Makin' bacon

[iveofione]

Over the years I have made bacon in a variety of different ways. Over a wood fire in cast iron at camp, on the stove in a frying pan, in a frying pan with water, in the microwave and in the oven. No one method stands out as being the only answer and all have the issue of what to do with the runoff. Recently I have been using another method that I like more than all others and I'll explain why. It is air fryer bacon and I like it because I can dial in the doneness to whatever I like from limp to crisp. I don't have to tend to it and keep flipping it, once is enough but not actually required. And the best is the cleanup. The bacon doesn't actually cook in it's own grease as it runs through the grid and collects in the bottom. Just pull out the grid or basket and the grease is on the bottom and can be easily poured off. No oily film from spatter to clean up either.

Here on the frozen tundra a septic tank is mandatory and no grease can be allowed inside. I am fastidious about this and soak up any cooking oil or grease with paper towels and place it in zip lock bags then on to the landfill. This protects the septic and is also a best practice here in bear country. Once soaked up by paper towels, only a slight oily residue remains in the air fryer basket and a few drops of Dawn in hot water removes that. Minimum cleanup, just rinse and repeat.

 

[troutstalker]

Hi I’ve, it sounds like it works out well. I’ll have to give this a try. I usually cook mine in a deep cast iron pan to reduce splattering grease. Thanks

 

[Brute]

I've always have done it in the oven...350 degrees, 18-20 minutes on a sheet pan and parchment paper. I'm not familiar with an air fryer...sounds like a good plan.

 

[Fourbtgait]

I've always have done it in the oven...350 degrees, 18-20 minutes on a sheet pan and parchment paper. I'm not familiar with an air fryer...sounds like a good plan.

This way for years

 

[krusty]

I've used the air fryer method for bacon for quite awhile. Perfectly controllable, no splatter and easy cleanup.

Also use it to prepare breakfast sausages and patties.

 

[SpeyrodGB]

I have found the air fryer cooks the bacon in half the time.

 

[Fourbtgait]

I should add our oven has air fryer mode. But the convection mode can also work almost as good

 

[Matt B]

I should add our oven has air fryer mode. But the convection mode can also work almost as good

Now what would be the difference between air fryer mode and convection mode in the same unit? Does air fryer mode have more fan? And if so isn’t that just more convection?

 

[Fourbtgait]

Now what would be the difference between air fryer mode and convection mode in the same unit? Does air fryer mode have more fan? And if so isn’t that just more convection?

Yes but no. It said what in manual.
I think like you say convection runs at a low speed fan.
Air fryer mode higher speed but increases temperature to compensate for faster movsir?
If not careful bacon burns in under 5 minutes

 

[Fourbtgait]

Now what would be the difference between air fryer mode and convection mode in the same unit? Does air fryer mode have more fan? And if so isn’t that just more convection?

Why buy a countertop air fryer if your oven has convection also?

 

[Matt B]

Why buy a countertop air fryer if your oven has convection also?

Good question. Probably wouldn’t. My big oven is old and standard but I have a countertop toaster oven with convection mode. It crisps things nicely but I don’t like using it for bacon because the thing is small enough that grease spatters all over every interior surface of it. I don’t plan to get an air fryer since I don’t have space but I guess they get hot, move a lot of air and are more vertically oriented as opposed to horizontal of the toaster oven. But I think “air frying” is kinda marketing lingo for convection cooking. I know air fryers have their fans. Hey I didn’t even mean to do that.

 

[krusty]

It seems we all have our convictions regarding convection....

 

[Matt B]

It seems we all have our convictions regarding convection....

When used to make confections.

 

[Fourbtgait]

Good question. Probably wouldn’t. My big oven is old and standard but I have a countertop toaster oven with convection mode. It crisps things nicely but I don’t like using it for bacon because the thing is small enough that grease spatters

Air fryers and convection ovens both use a fan to circulate air throughout the cooking cavity, but they have some key differences that may affect the end results of your recipes. Air fryers and ovens with air fry capabilities are able to create a crunchy, crisp exterior that closely mirrors traditional fried foods, while convection ovens are better suited for roasting and baking. Some of their differences include preheating time, cooking time, capacity and heating elements.

 

[Matt B]

Air fryers and convection ovens both use a fan to circulate air throughout the cooking cavity, but they have some key differences that may affect the end results of your recipes. Air fryers and ovens with air fry capabilities are able to create a crunchy, crisp exterior that closely mirrors traditional fried foods, while convection ovens are better suited for roasting and baking. Some of their differences include preheating time, cooking time, capacity and heating elements.

Hey I can copy and paste from Google AI too!
Yes, air frying is essentially a form of convection cooking, as both methods use a fan to circulate hot air around food, creating a crisping effect.

 

[Fourbtgait]

Hey I can copy and paste from Google AI too!
Yes, air frying is essentially a form of convection cooking, as both methods use a fan to circulate hot air around food, creating a crisping effect.

Well, you asked me the difference. I just did the research but no AI used.

 

[Matt B]

Well, you asked me the difference. I just did the research but no AI used.

Thank you. I was asking for your experience as a real person with the difference in the air fryer and convection modes on your oven, because when your research consists of asking Google a question, which I did, the results it spits out are a type of AI, and read a lot like marketing mumbo jumbo to me.

 

[Matt B]

Also, this thread is about cooking bacon. “Makin’” it, well I thought Ive was curing pork bellies up in the frozen tundra but alas, no, we’re just crisping up some slices in our convection ovens and our supercharged convection machines known as air fryers.

Who likes it limp? I worked with a guy who’d order his bacon floppy. Never knew about that guy…

 

[Brian Miller]

The bacon doesn't actually cook in it's own grease as it runs through the grid and collects in the bottom. Just pull out the grid or basket and the grease is on the bottom and can be easily poured off. No oily film from spatter to clean up either.

I am learning how to use our gifted Foodi and so far fails are mostly forward with improved results on subsequent tries.

We are also on a septic system and don't put food or grease down the drain. The grease with chicken hasn't been too bad and is easily sopped up with paper towels. Lamb chops came out great but there was quite a bit of fat drippings that went into an empty plastic electrolyte drink bottle, and capped. Then I sopped up the small remainder with paper towels to put into a trashbag and into the garbage. Cleanup of the baskets and grates is then pretty easy after a soak with Dawn soapy water.

I haven't tried yet with high fat food but does putting a parchment liner in the bottom of the bottom of the basket, and putting the crisper grate on top to catch the grease make cleanup any easier?

 

[Porter2]

I like bacon cooked in a cast iron over a camping grill. Waking up from a night at the rivers edge or lakeside campsite to a cool dry sunny am and smelling the bacon is second to only eating it. It’s always better when someone else has made it preferably the misses with scrambled eggs and hot coffee or green lemon tea.