Pork, Bacon & Sausage
Air Fryer Bacon: Crispy in 8–10 Minutes
How to cook bacon in the air fryer: 400°F for 8–10 minutes for regular slices or 10–14 minutes for thick-cut, with tips to stop smoke and splatter.
Quick answer
Cook bacon in an air fryer at 400°F205°C for 8–10 minutes for regular-cut slices, or 10–14 minutes for thick-cut. Lay the strips in a single layer, flip them halfway through, and pull them when they're one shade lighter than you like. Bacon keeps crisping as it cools.
- Time
- 8–10 min (regular)
- Flip
- Yes, halfway
- Done when
- Deep golden and crisp at the edges
Bacon air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin or regular-cut bacon | 400°F205°C | 7–10 min | Start checking at 6 minutes |
| Thick-cut bacon | 400°F205°C | 10–14 min | Flip halfway |
| Center-cut bacon | 400°F205°C | 7–9 min | Less fat, crisps faster |
| Turkey bacon | 360°F180°C | 8–10 min | Lower heat keeps it from drying out |
| Frozen bacon (slices stuck together) | 400°F205°C | 12–16 min | Separate slices after 4–5 minutes |
| Precooked bacon | 350°F175°C | 2–3 min | Just to reheat and crisp |
| Low-smoke method | 350°F175°C | 12–15 min | Less splatter, slightly chewier |
| Reheating cooked bacon | 350°F175°C | 2–4 min | No need to flip |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Air fryer bacon is the easiest way to get evenly crispy strips without standing over a spitting skillet. The basket lets the fat drip away, the hot air browns both sides, and cleanup is one drawer.
How to cook bacon in the air fryer
- Lay it flat. Arrange the strips in a single layer. They can touch, but shouldn’t overlap. Cut long strips in half if they don’t fit.
- Cook at 400°F205°C. Regular-cut bacon needs 7–10 minutes and thick-cut needs 10–14 minutes.
- Flip halfway. Use tongs to turn each strip for even color.
- Pull it a little early. Bacon keeps crisping for a minute after it comes out, so stop when it’s just short of your ideal.
- Drain. Move it to a paper-towel-lined plate.
What temperature is best?
400°F205°C is the best all-round setting. It renders the fat quickly and gives crisp, flat strips. If your air fryer smokes, or you prefer chewier bacon, drop to 350°F175°C and add 3–5 minutes. Turkey bacon has very little fat and dries out at high heat, so cook it at 360°F180°C.
Tips for the crispiest bacon
- Don’t crowd the basket. Overlapping strips steam and stay pale where they touch.
- Empty the grease between batches. Built-up fat is the main cause of smoke.
- Add water to the drawer. A couple of tablespoons in the bottom drawer (below the basket, never near the heating element) catches drips and reduces smoke.
- Use a rack for curly bacon. Laying a metal air fryer rack on top keeps thin bacon from flipping up in the fan.
- Save the drippings. Strain the cooled fat into a jar and use it for roasting potatoes or frying eggs.
Cooking frozen bacon
You can cook bacon straight from frozen. Put the frozen block in the basket at 400°F205°C for 4–5 minutes, then separate the slices with tongs, spread them into a single layer, and cook another 8–10 minutes, flipping once.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate cooked bacon in an airtight container for up to 4–5 days, or freeze it for up to a month. To reheat, air fry at 350°F175°C for 2–4 minutes until it sizzles. It comes out much crispier than microwaved bacon. See our reheating guide for other leftovers.
Air Fryer Bacon
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 12 min
- Air fryer
- 400°F205°C
- Makes
- 4 servings (8 slices)
- Calories
- 130 per 2 slices
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon (regular or thick-cut)
- 2 tablespoons water, for the drawer (optional, reduces smoke)
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F205°C for 3 minutes. If your model doesn't need preheating, skip this and add 1–2 minutes to the cook time.
- Arrange. Lay the bacon in the basket in a single layer without overlapping. Cut long strips in half to fit, and cook in batches if needed.
- Cook. Air fry regular-cut bacon for 7–10 minutes or thick-cut for 10–14 minutes, flipping the slices with tongs halfway through.
- Check. Remove the bacon when it's deep golden and crisp at the edges, just before it reaches your preferred crispness. It firms up as it cools.
- Drain. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Carefully pour off the grease before cooking the next batch.
Notes
- Smoking? Lower the temperature to 350°F175°C and add 3–5 minutes.
- Turkey bacon: cook at 360°F180°C for 8–10 minutes.
- Later batches cook about 1 minute faster because the air fryer is already hot.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook bacon in an air fryer?
Yes. The air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook bacon. Hot air circulates around each strip, so it crisps evenly without flipping in a pan, and the grease drips into the drawer instead of splattering your stove.
How long do you air fry bacon at 400°F205°C?
Regular-cut bacon takes 7–10 minutes at 400°F205°C and thick-cut takes 10–14 minutes. Start checking a couple of minutes early the first time, because air fryers vary.
Do you need to flip bacon in the air fryer?
Flipping halfway gives the most even color, especially for thick-cut bacon. Thin bacon in a single layer will still cook without flipping, but the top side browns a little more.
Why does my air fryer smoke when I cook bacon?
Rendered fat hits the hot drawer and smokes. To reduce it, cook at 350°F175°C instead of 400°F205°C, pour a couple of tablespoons of water into the drawer under the basket (never on the heating element), and empty the grease between batches.
Do you need to preheat the air fryer for bacon?
Preheating for 3 minutes gives more predictable timing, but it's optional. If you start cold, add 1–2 minutes to the cook time.
Can I put parchment paper or foil under bacon?
You can use perforated air fryer parchment, but only with food on top of it so it can't blow into the heating element. Solid foil or parchment traps grease under the bacon and makes it less crispy.
How do you cook a whole pound of bacon in the air fryer?
Cook it in batches of 5–8 strips, depending on basket size. Overlapping strips steam instead of crisping. Drain the grease between batches, and expect later batches to cook about a minute faster because the air fryer is already hot.
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