'Easiest' way to cook bacon is better than using a frying pan or the oven, says expert

There is nothing quite like biting into perfectly crisp bacon to start your day, but the thought of scrubbing an oily pan can make you think twice about frying up some rashers.

Nonetheless, culinary whiz and Well Plated founder Erin Clarke has let the public in on her top-notch method for cooking bacon forget the stove and pop it into an air fryer instead.

Erin declared: "Tantalizingly crispy Air Fryer Bacon is hands-down the best and easiest bacon you can make !"

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She added that it's "Evenly cooked and perfectly crisp, it cooks faster and makes less mess than the oven or stovetop."

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You might not have considered it before, but using an air fryer not only enhances the flavour but also ensures a more consistent cook across the bacon so each bite is as good as the last.

The common problem with a frying pan is the uneven cooking, often leaving edges burnt and the middle soggy.

But the hot air technology of an air fryer gently renders the fat, distributing the heat for an all-around crispy result.

Plus, the bacons own fat drips away during cooking, avoiding the sogginess associated with pan-frying and introducing a delightful smokiness to every slice.

Erin professed this technique as her go-to for bacon prep, over any frying pan or oven methods, due to its swift, effortless, and tidy approach.

She stated: "Because the air fryer is compact and uses powerful convection cooking, it cooks foods more quickly than they bake in the oven. One of the best parts of making bacon in the air fryer is the quick clean up. No greasy stove."

How to perfectly cook bacon in an air fryer

Kick off by cutting your bacon strips in half and arranging them in the air fryer basket without overlapping, to ensure every piece crisps up nicely.

Although it's less messy than traditional methods you can line the basket with foil or parchment for even easier cleanup there will be less grease, and a simple wipe-down post-cooking should suffice.

Crank up the air fryer to 180C and adjust the timer to five minutes for thin-cut slices or 10 minutes for a thicker rasher. Keep in mind that cooking times can vary based on your appliance and how crispy you like your bacon.