With its selling point zeroed in on making cooking quicker and easier, air fryer has slipped through the cracks and became king in no time — especially for amateur cooks who would rather their food prepped in a snap and with the least amount of effort.

Now, it makes for the perfect companion for no-fuss individuals who want to enjoy the taste and texture of fried foods with fewer calories and less mess. 

Still, as versatile and well-loved as this cooking equipment may be, there are certain concerns about it.

One of which: Its reliability in terms of cooking bacon.

Get to Know the People’s Beloved Air Fryer

An air fryer is equipped with a heating element and a powerful fan. And at the heart of its operation: circulation of hot air — much like convection ovens.

When you set your desired temperature and cooking time, the heating element heats up the air inside the fryer’s cooking chamber. Simultaneously, the fan kicks in and starts to circulate this hot air around the food. Air fryers typically come with a perforated cooking basket or tray that allows the hot air to circulate freely around the food. This design ensures that all sides of the food receive even exposure to the hot air, promoting consistent cooking.

While air fryers are celebrated for using significantly less oil than traditional frying methods, some recipes may still call for a minimal amount of oil to enhance flavor and achieve the desired texture. In these cases, a light coating of oil on the food’s surface can help promote browning and crispiness. However, the amount of oil used is a fraction of what’s typically required for deep frying.

Air Frying the Good Ol’ Bacon 

Air fryers excel at foods that benefit from hot, circulating air and minimal oil, such as French fries and chicken tenders. However, when it comes to the likes of bacon, they may fall short.

Bacon, with its high fat content and tendency to splatter, doesn’t always fare well in the air fryer’s environment. Cooking bacon in an air fryer may seem like a convenient and healthier alternative to traditional methods, but it comes with its own set of potential hazards that can turn what is supposed to be a hearty meal into a kitchen nightmare. 

As the bacon fat renders and drips into the air fryer’s basket, it can create a smoky environment. This not only fills your kitchen with an unpleasant smell but can also lead to the smoke detector going off, causing unnecessary panic.

And perhaps the most alarming danger of cooking bacon in an air fryer is the risk of fire. The high temperatures required to crisp up bacon can lead to grease igniting within the air fryer, then at worst, a kitchen fire.

While air fryers are designed with safety features, including auto-shutoff mechanisms, these may not always prevent a fire, especially if the bacon is particularly fatty. This can not only damage your appliance but also pose a significant risk to your safety.

Some more drawbacks

Not to further rain on the parade of those who are into air frying their bacon, but fire hazards aside, there are other reasons — albeit comparatively lighter and easier to ignore — why you’re better off cooking it in a stovetop.

Uneven cooking: Imagine biting into a slice of bacon that’s half burnt and half limp. By air frying bacon, this is a likely end-result where the forced hot air do not really cook the meat strips fairly; which is unlike cooking it in a pan, for example, where bacon sizzles full-well in its juices and thereby coming out nicely — much like the breakfast you’ve been dreaming about.
Greasy air fryer basket: It is never fun cleaning after greasy dishes nor surfaces. As you might discover, as is washing an extremely greasy air fryer basket — wishing you could’ve used a kitchen tool that is less complicated to scrub clean.

Adore Using Your Air Fryer? Cook These Foods Instead 

To get the best results from an air fryer, it’s essential to match the food that you would cook with the appliance’s strengths.

This means understanding what air fryers are suitable for, which, primarily are dishes that benefit from quick, high-heat cooking with minimal oil.

They may not be bacon’s best friend (nor are they of dishes that require a moist, slow-cooking process like food made of batter), but they are definitely a good partner to certain foods. 

Below are examples of such, and why they are better suited for this cooking appliance.

French fries

Crispy and golden-brown french fries are a classic favorite, and air fryers are their ideal cooking companion. These appliances use hot air to create the perfect crispiness while using significantly less oil than deep frying. The result? Delicious, guilt-free fries with a fraction of the calories and grease compared to deep-frying, among others.

Chicken tenders

Air fryers are renowned for their ability to transform chicken tenders into tender, juicy morsels with a crispy outer layer. The hot circulating air cooks the chicken evenly and efficiently, producing a satisfying crunch without the need for excessive oil. For those craving fried chicken, try this less oily option!

Vegetables

Air fryers can turn mundane vegetables into flavor-packed delights. Whether it’s Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or asparagus, the high heat and rapid air circulation in the air fryer give vegetables a delightful crispy texture while preserving their natural flavors and nutrients. It’s an excellent way to encourage a balanced diet.

Fish fillet

When it comes to cooking fish, air fryers shine. They can produce perfectly flaky and crispy fish fillets without the mess and extra oil associated with deep frying. The even cooking ensures that the fish remains moist and flavorful while achieving that desired crunch.

Desserts, pastries

Surprisingly, air fryers are not limited to savory dishes. They can also be used to prepare delectable desserts and pastries like churros, doughnuts, and even molten lava cakes. The precise temperature control and rapid cooking make them versatile for satisfying your sweet tooth.

Although bacon and air fryer do not agree with each other as much, these foods thrive in this appliance, offering a multitude of delicious and healthier options that can satisfy cravings. One really just has to explore to find out the wide range of dishes that can benefit from some air frying.

Air Fry Responsibly

The growing popularity of air fryers has revolutionized the way people of today cook, offering an overall more convenient alternative to traditional frying methods.

But while air fryers have their place in the modern kitchen, they may not be the best choice for every dish. It should be used sparingly, too, so you won’t get the end of the stick where it affects your health negatively.

Understanding the limitations of air fryers is not about discouraging their use but rather about making informed choices in the kitchen. By recognizing what these appliances excel at and what they struggle with, you can ensure that your culinary adventures are both safe and satisfying.

So, if you’re craving bacon, consider alternative cooking methods like stovetop cooking that will yield the crispy, succulent bacon you desire without the potential dangers that come with it, and reserve your air fryer for dishes that truly embrace its strengths. A win-win.

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