Air Fryer Cheese Slices: Melty, Crispy, And Delicious!

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance for their ability to cook food quickly, with less grease and oil, and with a crispy texture. While air fryers are a great option for cooking many foods, some have wondered if slices of cheese can be cooked in an air fryer. The short answer is yes, slices of cheese can be cooked in an air fryer, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind.

Air fryer grilled cheese

The air fryer is a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches with the perfect texture — they're crispy, crunchy, and the cheese is melted to perfection. It's also a quick and simple recipe that's fun and satisfying for kids to help with.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter (or salted butter)
• Bread (white sandwich bread, Texas toast, Sara Lee Artesano bread, sourdough bread, multi-grain bread, or leftover artisan bread)
• Cheese (cheddar cheese is a must, but you can also add Swiss, provolone, American, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Fontina, or Havarti)
• Ham (optional)
• Mayo (optional)
• Pimento cheese (optional)

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 370–380°F.
• Butter one side of each slice of bread.
• Assemble the sandwiches by adding one slice of cheddar cheese to the non-buttered side of the bread, then topping it with another slice of bread (make sure the buttered sides are facing out). You can also add a slice of your favourite cheese to the sandwich.
• Secure the sandwiches with toothpicks to prevent the bread from flying off while air frying.
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket or on the rack in an even layer (you may need to cook them in batches).
• Air fry at 370–380°F for 2–3 minutes. Check often to ensure they don't burn and that the top bread slice hasn't blown off.
• Flip the sandwiches and cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of brownness.
• Remove the toothpicks and serve.

Tips

• If you don't want to use butter, you can spray the top of the bread with oil after placing the sandwiches in the air fryer. Spray the other side after flipping.
• You can also add a thin slice of ham in between the two slices of cheese.
• Spread a light layer of mayo on the insides of the bread for a grilled cheese with mayo.
• Spread a light layer of pimento cheese on the insides of the bread for a pimento cheese grilled cheese.

Air fryer cheese slices

Preparation

First, cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit the bottom of your air fryer basket. This step is important as it will make cleanup much easier. Then, cut your cheese slices into squares. You can use any type of cheese, but ultra-thin slices tend to work best and create a crispier cracker. Some popular options include cheddar, Colby-Jack, Swiss, provolone, and pepper jack.

Once you have your cheese squares, place them on the parchment paper in the air fryer basket, making sure to space them out so they don't melt into each other. You can also add seasonings at this point if desired. Some popular options include garlic salt, onion powder, everything bagel seasoning, and red pepper flakes.

Cooking

Now it's time to air fry your cheese slices. The cooking time and temperature will depend on your air fryer and the desired level of crispness. A good starting point is to air fry at 320-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through. Keep a close eye on the cheese slices as they cook, as they can go from crispy to burnt very quickly.

Serving

Once your cheese slices are nicely crisped, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. They will continue to harden as they cool. Serve them as a snack on their own, or pair them with dips or toppings such as hot sauce, guacamole, or buffalo chicken dip.

Tips

• Be sure to use parchment paper, as the cheese will stick to wax paper, foil, or a plain baking sheet.
• If you're using thicker cheese slices, they may take longer to cook and might need to be cut into smaller pieces after cooking.
• If you're making grilled cheese sandwiches in the air fryer, use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together to prevent the bread from flying off during cooking.

Air fryer cheese melt

Air-frying cheese may sound like a great idea, but unfortunately, it's not that simple. Putting cheese directly into an air fryer will lead to a mess of sticky, gooey cheese. This is because most cheeses have a low melting point, so they will melt before they get crispy.

So, what's the best way to air-fry cheese?

The good news is that there are a few ways to achieve a cheese melt in an air fryer, as long as you choose the right recipes.

Grilled cheese sandwiches

Air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches are a popular and easy option. The key is to use a good melting cheese, like American, Swiss, cheddar, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack, and to grate the cheese to help it melt faster. You can also add another kind of cheese for extra flavour, such as provolone, Fontina, or Havarti.

To make a grilled cheese sandwich in an air fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer to between 360-380°F.
• Assemble your sandwiches by buttering the outside of the bread and placing cheese in the centre. You can also add a thin slice of ham to the sandwich.
• Secure the sandwiches with toothpicks to stop them from flying apart in the air fryer.
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Flip the sandwiches and increase the heat to 380°F to finish crisping the bread. This will take around another 5 minutes.
• Remove the toothpicks and allow to cool before serving.

Other cheesy treats

There are a few other cheese-based dishes that can be made in an air fryer:

• Mozzarella sticks
• Mac and cheese balls
• Chicken calzones
• Jalapeño poppers
• Pizza
• Halloumi, feta, or ricotta cheese in an air fryer-safe baking pan.

Tips

• Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy cleanup if your cheese melts out of the sandwich.
• If your bread is thin, it may blow off in the air fryer, so use toothpicks to secure it.
• If you don't want to use a lot of butter, you can spray your bread with olive oil instead.
• If you like mayo on your grilled cheese, spread a light layer on the inside of the bread before cooking.

Air fryer cheese toast

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of bread (white or brown sandwich bread, Texas toast, sourdough, multi-grain, or leftover artisan bread)
• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• 80g of grated cheddar cheese (or any other cheese that melts well, such as Gruyere or brie)
• Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Ingredients:

• Ham
• Tomato
• Spring onions
• Mushrooms
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pesto
• Mustard mayo (mix together mayonnaise and Dijon mustard)
• Marmite
• Vegemite

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
• Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
• Place the bread, buttered side down, in the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
• Remove the bread from the air fryer and assemble your sandwich. Start by spreading the mustard mayo on the non-buttered side of the bread. Then, add your cheese and any other toppings of your choice. Finish with a sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce.
• Place the sandwich back in the air fryer and cook for 4-6 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted to your liking.
• Serve immediately.

Tips:

• For a healthier version, use reduced-fat cheddar cheese and a cooking oil spray instead of butter.
• If you want to add ham to your sandwich, place it under the cheese to prevent it from drying out.
• If you are using a thicker type of bread, you may need to increase the pre-toasting time.
• To prevent the cheese from flying off during cooking, use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together or gently press the cheese onto the bread before placing it in the air fryer.
• If you are making multiple sandwiches, you may need to cook them in batches.

Air fryer cheese sandwich

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread
• Butter or mayonnaise
• 2 slices of sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 slice of another kind of cheese (optional)

Optional extras

• A thin slice of ham
• A light layer of mayo or pimento cheese

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 370-380°F (175-190°C).
• Butter one side of each slice of bread, or spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread.
• Place one slice of bread, butter or mayonnaise side down, in the air fryer.
• Top with 2 slices of cheese. If you are adding another type of cheese, place it on top of the Cheddar.
• Place the second slice of bread on top, butter or mayonnaise side up.
• Air fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Flip the sandwich and air fry for another 1-2 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of brownness.
• Serve with roasted tomato soup, creamy tomato basil soup, or creamy tomato and spinach tortellini soup.

Tips

• Use thicker-cut bread, such as Texas toast or Sara Lee Artesano bread.
• If your bread is thin, use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together before air frying to prevent the top slice from blowing off.
• If you don't want to use butter or mayonnaise, you can spray the top of the bread with oil after placing the sandwich in the air fryer and then spray the other side after flipping.

Frequently asked questions