Bacon, but better for you: Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
America’s love affair with the air fryer has cruised past the “honeymoon phase” and settled into a steady, committed relationship. The air fryer is a versatile, user-friendly small appliance, and it’s perfect for turkey bacon. Whether you don’t eat standard pork bacon because of dietary restrictions, religious reasons, or in an effort to avoid the fat, turkey bacon is the answer. But typically, turkey bacon cooked in the skillet or microwave gets a solid zero on the crispy scale. Limp bacon, no matter the taste or health benefits, is sad bacon. And nobody wants that!
Whereas four slices of pork bacon render up to a tablespoon of fat when cooked, the same amount of turkey yields none whatsoever. That’s good news for eating healthy, but bad news for crispiness. The fat of pork bacon is what gives it its crispiness. Cooking turkey bacon in the air fryer helps rectify that crispiness deficit.
While turkey bacon will probably never be as crispy as pan-fried pork bacon, cooking it in the air fryer means you get a piece of turkey bacon that is crisp on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and still nice and salty with a bit of smoky flavor. The best part of cooking turkey bacon in the air fryer is that it’s virtually hands-free and easy to clean up. You can work on cooking eggs or whatever you want to serve with the bacon, and the parchment paper means no scrubbing a dirty pan.
Turkey Bacon: Cured vs. Uncured
Normally in a bacon section of a typical grocery store, you can choose from a few different brands of turkey bacon. When choosing, pay attention to the label. If the turkey bacon is uncured, the label will say so. Why is this important? It comes down to nitrates. Artificial curing ingredients (to preserve the bacon) contain nitrates, which can convert to carcinogenic substances once ingested. Instead, opt for uncured or naturally cured (using celery salt) bacon. It will still contain nitrates but won’t be artificially sourced. The rule of thumb to look for a short ingredient list is also a good one for bacon!
How do I prep and store turkey bacon?
You can make turkey bacon ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days or cook and freeze for up to a month. When ready to serve the cooked turkey bacon, simply reheat it gently in the microwave (place the bacon on a microwave-safe plate). It won’t take long to reheat, so watch carefully. Store any leftovers in an airtight container; in the fridge, they will keep for up to 5-6 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.
Serving Suggestions
With its hearty protein content, turkey bacon is a great breakfast option to start your day. Pair it with another source of protein, like scrambled eggs, egg whites, or some Greek yogurt. Fresh fruit like berries or citrus is an easy, healthy side to go with it. Besides breakfast, Air Fryer Turkey Bacon can come in very handy when making BLT sandwiches, entree salads (crumble on top), or even on top of our Easy Slow-Cooker Baked Beans. Another great use for Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is in our Chicken Bacon Cheddar Sandwiches.
Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
Ingredients
- 12 ounces turkey bacon thick cut
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Place a single layer of turkey bacon in the air fryer basket, ensuring the pieces do not overlap for even cooking.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
- Remove the cooked bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
- Repeat with the remaining bacon slices, ensuring the air fryer is not overcrowded.
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