I cooked bacon on the hob and in the air fryer—1 method was tastier and crispier

Bacon is one of the most popular breakfast foods, loved for its crispy texture and rich, smoky flavour. Whether as part of a fry-up or in a sandwich, some people prefer it crispy, while others prefer it on the pinker side. There are several ways to cook bacon, each method yielding slightly different results in terms of taste, texture, and convenience.

I recently tried two cooking methods, including in the air fryer and on the hob, to compare the results and which method I preferred. I also used streaky bacon, as that is my favourite cut, and I enjoy it crispy.

First, I cooked the bacon on the hob in a frying pan using a little oil. Although this method took quite a while, the final result was delicious.

The bacon turned wonderfully crispy with a rich flavour and golden colour.

However, it required more attention because I had to keep turning the bacon and watching the heat to stop it from burning.

The bacon took about 10 minutes to crisp to my liking, and I enjoyed it in a Caesar salad and as part of a full English breakfast.

Next, I cooked the bacon in the air fryer. This time, I didn’t use any oil because the bacon already contains enough fat, and I wasn’t worried about it sticking.

The air fryer bacon cooked much faster than the frying pan, and it still became crispy and full of flavour.

I also found this method easier because there was less mess, and I didn’t need to stand over the cooker while it cooked. All I did during the cooking time was turn it over once.

Overall, both methods made tasty bacon, but I actually preferred the air fryer. I was pleasantly surprised by how quick and easy it was, and it still produced crispy, delicious bacon.

I enjoyed it in some homemade bread, and I think that’s now my go-to method for cooking the meat.