You Should Cook Bacon In Your Air Fryer. Here's Why

It always seems even the simplest methods for cooking bacon result in a messy cleanup — be it in the oven or microwave. But cooking bacon in an air fryer might be one of the easiest ways to collect and deal with the bacon fat that's left behind. And according to Insider, that's why Jess Dang, the chef behind meal-planning service Cook Smarts, loves using her air fryer for quick and easy bacon.

An easier cleanup isn't the only advantage of cooking bacon in an air fryer. The appliance lives up to its reputation for cutting calories and fat because the fat falls to the bottom pan when cooking bacon. This is incredibly convenient if you want to use the fat drippings for cooking something else since it's already stored. Cooking bacon in the air fryer might sound like a no-brainer, but those who have only ever relied on the oven, a pan or a microwave may not know where to begin.

Jess Dang is just one of the many who loves to pop bacon into an air fryer for. And according to Natasha's Kitchen, your air fryer settings should be based on the thickness of the bacon you plan to cook. Regardless, the air fryer should be preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Regular bacon will cook in seven to nine minutes, while thick-cut bacon needs to cook longer. This hack is successful for turkey bacon and other types as well.

So the next time you need some bacon fast — whether for breakfast, a crumbly lunchtime salad, or to layer on a snack time sandwich or burger, the air fryer might be your new favorite method. It's quick and easy. Just remember to keep the bacon in a single layer to cook through evenly. And in just minutes, you can have perfectly crisp bacon.