Toad-In-The-Hole: Air Fryer Magic

Toad in the hole is a classic British dish of sausages in a light Yorkshire pudding batter. It is traditionally cooked in the oven, but can you get the same delicious result using an air fryer? The answer is yes, and some recipes suggest it is even quicker and easier to make this comforting dish in an air fryer.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in making toad-in-the-hole, as it ensures the oil gets hot enough to help the batter rise and gives the dish its fantastic rise.

To preheat your air fryer, set it to 200°C. Most air fryers will take around 3 minutes to preheat, but this may vary depending on the model. While it's preheating, you can prepare your other ingredients.

If you're using a baking tin, insert it into the air fryer basket before you start preheating. This will help the tin get nice and hot, which is crucial for getting a crispy batter.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can add the oil to the tin and air fry for about 3 minutes to heat the oil. You want the oil to get really hot, as this will give your toad-in-the-hole a fantastic rise.

If you're using an air fryer that doesn't have a preheat setting, don't worry. You can simply add the oil to the tin and air fry for a little longer, around 5 minutes, to get the oil hot enough.

Remember, the preheating step is crucial to getting the right temperature for your toad-in-the-hole batter, so don't skip it!

Lightly brown the sausages

To lightly brown sausages in an air fryer, you'll want to cook them at a high temperature for a short amount of time. Set your air fryer to 400°F and arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook the sausages for 8-12 minutes, depending on their thickness. Thinner sausages, like breakfast sausages, will take around 8-10 minutes, while thicker sausages like brats or Italian sausages will take 9-12 minutes.

For lightly browned sausages, keep a close eye on them during the cooking process and aim for a lower internal temperature of 160°F. You can check this with an instant-read thermometer. The sausages should be golden brown on the outside and still juicy in the middle.

If you're using cooked sausages, you only need to heat them through and give them a bit of colour, so they'll take less time. Aim for 4-7 minutes at 400°F, depending on the type of sausage.

Mix the batter

To make the batter for toad in the hole in an air fryer, you will need eggs, flour, milk, and a pinch of salt. Some recipes also suggest adding a little baking powder, pepper, and/or oil.

First, put the egg, flour, baking powder, and half of the milk in a mixing bowl or jug. Whisk together until smooth, then whisk in the remaining milk and set aside. You can make this batter in advance, even a few hours ahead, and keep it in the fridge until needed.

If you have an electric mixer, even better. However, be sure to use an electric whisk if you have one, as this will help to ensure your batter is smooth and lump-free.

Pour the batter over the sausages

When it comes to pouring the batter over the sausages, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you get that delicious, golden, puffed-up batter surrounding juicy grilled sausages.

Firstly, the type of batter you use is important. A basic batter typically consists of flour, egg, and milk, with a pinch of salt. You can use plain flour or self-raising flour, depending on your preference. If you opt for plain flour, add some baking powder and baking soda to give the batter a fluffy texture and added volume. The batter should be smooth, with a thick consistency that is not too runny or too thick. You can adjust this by gradually adding water or milk to the dry ingredients.

Now, for the sausages themselves. You can use any type of sausage you like, such as pork, beef, vegetarian, or even cheese-filled. If you're feeling adventurous, try a spicy variety. Ensure your sausages are cooked before pouring the batter over them. You can cook them in the air fryer itself by brushing them with oil and cooking at 200C for 2-3 minutes.

Once your sausages are cooked, it's time to pour the batter. Place your sausages in an aluminium foil tin or a pie dish, and then slowly pour the batter around them. Make sure to leave some space between the sausages so the batter can surround them evenly.

After pouring the batter, return the tin or dish to your air fryer and cook at a slightly lower temperature, around 180C, for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on your toad in the hole, as you may need to adjust the temperature or cooking time depending on your air fryer's capacity and the desired crispiness of the batter.

And that's it! With these tips, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a delicious toad in the hole cooked to perfection in your air fryer.

Check it's ready

Checking if your toad in the hole is ready

After 12 minutes, your toad in the hole should be perfectly golden brown and the batter should have risen sufficiently. However, all air fryers cook with different efficiency, so you may need to air fry yours for a little longer. If you are using a Ninja Dual Air Fryer, the recipe recommends using the 'bake' mode for 15 minutes until the batter is fully cooked.

If you are using a BBC Food recipe, you should cook the toad in the hole at 180C for 20 minutes, or until the batter is well risen and hot throughout and the sausages are nicely browned. If the sausages start to overbrown before the batter is ready, reduce the heat to 160C and cook for a few minutes more. The cooked batter won’t be quite as crisp and airy as a traditional toad in the hole, but it should be puffed up and browned a little on the bottom as well as the top.

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