Begin by preheating your air fryer. Preheating is essential to ensure that your bacon cooks evenly. Set your air fryer to 400°F (about 200°C) and allow it to heat up for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Take your slices of bacon and chop them into halves or thirds. This helps them fit better in the air fryer basket and also cooks them more evenly. Align them in a single layer in the basket, avoiding any overlap for maximum crispiness.

If you choose to add seasonings, sprinkle them over the arranged bacon slices. Remember, less is more! Bacon has an intrinsic flavor that stands out on its own, so don’t overpower it.

Insert the basket into the air fryer and let the magic happen. Set your timer for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how crispy you desire your bacon. You don’t need to flip them, but feel free to shake the basket halfway through for even cooking.

After the timer goes off, check your bacon. If it looks golden brown and crispy, it’s done. If it needs a little more time, pop it back in and continue cooking, checking every couple of minutes until it reaches your preferred level of crispiness.

Once done, carefully transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. This will help absorb any excess grease left on your bacon slices. Let them cool for a minute—if you can resist the smell wafting in the air!