Toasting Nuts In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Toasting nuts is a great way to enhance their flavour and add a satisfying crunch to your dishes. It's also a simple process that can be done in an air fryer in just a few minutes. Air fryers are small, high-powered convection ovens that use rapidly cycling hot air to blast their way into the empty spaces in nuts, coaxing the flavour out in ways that no other cooking method can. The controlled heat of an air fryer also makes it ideal for even toasting.

Nuts to toast in an air fryer

Toasting nuts in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and low-maintenance method that enhances their flavour and crunch. It is also faster than using an oven and more reliable than a stovetop. The dry, fast-moving, indirect heat of an air fryer provides the ideal toast, resulting in perfectly crunchy, golden brown nuts with minimal time and effort.

Nuts You Can Toast

You can toast a variety of nuts in an air fryer, including:

• Almonds (whole, sliced with skin-on)
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts (skin-on)
• Macadamia nuts
• Peanuts (shelled with skin-on)
• Pecan halves
• Walnut halves
• Pine nuts
• Pistachios (shelled)

How to Toast Nuts in an Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 300°F to 375°F for about 3-10 minutes.
• If desired, toss the nuts with a small amount of olive oil and salt to enhance the flavour and ensure even browning.
• Place the nuts in a single layer in the air fryer basket or a heat-safe baking dish/cake pan if the nuts are small. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even roasting.
• Cook at the desired temperature until golden brown and toasted, shaking the basket occasionally and checking for doneness. The time will vary depending on the type of nut and your desired level of toastiness, but it typically ranges from 3 to 8 minutes.
• Once done, carefully remove the nuts from the air fryer and let them cool completely on a plate, cutting board, or baking sheet.
• Store the toasted nuts in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag to maintain freshness. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 2-3 months or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Air fryer temperature and timing

Air-frying nuts is a quick and easy way to enhance their flavor and texture, and it can be done in a few simple steps. The first step is to preheat your air fryer to 300°F (150°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Then, add the nuts to the basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded to ensure even roasting. Place the basket in the preheated air fryer and set the temperature to 300°F and the timer for 4-8 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even roasting and monitor closely to avoid burning.

The time taken to toast the nuts depends on the type of nut and the desired level of toastiness. For example, macadamia nuts will take around 3 minutes, while raw almonds and cashews will take 4-5 minutes. It is important to note that due to their high oil content, nuts can burn easily, so keeping a close eye on them, especially towards the end of the cooking time, is crucial.

Once the nuts are golden brown and fragrant, remove them from the air fryer and allow them to cool completely before serving or storing.

Additionally, when toasting smaller nuts such as pine nuts or pistachios, it is recommended to use a heat-proof baking dish or cake pan placed inside the air fryer basket to prevent them from falling through the basket holes.

How to toast different nuts

Yes, you can toast nuts in an air fryer! Here is a guide on how to toast different nuts:

Almonds

Air fry almonds at 300°F for 5 to 6 minutes for whole raw almonds, or 4 to 5 minutes for sliced almonds with the skin on. For sliced almonds, use a heat-safe baking dish or cake pan set inside the air fryer basket to prevent them from falling through the basket holes.

Check on the almonds often, especially after the six-minute mark, as they can go from done to burnt very quickly. They are ready when they are crunchy on the outside and still a little chewy in the middle. Let them cool in a bowl, and they should harden up. If they don't, air fry for another minute or two.

Cashews

Air fry raw cashews at 300°F for 4 to 5 minutes.

Hazelnuts

Air fry skin-on raw hazelnuts at 300°F for 4 to 5 minutes. After toasting, rub the hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel to remove the skins.

Macadamia Nuts

Air fry raw macadamia nuts at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes.

Peanuts

Air fry shelled raw peanuts with the skin on at 300°F for 4 to 5 minutes. After toasting, rub the peanuts in a clean kitchen towel to remove the skins.

For a spiced peanut snack, combine 2 cups of raw peanuts with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of coarse salt. Toss the peanuts with the spice blend, then air fry at 300°F for 5 minutes. Shake the basket and loosen the peanuts, then air fry for an additional 8 minutes at 350°F.

Pecans

Air fry pecan halves at 300°F for 3 to 9 minutes, depending on the desired degree of roasting. For lightly roasted pecans, air fry for 3 minutes. For medium roasted pecans, air fry for 6 minutes. For fully roasted pecans, air fry for 8 to 9 minutes.

Pine Nuts

Air fry raw pine nuts at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes, using a heat-safe baking dish or cake pan set inside the air fryer basket.

Pistachios

Air fry shelled raw pistachios at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes, using a heat-safe baking dish or cake pan set inside the air fryer basket.

Walnuts

Air fry walnut halves at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes.

Other ways to toast nuts

Yes, you can toast nuts in an air fryer, but what if you don't have one? Here are some other ways to toast nuts:

The Oven

Toasting nuts in the oven is ideal because it provides uniform, even heat, which means the nuts are toasted from the inside out. This method ensures that the outsides don't burn while the insides remain raw.

To toast nuts in the oven, grab a sheet pan and spread your nuts in a single layer across it. You don't have to worry about overcrowding, as long as the nuts are in one layer. Preheat your oven to a mild temperature of around 300–350°F. This will ensure that the nuts toast evenly throughout. Due to the low heat, you'll have a large margin of error and won't have to worry about the nuts burning too quickly.

The time it takes to toast your nuts will depend on the type of nut, the quantity, and the strength of your oven. Start with around 15 minutes and adjust from there. You'll know the nuts are done when your kitchen has a subtle nutty, toasted scent. It's a good idea to cut a nut in half to check that the inside is a light brown hue.

The Stovetop

Using a skillet on the stovetop is another option for toasting nuts. This method requires more attention and can be more challenging to get an even toast, but it can be done successfully.

Use a cast iron or other heavy skillet for the best results, as thinner pans can heat unevenly. Heat the skillet over medium heat, and don't grease the pan. When hot, pour in the nuts and spread them into a single layer. Cook the nuts, stirring constantly, until they are as brown as you like and smell toasted.

The stovetop method requires constant stirring and attention, as the nuts can go from perfect to burned in just a few seconds. Cooking over lower heat and stirring constantly will help you achieve more even toasting.

The Microwave

Toasting nuts in the microwave can be a bit tricky, but it's a good option if you don't want to heat up your whole oven for a small batch of nuts.

Spread the nuts in an even layer on a flat microwave-safe plate. Use the power setting of your choice, and heat in one-minute increments, stirring in between. When the nuts start to brown, switch to 30-second increments. The time will depend on the power setting and the quantity of nuts, but it will typically take around 5-12 minutes.

Once you've determined the ideal time and power setting for your microwave, you can easily replicate it in the future without having to check on the nuts as frequently.

The Bread Machine

If you're not in a hurry, you can use a bread machine to toast your nuts. This method is slow, taking upwards of 5 hours for deeply roasted nuts, but it's a low-attention process.

Place the nuts in the bucket of your bread machine; they don't need to be in a single layer. Select the jam cycle and press start. One cycle will lightly roast the nuts, and two cycles will give you a deep golden brown color.

Storing toasted nuts

To store toasted nuts, you'll want to make sure you're preserving the natural oils in the nuts so that they stay fresh and don't go rancid. To do this, it's important to store the nuts in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag. This will ensure that the nuts maintain the proper moisture level.

It's also a good idea to label the outside of the container with the date of storage, so you know which ones to use first. If you plan to store them at room temperature, they will last for two to three months. Alternatively, you can store nuts in the freezer for up to a year.

If you're storing home-grown or foraged nuts, there are a few extra steps to take to prepare them for storage. First, make sure your nuts are dry. After being outdoors, they're likely to have some extra moisture built up, which you'll need to get rid of to prevent mould. Spread them out in a shady area with good air circulation and let them dry for several days. Then, stick them in the freezer for 48 hours to kill any bugs or eggs that might be inside them.

Frequently asked questions