Emilie Meyer
Frying an egg in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and mess-free alternative to stovetop cooking. It's a great option if you're short on time or want to save on washing up. The cooking time will depend on your air fryer and how you like your eggs done, but generally, it takes around 3-8 minutes for a runny yolk and 7-8 minutes for a hard-boiled egg. You'll need a small, oven-safe dish like a cake pan, pie dish, or ramekin, and a light spray of oil or butter to prevent sticking. Simply preheat your air fryer, crack your egg into the dish, season, and fry until your desired consistency is reached.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | 3-8 minutes, depending on the consistency of the yolk |
| Temperature | 325-400°F |
| Oil | Olive oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or bacon grease |
| Pan | Shallow, non-stick, oven-friendly cookware |
| Egg | Use whatever eggs are your favorite to buy and eat |
What You'll Learn
What type of pan should I use?
When frying eggs in an air fryer, it is important to use a non-stick, oven-friendly pan that is shallow, so the hot air can circulate. Here are some options:
- Shallow, non-stick baking tray
- Mini cast-iron skillet
- Mini pie pan
- Mini cake pan
- Mini pizza pan
- Ramekins
- Ceramic plate
- Disposable foil or aluminium pans
If you are using a ceramic plate, be aware that there is a risk of it breaking under the intense heat.
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How long do I cook it for?
How long you cook your egg for will depend on how runny you like your yolk and how crispy you like your whites.
If you like your yolk runny, soft-cooked whites, cook your egg for 3-5 minutes at 350°F (177°C) or 370°F (187°C).
If you like your yolk medium-runny, with firmer whites, cook your egg for 5-6 minutes at 370°F (187°C).
If you like your yolk firm but still soft, cook your egg for 6-7 minutes at 370°F (187°C).
If you like your yolk well done and hard, with extra firm whites, cook your egg for 7-8 minutes at 370°F (187°C).
If you like your eggs over-hard, cook for approximately 8 minutes at 325°F (163°C).
If you like your eggs over-easy, the cooking time will be less than for over-hard.
If you are cooking your egg in an aluminium foil bowl, cook for 4 minutes at 380°F (193°C).
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What temperature should the air fryer be?
The temperature you should set your air fryer to depends on the type of egg you want to cook. Here are some examples:
- Soft-boiled eggs: 270°F to 275°F (132-135°C) for 9-11 minutes.
- Jammy eggs: 270°F to 275°F (132-135°C) for 12-13 minutes.
- Hard-boiled eggs: 270°F to 275°F (132-135°C) for 13-15 minutes.
- Over-hard fried eggs: 350°F (177°C) for 8 minutes.
- Over-easy fried eggs: 350°F (177°C) for less than 8 minutes.
- Sunny side up eggs: 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Runny yolk: 400°F (204°C) for 3 minutes, then 350°F (177°C) for 3 minutes.
- Medium egg yolk: 400°F (204°C) for 3 minutes, then 350°F (177°C) for 4 minutes.
- Firm egg yolk: 400°F (204°C) for 3 minutes, then 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes.
- Well-done hard yolk and extra firm whites: 370°F (187°C) for 7-8 minutes.
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Can I use oil instead of butter?
Yes, you can use oil instead of butter to fry eggs in an air fryer.
Using oil is a great option for frying eggs, and there are several types of oil that work well in an air fryer. These include:
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Peanut oil
- Safflower oil
- Vegetable oil
- Canola oil
- Coconut oil
- Bacon grease
When frying eggs in an air fryer, it is recommended to brush the basket with a small amount of oil or coat the eggs in oil. You only need to use a small amount of oil when air frying food. Less than a teaspoon is usually enough.
Air fryers can also be used without oil, as they use hot air circulating around the food to make it crispy. However, some foods may cook better or taste better when cooked with a form of fat.
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Can I cook more than one egg at a time?
Yes, you can cook more than one egg at a time in an air fryer, depending on the size of your air fryer basket and the pan you use. For example, if you are using a 6-quart air fryer, you can cook up to two large eggs in the same pan at once. If you are using ramekins, you can cook as many as fit in your unit, which is typically between two and four.
If you are using a small cake pan or ramekin, you can cook one or two eggs at a time, depending on how many pans fit on one rack of your air fryer.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can fry an egg in an air fryer.
You can use a cooking spray or oils like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.
You can use a small cake pan, a pie pan, a cast-iron skillet, a non-stick tray, or a ramekin.
It depends on how you like your eggs done. For a runny yolk, fry the egg for 3-5 minutes. For a medium-runny yolk, fry for 5-6 minutes. For a firmer but still soft yolk, fry for 6-7 minutes. For a well-done hard yolk, fry for 7-8 minutes.
