Air Fryer Frozen Veg: Is It Possible?

Frozen vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer, and it's a simple process. You don't need to thaw them first, and you can cook them in the same way as you would fresh vegetables, just adding a few minutes to the cooking time. It's best to arrange your veggies in a single layer so the air can circulate and dry them out, giving them a crispy exterior. Soft frozen veggies, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans, and corn, will cook in 10 to 15 minutes, while firmer veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, will take 20 to 30 minutes.

Cooking times for soft frozen vegetables

Soft frozen vegetables, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans and corn, cook in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes. As a general rule of thumb, any vegetable that can be cooked fresh in an air fryer can also be cooked from frozen. Simply add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the time it will take to thaw.

For the best results, preheat your air fryer before cooking. Five minutes should be enough to get the small space up to temperature. Then, arrange your veggies in a single layer in your air fryer, if possible, which will allow air to get in between the pieces and dry them out more thoroughly.

If you thaw your veggies first, they’ll release some water and your air fryer will be trying to play catch-up the whole time they’re cooking. By starting from frozen, the air fryer is able to evaporate the water as it gets released, meaning your veggies stay crisp.

Air frying is so quick that it helps keep more of the good stuff in your veggies. Longer cooking methods can zap out nutrients, but not with the air fryer. You'll get more of the vitamins and minerals packed into every bite.

Cooking times for firm frozen vegetables

Frozen vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer. In fact, cooking them from frozen will yield the best results. As veggies cook in an air fryer, the circulating air helps them to dry out and achieve a crispy exterior. If you thaw your veggies first, they’ll release some water and your air fryer will be trying to play catch-up the whole time they’re cooking. By starting from frozen, the air fryer is able to evaporate the water as it gets released, meaning your veggies stay crisp.

As a general rule of thumb, any veggie you can cook fresh in the air fryer can also be cooked from frozen — simply add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the time they’ll take to thaw (but check them frequently so they don’t burn!).

Soft frozen veggies, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans, and corn, cook in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes. Firmer veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, provided they haven’t been cooked before freezing (consult your package) take 20 to 30 minutes.

Like anything you cook in an air fryer, not crowding your veggies is crucial to getting a good result. Arrange your veggies in a single layer in your air fryer, if possible, which will allow air to get in between the pieces and dry them out more thoroughly.

How to arrange frozen vegetables in the air fryer

Frozen vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer. As a general rule, any vegetable that can be cooked fresh in an air fryer can also be cooked from frozen. Simply add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the time they'll take to thaw. Soft frozen veggies, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans, and corn, cook in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes. Firmer veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, provided they haven't been cooked before freezing, take 20 to 30 minutes.

To arrange frozen vegetables in an air fryer, spread them out in a single layer if possible. This will allow air to get in between the pieces and dry them out more thoroughly. It is crucial to not crowd your veggies to get a good result.

Preheating your air fryer before cooking will yield the best results. Five minutes should be enough to get the small space up to temperature before adding your frozen vegetables.

The benefits of cooking frozen vegetables in an air fryer

Frozen vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer, and there are several benefits to doing so. Firstly, air frying frozen vegetables yields the best results in terms of texture. As the circulating air helps the vegetables to dry out, they achieve a beautiful exterior crispness. If you thaw your veggies first, they’ll release some water and your air fryer will be trying to play catch-up the whole time they’re cooking. By starting from frozen, the air fryer is able to evaporate the water as it gets released, meaning your veggies stay crisp.

Secondly, air frying frozen vegetables is a quick and easy way to cook them evenly on all sides. The hot air in an air fryer swirls around, ensuring that your vegetables are cooked evenly and resulting in crispy, delicious veggies every time.

Thirdly, air frying frozen vegetables helps to preserve nutrients. Because air frying is a quick cooking method, it helps to keep more of the vitamins and minerals in your veggies. Longer cooking methods can zap out nutrients, but not with the air fryer.

Finally, air frying frozen vegetables is versatile. You can toss pretty much any frozen vegetables into an air fryer, and it’ll come out great. It is perfect for mixed vegetables or standalone side dishes like broccoli, zucchini, bell pepper, green beans, corn, butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Simply add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the time they’ll take to thaw, and check them frequently so they don’t burn.

Why it's better to cook frozen vegetables than defrosted vegetables in an air fryer

Frozen vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer, and it's better to cook them from frozen than defrosted. As veggies cook in an air fryer, the circulating air helps them to dry out and achieve a crispy exterior. If you thaw your veggies first, they'll release some water and your air fryer will be trying to catch up the whole time they're cooking. By starting from frozen, the air fryer is able to evaporate the water as it gets released, meaning your veggies stay crisp.

As with any cooking method, preheating your air fryer before cooking will yield the best result. Five minutes should be enough to get the small space up to temperature before adding your veggies. Soft frozen veggies, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans, and corn, cook in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes. Firmer veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, provided they haven't been cooked before freezing, take 20 to 30 minutes.

As the hot air in an air fryer swirls around, your frozen vegetables are evenly cooked on all sides. You get crispy, delicious veggies every time. Because air frying is so quick, it helps keep more of the nutrients in your veggies. Longer cooking methods can zap out nutrients, but not with the air fryer. You'll get more of the vitamins and minerals packed into every bite.

Frequently asked questions