Yes, it's normal. Cooking high-fat foods like bacon causes oil to collect under the crisper plate. That oil heats up, produces white smoke, and makes the basket hotter than usual.
- Use the Bacon function (default 320°F, 8 minutes).
- Handle the basket with extreme care using the handle. Use oven mitts.
- After cooking, unplug, let cool completely, then clean the basket and crisper plate thoroughly to remove all grease.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If smoke is excessive, you may have a grease buildup from previous cooks. Perform a deep clean: make a baking soda paste (2 tbsp baking soda, 1 tbsp water), apply to basket and plate, let sit 15 minutes, scrub, rinse, dry.
HEADS UP: When turning the basket over after cooking, be cautious—the hot crisper plate can fall out. Always unplug and let the unit cool before cleaning.