Name: Air Fryer Bacon (UK) - Printable Recipe
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: English
Ingredients: Air Fryer; Non Scratch Tongs; Bacon *

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Want to know how to cook bacon in your air fryer? Not sure about timings or temperatures? Worried it might smoke and splatter, and ruin your air fryer? Whether it’s back bacon or streaky bacon, this easy UK air fryer bacon recipe will have you making it like a pro in no time! Keep scrolling for tutorials, step by steps, FAQs, helpful tips and more!

Plus, get your FREE air fryer conversion chart. Helping you convert fan oven temperatures and timings into air fryer settings. Meaning you can cook just about ANYTHING in your air fryer!

Someone picking up a piece of air fried bacon from a plate on a stand

FREE air fryer conversion chart

Want to learn how to cook just about anything in your air fryer? Get your FREE air fryer conversion chart! It will help you convert ANY fan oven timings and temperatures into air fryer settings. And it’s all yours, absolutely FREE!

Plus you’ll receive lots more air frying tips via email updates! What are you waiting for?! Fill the form out below…

Why air fry Bacon?

Air frying bacon is quicker, healthier and more energy efficient when cooking smaller amounts. Like oven fried bacon, it’s also more ‘hands off’ than frying and yields perfect results every time!

I find it’s usually much easier to clean too. I use a Ninja Foodi air fryer, and it’s excellent non stick properties mean any residue cleans off very easily.

You can then use your air fryer bacon in tasty recipes like egg in a hole bacon sandwich and eggs in clouds!

How long does it take to air fry bacon?

The answer to this depends on lots of varying factors. What type of bacon is it? Back bacon, streaky bacon or thick cut? What type of air fryer do you have? How much are you cooking at once, and are you overcrowding the drawer or allowing space between each rasher?

This post covers all these variables and gives you plenty of helpful insights. So you can make the best judgment when you’re making air fryer bacon at home.

Cooked back bacon in an air fryer drawer with tongs

Do you need to line your air fryer with foil when cooking bacon?

No, but you can if you want to. I find air fryers very easy to clean already, and I don’t usually line mine with foil.

That being said, if you are air frying your bacon in batches, you need to remove excess fat each time. As this will help to avoid smoke and splatter. Lining the base of your air fryer (underneath the tray) may help make this easier and quicker.

Can you cook bacon in an air fryer (UK)?

You can absolutely cook bacon in your air fryer! Do take care that you choose the right settings though. If you don’t, the bacon can smoke and cause splatter. Which could ultimately damage your air fryer.

What temperature do you air fry bacon?

Never air fry bacon above 180ºC (356ºF). Over that point, the bacon fat is likely to smoke. It can then become too hot and start to splatter – which could damage your air fryer.

How to air fry bacon in a Ninja Foodi

I actually have a Ninja Foodi Max Dual AF400UK air fryer, and used it to develop this air fryer bacon recipe. So all you need to do is follow the recipe as is!

Is air fryer bacon better than oven cooked?

This is all down to personal preference. Air fryer bacon is definitely a healthier method, and it’s also faster. But if you need to cook a large quantity of bacon, I would suggest using your oven instead. As this will be easier and more energy efficient than cooking multiple batches in your air fryer.

Close up of air fried bacon on a white plate

Ingredients

Given that there’s only one ingredient here, it seems a little odd to add this section! However, there are lots of different types of bacon, so here are a few notes that may help you…

Back Bacon – Smoked or unsmoked, it doesn’t matter. You can air fry both variations with great success. Just make sure you place them in a single layer.
Streaky Bacon – Although smaller than back bacon, streaky bacon actually takes a little longer to air fry. This is due to it containing more fat that needs to be rendered down.
Thick Cut Bacon – If you want to air fry thick cut bacon, cook to the timings I give for regular back bacon. Then continue in 2 minute increments, checking regularly, until cooked to your liking.

Air fried bacon being taken out of a white dish

Recipe tips and troubleshooting

Here are some tips I’ve no doubt you’ll find helpful when making this recipe…

Don’t air fry bacon any higher than 180ºC (356ºF) or it could smoke/burn/splatter. This can damage your air fryer.
Make sure you remove excess bacon fat from your air fryer drawer between batches, otherwise this can smoke. Which might damage your air fryer, could set off the smoke alarm, and will make your kitchen stink! Not good.
Make sure you place your bacon in a single layer or it won’t crisp up. Slight touching/overlapping is ok, as the bacon will shrink during cooking.)
Don’t use metal tongs when removing bacon from your air fryer drawer, as this could damage the non stick coating. Instead use silicone tongs or similar.
The size of your air fryer and bacon will determine how many you can cook in 1 batch. You could cut your bacon rashers in half if this will help you get more in at once – but this will affect the cooking times. So keep an eye on it during air frying.

Uncooked streaky bacon in an air fryer drawer

Time management

Have limited time? Struggle with recipe timings? Or juggling around other things? Here’s some time managing info to make your life easier.

You will need to preheat your air fryer, this will take 3 minutes.
Back bacon will take somewhere between 6-8 minutes until the fat is crisp.
Streaky bacon usually crisps up within 9-11 minutes.
You will need to cook for a few minutes longer than the above times if you’re cooking thick cut bacon. Or if your air fryer is very crowded.

Note that air frying times may decrease/increase slightly, depending on how crowded your air fryer is, and how thick your bacon is.

Someone taking a piece of air fried bacon off a plate

If you like this air fryer bacon (uk) recipe…

…you might also like:

Air Fryer Bacon UK – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Here is what you will need to cook bacon in your air fryer. Instructions are given for both back bacon and streaky bacon.

See instructions on batch baking for an important tip.

Please note that air fryers and bacon vary, use these timings as a guide. Check your bacon regularly to avoid smoking and burning.

Ingredients

Bacon *

*How much will depend on the size of your bacon and your air fryer. You may need to cook in batches.

Essential equipment

Air Fryer
Non Scratch Tongs

Back bacon instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 180ºC (356ºF) for 3 minutes. Then lay your back bacon in a single layer. Slight touching or overlapping is ok, as the bacon will shrink.

Take care not to burn your hands on the sides of the drawer.

Air fry for 6-8 minutes, turning the rashers over with tongs half way through the cooking time.

They’re done when they’re crisp enough for you liking!

Streaky bacon instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 180ºC (356ºF) for 3 minutes. Then lay your streaky bacon in a single layer. Slight touching or overlapping is ok, as the bacon will shrink.

Take care not to burn your hands on the sides of the drawer.

Air fry for 9-11 minutes, turning the streaky rashers over with tongs half way through the cooking time.

Part cooked streaky bacon in an air fryer

Fully cooked streaky bacon in an air fryer

They’re done when they’re crisp enough for you liking!

Batch cooking

If you are cooking your bacon in multiple batches, it’s important to remove the excess bacon fat between batches. Otherwise it can smoke and spit – which may cause damage to your air fryer. And maybe even set off the smoke alarm!

The easiest way to do this is using kitchen roll to absorb it. Just take care not to burn yourself on the hot drawer(s).

How to store air fryer bacon

Air fryer bacon is best eaten freshly cooked. However, you can allow it to cool completely then store covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.

You can then use them in recipes like the ones below…

Tasty recipes to use up your air fryer bacon

Serve alongside coddled eggs
Use in a healthy carbonara
Add to this crustless spinach quiche

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Air fried bacon in a white dish. A text overlay says 'Air Fryer Bacon'.