 25, 2019 at 11:11 pm

          I get what you are saying. The drawer of my air fryer has slits so if I try to drain bacon grease, it go through the slits and everywhere instead of just into the glass jar. I’m wondering if I can line the bottom with foil then when the grease cools just pull out the foil and toss?

    14. Donna L Scannell says

      March 05, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Mine smokes like crazy. Why? Smoke detector I guess doesn’t work.

      Reply
      • jenniferbanz says

        March 06, 2019 at 12:21 pm

        Mine only starts to smoke if I start to make a second batch without dumping the grease

        Reply
      • Laurie says

        October 18, 2019 at 8:16 am

        If you use it alot for greasy foods, tip it upside down to clean the built up grease from the elements.

        Reply
    15. David says

      January 13, 2019 at 9:11 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the wonderful tips. No more bacon grease to clean on stove top!

      Reply
    16. Judy says

      December 30, 2018 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      Worked out well… quick, easy and clean up was a snap! I didn’t have thick cut bacon and the regular cut took 6 minutes. Next I’ll try your brussel sprout recipe!

      Reply
    17. Tammy says

      December 16, 2018 at 7:36 am

      Did you get a picture of how you lay the slices sideways?

      Reply
    18. Aimee Shugarman says

      November 19, 2018 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      Loved how easy this is to make, and no splatter on my stove top, haha!

      Reply
    19. Kate says

      November 19, 2018 at 3:42 am

      5 stars
      What a great use of the air fryer! Awesome that it’s easy but also healthier.

      Reply
    20. Liz says

      November 18, 2018 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      This is my new favorite way of cooking bacon! I love how easy and quick it is!

      Reply
    21. Nellie Tracy says

      November 17, 2018 at 11:18 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely the very best way to make bacon! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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