Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years for their ability to make deliciously crispy foods like fries, chicken wings, and of course – bacon! But one of the most common problems people run into is that their bacon ends up curling instead of laying flat while cooking.
Curling bacon not only looks less appetizing, but it also prevents the bacon from cooking evenly which can leave some pieces undercooked. The good news is this issue can be easily avoided by following a few simple tips and tricks.
In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your bacon flat while cooking it in an air fryer. Let’s get cracking!
Why Does Bacon Curl in an Air Fryer?
Before we can prevent bacon from curling it helps to understand why it happens in the first place.
There are two main reasons bacon tends to curl when cooked in an air fryer:
1. The hot air circulates around the bacon, cooking the fatty areas faster. As the fat renders, it causes the bacon to contract and curl up towards the heat source. This exposes more of the lean meat to get crispy.
2. The bacon isn’t weighed down. With traditional frying, the bacon lays flat in the pan as it cooks. But in an air fryer, the turbulent hot air can cause thinner pieces to move around and ruffle up.
5 Tips to Keep Bacon Flat in an Air Fryer
If you want beautifully flat evenly cooked bacon from your air fryer follow these simple tips
1. Use Thicker-Cut Bacon
Thinner slices of bacon tend to curl up much quicker than thick-cut bacon. When possible, choose a thick, hearty bacon cut that’s at least 1/4 inch thick. The thicker the better for avoiding curls!
Thick cut bacon takes longer to cook since more time is needed for the heat to penetrate to the middle. But it will lay flatter and be less likely to ruffle from the air turbulence.
2. Layer Bacon in a Single Layer
When placing the bacon in the air fryer basket, lay the strips in a single layer without overlapping.
Overlapping causes some pieces to steam instead of fry, plus it allows the ends to curl up easier. Leaving space around each strip prevents them from disturbing each other during cooking.
3. Use a Bacon Press or Weight
Weighing down the bacon helps a ton with keeping it from curling up in the air fryer. Special bacon presses are sold just for this purpose, but you can also use any oven-safe object like a cast iron skillet or metal spatula.
Simply place the press or weight directly on top of the raw bacon before air frying. The weight will keep the bacon held tight to the basket as it cooks. Remove the press halfway through cooking to flip the bacon.
4. Cook at a Lower Temperature
Cranking the air fryer up to 400°F may seem like the fastest way to cris
Air Fryer Bacon
FAQ
How to keep bacon flat in the air fryer?
Why does my bacon curl in the air fryer?
Do you need to flip bacon in an air fryer?
Why does Bacon curl up in an air fryer?
The bacon in an air fryer can curl up because of the air pressure. The bacon is cooking at a high temperature and pressure, which can cause it to curl up. This will make it easier for the cook to get a good shape and make its food more evenly cooked. Bacon is cooked on an electronic frying pan that flips it after each cooking cycle.
Can one cook broccoli in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook broccoli in the air fryer like any other vegetable. You can add a little salt, garlic powder and pepper to enhance the flavor.
Why do you cook bacon in an air fryer?
Another benefit of the fat cooking down is that the bacon turns out nice and crisp There are no chewy fat pieces on the ends. As the bacon cooks in the air fryer the grease drips down below the air fryer basket. Therefore, the slices don’t sit in the grease as it cooks. The result, crispy bacon that is flat and delicious!
How do you cook bacon in an air fryer XL?
Place the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cut strips in half if needed to fit more. Air fry regular cut bacon at 350˚F for 7-9 minutes, or until bacon is browned and reaches desired crispiness. … Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate then serve.