The best way to cook bacon in the air fryer

Bacon is delicious to eat, yet can be messy to cook. That’s why air frying bacon is the best solution; it can still be cooked to perfection, yet the process is so much more convenient and mess-free.

How to cook bacon in an air fryer

Cooking bacon in the air fryer is easy and efficient. I used the Ruxstons Back Bacon

which gave amazing results, as the rind becomes beautifully crispy whilst the meat is

juicy and rich. Because the Ruxstons bacon is sold frozen, I left it for about an hour

to de thaw before cooking. Alternatively, you can cook bacon from frozen in the air

fryer; I would first cook for 10 minutes at 200°C to soften it before properly

separating the strips and continuing to air fry (following the steps below).

Once your bacon is ready to be cooked, arrange it into the air fryer basket into a

single layer. It is okay for your slices to overlap slightly, as the bacon will curl up and

shrink. I would recommend placing your bacon on top of an air fryer paper liner,

which makes for an easy clean up! Grease proof or baking paper would

also work underneath the bacon, collecting the juice and allowing the bacon to cook

Set your air fryer to 200°C, and cook for 10 minutes. If you want slightly less crispy

bacon, cook it for less time, and if your bacon is thicker it may need a little longer. A

benefit of cooking in the air fryer is that you can easily open the draw and check how

your bacon is getting on, so feel free to do so throughout. Halfway through, flip the

bacon slices over onto their other side to ensure even cooking.

After you have reached your desired level of cooking, your bacon is ready to serve!

Some like to dab down the bacon rashers with kitchen roll first to get rid of excess

fat, however I like my bacon juicer so skip this step.

Clean-up is simple; take your liner and it can go straight in the bin! Although, be

careful to not let any fat spill from the sides as you’re doing so (this is why a paper

liner is probably easier than just a sheet underneath the bacon).

Is cooking bacon in the air fryer better than on the grill?

I tried bacon in both the air fryer and on the grill, and I’ve got to say… bacon in the

air fryer was a clear winner. Not only was it more convenient and easier to clear up,

the taste was also much preferred. Because bacon in the air fryer cooks in its own

fat, the meat is much juicier and richer, retaining its flavour better. The rind also

becomes perfectly crispy, similar to pork crackling. The contrast between the meat

and rind was absolutely delicious. Instead, bacon on the grill seemed slightly more

waxy and drier.

That said, cooking on the grill is probably easier for large batches of bacon due to

the air fryer’s smaller size.

What makes Ruxstons Bacon so good?

Ruxstons Back Bacon has a high fat content, making it the absolute best for cooking,

especially in the air fryer. Not only is it a great choice for those who simply prefer

fattier bacon, but fat also carries flavour; Ruxstons bacon has a much stronger,

richer taste than supermarket alternatives. The fat on bacon also aids the cooking

process, making it more forgiving as you can be less precise on your timings without

sacrificing the finished result. Contrastingly, with a lean meat such as Venison,

overcooking even slightly can make the meat chewy and dry. Fattier bacon can be

made crispy easily, another benefit for those who love their bacon with a bit of a

crunch.

I found that using a bacon with a higher fat content meant that cooking in the air fryer

was particularly successful. Whilst the air fryer can dry food out, this bacon cooked in

its fat, meaning that it actually became juicier and retained its flavour better.

The Ruxstons Back Bacon is farmed from outdoor pastured pigs raised locally in

Redwoods Farm in Devon. The pigs are moved regularly through fresh pastures and

woodland, eating diverse forage and allowing a flavourful meat full of healthy

nutrients.