Crispy Instant Pot Bacon
If you love to cook bacon but hate the mess it makes, you’ll love this instant pot bacon recipe. The instant pot's high sides help to reduce splatter making it a great way to get crispy bacon with less messiness. This post will show you all you need to know about how to do it.
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Can You Cook Bacon in an Instant Pot?
Yep! It’s actually pretty easy. I just started doing this recently and it is a lot less messy than other methods.
Reasons to Love Instant Pot Bacon
- It’s less messy than other methods because the high sides of the instant pot prevent splatter.
- It’s great for meal prep. Bacon can be used for tons of different meals throughout the week.
- It can be AIP, Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 compliant if selected carefully.
Here's How to Make It
Step 1
Line a plate with a couple of layers of paper towels. Set aside.
Step 2
Open the pack of bacon and cut the pieces in half (optional).
Step 3
Turn the instant pot on the saute function and place the bacon slices in the instant pot in a single layer.
Step 4
Let it cook for about 3 minutes then flip them over with tongs or a spatula and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Step 5
Place the cooked bacon on the paper towel-lined plate.
Step 6
Repeat the process until you get through the whole package of bacon. It will probably take at least 4 rounds.
Check out the video in the recipe card to see this process in action!
What to do with the Grease
I let the extra grease stay in the instant pot for a few rounds of cooking but it did start to splatter a lot more as it accumulated. It also begins to get burnt. So, I’d say it’s ok to leave the extra grease in for about 2 rounds of cooking and then drain it before moving on to the next.
Don’t Throw the Grease Away
You can save the grease for cooking later on. It adds a ton of flavor to meals and it lasts for a very long time. I just save some whenever I make bacon and keep it in a glass jar in the fridge.
It’s handy to be able to use it for recipes that call for it without having to make bacon first. My Nightshade-Free BBQ Sauce and Pineapple Bacon Dipping Sauce are perfect examples.
How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?
Bacon grease will stay good in the fridge for about 3 months. As with other foods, just be sure to keep it tightly covered/sealed for freshness.
How Long Can You Store Bacon in the Fridge?
Cooked bacon will stay good in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for about 5-7 days.
How to Freeze Cooked Bacon
If you want to save bacon for later or maybe use it as part of your meal prep process, freezing it is a great option. Here’s how to do that:
- Once the bacon has been cooked and cooled, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and form a single layer with the bacon being sure that the pieces don’t touch. If they don’t all fit, just add another sheet of wax/parchment paper on top of the first layer and keep going until you get through all the bacon.
- Cover the bacon with plastic wrap and transfer it to the freezer. Leave it for 2-3 hours.
- Take the bacon out of the freezer. Take it off the baking sheet and put it in freezer-safe storage bags (or other freezer-safe containers).
How Long Will Bacon Stay Fresh in the Freezer?
It’ll stay good for up to 6 months! Just be sure to store it in a tightly-sealed, freezer-safe container.
A Few Notes
- Try to choose high-quality bacon that’s uncured, free of antibiotics, and preferably has no added sugar. If you’re following a particular diet like AIP, Paleo, or Whole 30, I have a post all about AIP, Paleo, and Whole compliant bacon products.
- ButcherBox carries nitrate/nitrite-free bacon with no added sugar. It is AIP compliant.
- This method will likely take you a few batches to get through a whole package of bacon. I cut my bacon pieces in half with kitchen shears so they fit a little better in the instant pot but this is optional.
- I generally prefer regular bacon but you can also do this with turkey bacon.
- Be sure to wait for the instant pot to ready “hot” before adding the bacon. This helps to prevent sticking.
- You can add a tiny bit of oil to the bottom of the pan before adding the bacon to help with preventing sticking. I usually don't find it necessary though.
- Keep in mind that if you use thick-cut bacon, your cooking time will be a little longer
- I have a 6 quart instant pot- This is the one I use.
You may also like these other simple instant pot recipes:
Instant Pot Sirloin Tip Roast with Vegetables and Gravy
Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl
Recipes to use this bacon for:
Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad Recipe
Bacon Burger Cauliflower Casserole
Conclusion:
I hope you found this post useful. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @foodcourage for the latest AIP/Paleo recipes, autoimmune nutrition info, and Food Courage happenings!
Instant Pot Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz bacon slices cut in half
Instructions
- Line a plate with a couple of layers of paper towels. Set aside.
- Press the saute function on the instant pot.
- Put some of the bacon in the instant pot in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the slices over with a spatula or tongs and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from the instant pot.
- Place the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat this process until you get through the whole package of bacon. (it will probably take at least 4 rounds)
Video
Notes
- Be sure to wait for the instant pot to ready “hot” before adding the bacon. This helps to prevent sticking.
- You can add a tiny bit of oil to the bottom of the pan before adding the bacon to help with preventing sticking (this is completely optional though).
- Keep in mind that if you use thick-cut bacon, your cooking time will be a little longer
Nutrition
