How to Air Fry Bacon to Crispy, Grease-Free Perfection in a Breville Smart Oven

Crispy, delicious bacon is a breakfast staple for many people. But dealing with all the grease splatters in a frying pan can be a hassle to clean up. Enter air frying – the perfect mess-free solution for cooking bacon!

Air frying uses super hot rapidly circulating air to cook food crispy on the outside while keeping it moist on the inside. And Breville’s Smart Ovens have a built-in air fry function that makes cooking bacon an absolute breeze.

In this guide you’ll learn everything you need to know to air fry bacon to perfection in your Breville Smart Oven. Let’s get cooking!

Benefits of Air Frying Bacon in a Breville Smart Oven

Air frying bacon in a Breville Smart Oven has some major advantages over other cooking methods:

• Less greasy: Excess fat drips away while air frying, resulting in crispier, less greasy bacon.

• Fewer calories With less grease, air fried bacon can have around 40% fewer calories than pan fried.

• No splattering mess: Say goodbye to grease popping all over your stovetop! Air frying contains the mess.

• Even cooking: The smart oven’s convection fans evenly circulate hot air for consistent cooking.

• Faster cooking: Bacon cooks up quick and easy without needing to preheat a skillet.

• Easy cleanup: With minimal grease, cleanup is as simple as wiping out the air fry basket.

For crispy, grease-free bacon with less calories and mess, air frying in a Breville Smart Oven is the clear winner.

How to Air Fry Bacon Step-By-Step

Air frying bacon in a Breville Smart Oven is simple. Just follow these easy steps:

Ingredients:

• Bacon slices
• Cooking spray or oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Breville Smart Oven to 400°F in air fry mode.

2. Line the air fry basket with foil or a silicone mat for easy cleanup.

3. Arrange raw bacon slices in a single layer in the air fry basket, making sure not to overlap.

4. Lightly coat bacon with cooking spray or brush with a little oil (optional).

5. Air fry for 8-12 minutes, flipping bacon halfway through. Thicker cut bacon may need a couple more minutes.

6. Remove air fry basket and transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

7. Let bacon cool for a minute before serving. Enjoy your perfectly air fried bacon!

That’s all there is to it! The air fryer crisps up the bacon beautifully without needing to add any extra oil or fat.

Air Fryer Bacon Cooking Times

Bacon cook times can vary slightly depending on thickness. Follow these general air fryer bacon cooking guidelines:

• Regular sliced bacon: 8-10 minutes
• Thick cut bacon: 10-12 minutes
• Extra thick bacon: 12-14 minutes

No matter what thickness you’re cooking, always flip the bacon halfway through the cooking time. This ensures even cooking on both sides.

Check for doneness after the minimum cook time. If you prefer bacon extra crispy, cook 1-2 minutes longer and check frequently to avoid burning.

Best Air Fryer Bacon Temperatures

The ideal air fryer temperature for cooking bacon is between 375°F and 400°F. Here’s how different temps impact the end result:

• 350°F – 375°F: Cooks bacon through without over-crisping. Best for chewy bacon.

• 375°F – 400°F: Provides the ideal balance of cooked through and crispy.

• 400°F+: Crisps the bacon fastest. Higher risk of localized burning. Best for very thin bacon.

For most bacon cuts, cooking between 375°-400°F will give you the perfect crispy yet tender texture. Thinner or thicker bacon may require adjusting the temperature up or down.

Air Frying Bacon from Frozen

You can absolutely air fry frozen bacon in your Breville oven! Just follow these tips:

• Add 2-3 minutes to the cook time if starting from frozen.

• Let the frozen bacon sit at room temp for 10 minutes before air frying to prevent sticking.

• Separate any bacon slices that are stuck together before air frying.

• Flip the bacon halfway and check often to prevent burning.

• Pat off any ice crystals from the bacon before cooking.

With a slightly extended cook time, air frying frozen bacon works great and provides a quick breakfast option.

4 Tips for the Best Air Fried Bacon

Follow these handy tips for air fryer bacon perfection every time:

1. Cut bacon lengths in half – This makes them fit and cook better in the air fryer.

2. Brush with oil or spray – This ensures bacon browns nicely instead of drying out.

3. Don’t overlap slices – Overlapped bacon won’t get crispy. Leave space between each slice.

4. Pat grease after cooking – Draining excess grease keeps air fried bacon from getting soggy.

Getting the perfect results is easy when you use these pro tips!

Air Fryer Bacon Recipe Ideas

Crispy air fried bacon isn’t just for breakfast! Here are delicious ways to use it:

• Crumble over salads, baked potatoes, or soups
• Make BLT sandwiches
• Top burgers or pizza
• Add to roasted Brussels sprouts
• Toss with roasted vegetables
• Make candied bacon by coating with brown sugar before air frying
• Create loaded bacon nachos

The possibilities are endless for enjoying your freshly air fried bacon!

Common Air Fried Bacon Questions

If you’re new to air frying bacon, here are some commonly asked questions:

Is air fried bacon healthy?

Air frying removes excess grease, making bacon lower in fat and calories compared to pan frying. However, bacon is still high in saturated fat and sodium, so enjoy in moderation.

Does air frying make bacon taste different?

Air fried bacon tastes very similar to pan fried. Crispiness levels may vary slightly depending on personal preference. Any differences come down to reduced grease, not flavor changes.

Can you air fry pre-cooked bacon?

It’s best to only air fry uncooked raw bacon. Pre-cooked bacon can dry out and burn quickly in the air fryer.

Should you flip bacon when air frying?

Definitely flip bacon halfway during air frying! This ensures the bacon crisps evenly on both sides.

Get Perfectly Cooked Bacon Every Time

Cooking bacon in a Breville Smart Oven using the air fry function is a foolproof way to get perfect results with less mess and added health benefits.

The circulating hot air crisps up the bacon beautifully while requiring little to no added oil. Just be sure to preheat properly, flip halfway, and follow the recommended cook times.

In no time, you’ll be serving up restaurant-quality bacon made easily in your own kitchen. So fire up that air fryer and enjoy!