Expert issues warning to anyone who cooks bacon in the air fryer

There aren’t many kitchen success stories that come bigger than the air fryer in recent years.

If you haven’t already got one then you’re sure to have friends and family on your case about it: didn’t you know they’re cheaper, faster, and healthier than using an oven or frying pan?

You’ve likely seen one or two viral videos about them too, with people successfully cooking entire roasts, fresh pizzas, and more in their trusty tabletop teammate.

Air Fryers are great for many reasons, but it's worth taking note when it comes to bacon (Getty Images)

If you’re already in the know, and you’re partial to a classic, hearty English breakfast, you’ll likely already know that you can bung all your ingredients in there for a quick, low-fuss Full English with minimal washing up.

While it seems like a no-brainer, it’s important to keep your head screwed on with these things. After all, air fryers get extremely hot, often have exposed elements at the tops, and have been known to cause a fire or two.

One example started in Weymouth and soon got out of control in December 2024. So, with that in mind, it’s important to think about what you’re putting in your air fryer.

Brenda Peralta, a registered dietician, has warned that bacon can be particularly problematic. It’s so fatty and prone to leaking its oils that it might cause smoking, splattering and, in the worst cases, a full-blown fire.

"It is a fatty food, and when it is cooked in an air fryer, the fat can drip down and cause smoke or splatter,” Brenda told the Huffington Post.

"This can make the bacon difficult to cook evenly, and it can also produce a lot of smoke and odours."

It's worth treading carefully with air fryers (Grace Cary/Getty Images)

Along with potentially causing fires, the uneven shapes and sizes of most rashers could prevent them from cooking evenly or thoroughly, potentially leaving some patches raw.

Grease can also build up on the inside of the air fryer, and over time this can also become a fire hazard if it splatters up and across the heating element.

Even if it doesn’t start a fire, it’s likely to smoke and smell unpleasant at the very least.

Whilst speaking with the Huffington Post, Brenda was joined by other food experts who had their own suggestions for foods that shouldn’t go in an air fryer.

“Foods that have wet batters, like onion rings” are one example, said Trisha Pérez Kennealy, a culinary educator inn owner from Massachussetts.

Air frying “makes it harder to get the batter to set and become crispy.” The batter, much like the grease, could also splatter up onto the element and become a fire hazard.

And it's not just bacon. Content creator and consumer expert Grace Forell told the BBC that popcorn isn’t a great fit for an air fryer either. “Popcorn won’t cook well in an air fryer as most models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels,” she said.

“Popcorn kernels can also become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which may cause the appliance to short creating a fire hazard.”

While they make life a whole more convenient as far the kitchen is concerned, it’s important to be mindful of the potential hazards of air frying.