Air-Fried Yorkshire Pudding: A Tasty Treat?

Yorkshire pudding is a traditional British side dish, often served with roast beef and gravy. It is typically cooked in the oven, but can you cook it in an air fryer? The answer is yes! Air fryers offer several advantages over conventional ovens, including energy efficiency, uniform cooking, and reduced cooking time. The rapid air circulation in an air fryer allows the batter to rise sufficiently and cook evenly, ensuring a consistent texture and preventing sogginess. You can cook frozen or homemade Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer, and they will come out golden, puffy, and delicious.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for Yorkshire pudding in an air fryer depend on whether you are cooking the pudding from scratch or reheating a frozen one.

If you are cooking from scratch, you should preheat your air fryer to 180°C for 5 minutes or 200°C for 10 minutes. Then, cook the pudding for 10 minutes, flip it, and cook for another 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the pudding. The total cooking time is 15-20 minutes, and the puddings should be golden, puffed, and crispy.

If you are cooking a frozen Yorkshire pudding, preheat the air fryer to 190°C/380°F for 3 minutes. Then, cook the pudding for 5-6 minutes, flipping it halfway through. The total cooking time is 8-9 minutes, and the pudding should be golden and crispy.

It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the brand and wattage of your air fryer. If the puddings do not look well browned or feel heavy, you may need to cook them for a few extra minutes.

How to avoid a soggy bottom

Yes, you can cook Yorkshire pudding in an air fryer. To avoid a soggy bottom, you need to cook your puddings in a baking tin or aluminium dish on an air fryer trivet. You can use a silicone muffin tin, or ramekins/cake tins, placed in the air fryer basket.

To avoid a soggy bottom, preheat your air fryer to 180°C-200°C for 5-10 minutes. You can add around 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable baking fat or sunflower oil to each mould before preheating.

Once the air fryer is hot, pour the batter into the moulds, filling them just under halfway. Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the puddings over with tongs and cook for another 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the puddings. The puddings are ready when they are golden, puffed, and crisp on the edges. If they still feel heavy, continue cooking for a little longer.

You can also try flipping the puddings halfway through air frying to get excellent golden puffy Yorkies.

Using frozen vs. homemade Yorkshire puddings

Yorkshire puddings are a classic British side dish, traditionally served with a roast dinner. They are made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk, which puffs up into a crisp and golden pudding when baked in hot fat. While traditionally cooked in the oven, Yorkshire puddings can also be made in an air fryer.

Frozen Yorkshire Puddings

Frozen Yorkshire puddings are a convenient option, saving time and effort. They can be purchased from supermarkets, with popular brands in the UK including Aunt Bessie's, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Iceland, and Tesco. These frozen puddings are pre-cooked by the manufacturer, so you are just reheating them in the air fryer.

To cook frozen Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer, there is no need to preheat the appliance. Simply arrange the puddings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overcrowd, and air fry at 180C (355F) for 3 minutes. If you prefer your puddings extra crispy, cook for an additional 2 minutes. Check that they are piping hot before serving.

Homemade Yorkshire Puddings

Making Yorkshire puddings from scratch requires a bit more time and effort, but it can be done in an air fryer. The process starts by making a batter with flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt. This batter is then rested for about 30 minutes before cooking.

To cook homemade Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer, preheat the appliance to 180C-200C for about 5-10 minutes. Add a small amount of oil with a high smoking point, such as sunflower oil, or alternatively use goose fat or vegetable baking fat, to the air fryer moulds. Pour the batter into the moulds and air fry for about 10 minutes. For best results, flip the puddings halfway through cooking to ensure they are golden and puffy on both sides.

Comparison

Both frozen and homemade Yorkshire puddings can be successfully cooked in an air fryer, with the frozen option being quicker and more convenient, while the homemade version allows for a more customized and potentially higher-quality product. The choice between the two ultimately depends on your time constraints and personal preferences.

The best fats and oils for cooking Yorkshire puddings

Yes, you can cook Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer! The key to achieving the perfect golden and puffy Yorkshire pudding is choosing the right fat or oil with a high smoke point. Here are some of the best options:

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is a great choice for cooking Yorkshire puddings due to its high smoke point. It can reach high temperatures, which is essential for achieving the perfect reaction when the batter is added. This oil will help your puddings rise and get those crispy edges.

Vegetable Oil

If you're not serving your Yorkshire puddings with beef, vegetable oil is an excellent alternative. It has a high smoke point, which means it can withstand the high temperatures needed for cooking Yorkshire puddings. It is also a neutral-tasting oil, so it won't overpower the flavour of your puddings.

Beef Dripping

For a traditional and flavourful approach, beef dripping is the way to go. It has a high smoke point and gives your Yorkshire puddings that distinctive, savoury taste. If you're roasting beef, use the pan drippings for an authentic touch.

Goose Fat

Goose fat is another option that falls into the same category as beef dripping. It has a high smoke point and will impart a rich, savoury flavour to your Yorkshire puddings.

Clarified Butter

If you're preparing a vegetarian Yorkshire pudding or not roasting meat, clarified butter is a great choice. It has a high smoke point, which will help you achieve crispy results.

Tips for Air-Frying Yorkshire Puddings:

When using an air fryer, preheat the appliance to 180-200°C for 5-10 minutes. Use a silicone muffin tin, ramekin, or cake tin, and add a small amount of oil or fat to each mould. The batter should be poured just under halfway up the tin, and you may need to flip the puddings halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.

What to serve with Yorkshire puddings

Yorkshire puddings are a classic British side dish traditionally served with a Sunday roast. They are made from a simple batter of flour, eggs and milk, which puffs up into a crisp and golden pudding when baked in hot fat. While they are typically served as a side dish, Yorkshire puddings can also be the main event of a meal. Here are some ideas on what to serve with them:

The Classic Sunday Roast

For a traditional roast dinner, serve your Yorkshire puddings with roast beef, potatoes, vegetables and gravy. You can also add other meats such as chicken or lamb, and additional vegetables like roasted parsnips or carrots.

Sausages and Onion Gravy

This is another classic combination that is often enjoyed as a hearty meal on a Sunday. The onion gravy adds a depth of flavour to the dish, and the sausages can be fried, grilled or baked to perfection.

The Bradford Burrito

For a unique twist, use a Yorkshire pudding instead of a naan bread or tortilla wrap. Spread it with warm, thick dal, and top with basmati rice and seekh kebab meat. You can also add other ingredients like salad, pickles or chutney to create a flavourful and satisfying meal.

Pudding for Pudding

In Yorkshire, it is traditional to recycle leftover Yorkshire puddings for dessert. Simply spread with jam or sugar, or if you're making one from scratch, add a little mixed spice to the batter and serve it hot with chopped baked apples, soft brown sugar and crumbled Wensleydale cheese.

Yorkshire Pudding Wrap

Fill your Yorkshire pudding with mustard mash, lightly crushed peas, sausages and a splash of onion gravy. Fold it over and enjoy! You can also add other ingredients like fried eggs, bacon, black pudding, mushrooms or tomatoes to make it even more indulgent.

Frequently asked questions