I cooked bacon with 4 different appliances to find the best method. After this, I’ll never make it on a stovetop again.

• I cooked bacon using my stove, oven, air fryer, and microwave to see which had the best results.
• A pan on the stove may be the classic approach, but it was messy, and the bacon seemed extra greasy.
• The oven is great for big batches of bacon, but the air fryer created the perfect taste and texture.

I used three different types of bacon to ensure my tests were thorough.

Cooking bacon in a pan was a surprising letdown.

After digging it out and preheating it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, I popped in the strips of bacon and set the timer for eight minutes (which many articles and videos on the internet seemed to agree was best).

The taste, texture, and grease level were all perfect.

The air-fried bacon was tender with a hint of crispiness that even I could appreciate. It wasn’t bordering on crunchy and was remarkably low in grease.

The strips also didn’t curl up nearly as much as with the microwave or pan. They held their shape, resulting in better-looking bacon. Looks don’t matter as much as taste here, but I can appreciate a well-plated meal nonetheless.

It’s safe to say we’ll be using our air fryer more often again.

I’ll still cook bacon in the oven for ease, but the air fryer produced the best results.

There’s no doubt I’ll stick with the trusty oven method for our everyday bacon needs so that I can make big batches. However, the air fryer was the clear winner when it came to fewer strips.

Considering most air fryers heat up in less than a minute and the cooking time was under 10, it’s not even a time suck.

As for the microwave, that approach is only worth considering when time is the main factor, since bacon can be ready in five minutes.

If you prefer pan-fried bacon, I wish you all the best. I acknowledge it’s a classic approach, but it’s the one method I’ll be avoiding from now on.

This story was originally published on June 12, 2024, and most recently updated on July 30, 2026.