Instant Pot Bacon

Instant Pot Bacon is super easy to make, less messy, and great for when your stove top is full. The sides of the Instant Pot catch all of the bacon grease and prevent splattering. The sauté mode on the Instant Pot works just like a frying pan. 

While using the Instant Pot to pressure cook food is its most popular function, the sauté mode is pretty useful as well, for frying crispy bacon or browning ground meat, like for my Instant Pot Turkey Tacos or Instant Pot No Bean Chili.

This Instant Pot Bacon pairs perfectly with my Sourdough French Toast. Learn How to Make Over Hard Eggs to serve with this bacon. 

Build your own breakfast sandwiches with my Homemade Drop Biscuits or make my Bacon Cheddar Muffins. With this bacon, you can’t go wrong!

Want to learn How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven? I have you covered!

Can you cook bacon in an Instant Pot?

Yes! The “Sauté” mode on the Instant Pot is perfect for cooking bacon. It basically acts as a hot plate and a frying pan. You do not want to pressure cook bacon. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe & What You’ll Learn

• Instant Pot bacon is crispy and absolutely addicting. 
• Making bacon in the Instant Pot frees up space on the stove. It is a perfect solution for when many dishes are being made at once.
• Instant Pot bacon makes way less of a mess than a traditional frying pan because the pot is so deep. It catches all of the grease. 
• The half pieces of bacon are the perfect size for breakfast sandwiches. 
• Instant Pot bacon is low carb/keto friendly.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Bacon: I used thick cut applewood bacon, but any kind will do. You do not have to cut the bacon in half, but the smaller bacon strips will fit better in the Instant Pot this way.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

Helpful Equipment & Tools

• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
• 2 Pack Black Kitchen Tongs
• KitchenAid All Purpose Shears

How to Make Instant Pot Bacon

Quick Overview

• Select “Sauté” mode.
• Add bacon.
• Fry and flip.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Select “Sauté” mode on the Instant Pot. Press the “Saute” button again to change the temperature to less (see photos above).

Step 2: Place the bacon slices in a single layer in the pot. The 8 quart should fit about 8 halves.

Step 3: Fry for 4-5 minutes, moving the bacon around occasionally. Flip once bacon has reached the desired color.

Step 4: Fry for another 4-5 minutes.

Step 5: Place the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels. Serve hot.

Make Ahead & Storage

• Refrigerator: Store cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
• Freezer: Store cooked bacon in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Expert Tips

• Do not overcrowd the pot. The bacon can be slightly touching since it shrinks in size as it cooks. Do not stack the pieces. Cook in batches if needed. 
• Cook bacon low and slow. This helps the fat to render slowly so that the bacon is crispy, but does not burn.
• Keep an eye on the bacon. Watch the bacon as it cooks. You might need to occasionally move it around so it does not stick. 
• Place cooked bacon on a plate lined with a paper towel. This helps soak up any excess grease. 
• Save bacon grease. You can use bacon grease in place of oil or butter in savory recipes to add more flavor. I love to scramble or fry eggs in leftover grease. Be sure to refrigerate it.

Recipe Notes

• The recipe does not use the Instant Pot’s pressure cooking function. The pot is acting like a hot plate since Sauté mode is all that is used. 

Variations

• Make homemade bacon bits: I love to crumble all of the cooked bacon pieces and stick it in the fridge for salad or baked potatoes. You can do this with a knife or use a food processor for finer pieces. 

FAQs

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