Air-Fried Yorkshire Puddings: A Tasty, Quick Treat

Yorkshire puddings are a British classic, traditionally served with roast beef and gravy. But can you make them in an air fryer? The answer is yes!

Air fryers are a quicker, healthier, and more energy-efficient way to make Yorkshire puddings, with the added bonus of freeing up oven space. The air fryer gives the puddings a nice crispy exterior while keeping the inside light and fluffy, and the compact size is perfectly suited to cooking them.

To make Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer, you'll need a simple batter of eggs, flour, and milk, as well as an oven-proof dish or ramekins to cook them in. The process is mostly the same as traditional Yorkshire puddings, but with a few key differences: preheating the air fryer is essential, and you'll need to flip the puddings halfway through cooking for even browning.

Air fryer Yorkshire pudding recipe

Yorkshire pudding is a classic British side dish traditionally served with a Sunday roast. It is made with a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk, which is baked in hot fat, resulting in a crisp and light golden pudding. While traditional Yorkshire puddings are cooked in the oven, you can also make perfect Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer! Here is a recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• Plain flour (all-purpose flour)
• Milk (or a mix of milk and water)
• Vegetable cooking fat (such as Trex) or sunflower oil
• A pinch of salt

Optional Ingredients:

• Sugar
• Seasoning of your choice (e.g. black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning)

Utensils:

• Mixing bowl
• Balloon whisk or immersion blender
• Silicone muffin tin, ramekins, pudding tins, or mini cake tins

Instructions:

Step 1: Make the Batter

Add a pinch of salt to the flour in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Crack the eggs into the bowl, add a splash of milk, and whisk together. Gradually add the remaining milk and mix until you have a smooth batter. For best results, let the batter rest for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Place your chosen tins or ramekins in the air fryer basket. Add half a teaspoon of vegetable cooking fat or sunflower oil to each. Preheat the air fryer at 200°C (400°F) for 10 minutes. Do not skip this step!

Step 3: Air Fry the Puddings

Stir the batter well before pouring it into the tins or ramekins. Fill them just under halfway. Air fry for 10 minutes, or until the puddings are golden and puffed up on top but still a bit doughy underneath. Use tongs to flip them over and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of your puddings. The puddings are ready when they are golden, puffed, and have crisp edges. If they still feel heavy, continue cooking for a little longer.

Step 4: Serve

Yorkshire puddings are best served immediately with roast beef or any roast dinner and plenty of gravy! Enjoy!

Tips:

• You can store leftover puddings in the fridge for a couple of days. They will lose their crispness, but you can pop them in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for three minutes to crisp them up again.
• Yorkshire puddings freeze well and can be reheated straight from frozen in the air fryer.
• Air fryers may vary, so you may need to experiment a little to achieve perfect results.
• The size and material of your tins or ramekins will also affect the cooking time.
• Flipping the puddings halfway through cooking yields the best results.

What is a Yorkshire pudding?

A Yorkshire pudding is a traditional English side dish made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk or water. It is baked in the oven and typically served with a roast dinner, especially roast beef. The batter is poured into hot fat—usually beef dripping, lard, or another rendered fat—in a preheated baking pan, and it puffs up into a crisp and golden pudding.

Yorkshire puddings are known for their distinctive cup shape, which is created by using cold batter and a hot pan. The sides of the pudding rise while the centre is weighed down, forming a hollow centre that can be filled with gravy. The puddings are meant to rise, and according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Yorkshire pudding needs to be at least four inches tall.

Yorkshire puddings are a versatile dish and can be served in various ways. They can be eaten as a first course with onion gravy, as a main course with meat and gravy, or as a dessert with a sweet sauce. They are an essential part of the traditional Sunday roast in the UK and are considered one of the most beloved icons of British culture.

The origin of Yorkshire puddings can be traced back to the 18th century, when cooks in northern England devised a way to utilise the fat that dripped from roasting meat. The first printed reference to "Yorkshire pudding" was in Hannah Glasse's 1747 cookbook, "The Art of Cookery". However, the dish had been known as "dripping pudding" for centuries before that.

Can you use goose fat?

Yes, you can use goose fat to make Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer. In fact, it is highly recommended!

Goose fat is a great alternative to the traditional beef drippings used to make Yorkshire puddings. It is a tasty option if you are looking for something different, and it is perfect if you are unable to get beef drippings.

Goose fat will give your Yorkshire puddings a savoury taste and is a good option for those who are unable to source beef drippings. You can also use duck fat if goose fat is unavailable.

The key to successful Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer is to ensure the fat is hot before adding the batter. Heat the fat in the Yorkshire pudding tins in the air fryer for around 10 minutes, until it is sizzling, and then quickly pour in the batter and cook as normal.

You can also use extra virgin olive oil for a vegetarian option, or sunflower oil or vegetable oil, but goose fat will give your puddings a more authentic flavour.

How long do they take to cook?

The cooking time for Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer depends on the quantity of the batter, the size of the moulds, and the desired texture.

For small Yorkshire puddings, a cooking time of 10 minutes is recommended, followed by a flip and an additional 5 minutes of cooking. This will result in golden and puffed-up puddings with a slightly doughy underside. If you prefer your puddings to be well done, you can continue cooking them for a little longer.

For larger Yorkshire puddings, the total cooking time is extended. After the initial 10 minutes of cooking and flipping, larger puddings will need 5 to 10 additional minutes in the air fryer.

The size and material of the moulds can also affect the cooking time. For example, a silicone muffin tin may not conduct heat as efficiently as other materials, so the puddings may need a little longer to cook.

Additionally, it is important to preheat the air fryer for about 5 to 10 minutes before adding the batter. This step is crucial for achieving the perfect rise and ensuring that the puddings cook evenly.

Overall, the total cooking time for Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer can range from 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of the puddings and the desired level of doneness.

Can you reheat them?

Yes, you can reheat Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer! If you have any leftover puddings, you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. They will lose their crispness, but you can restore it by placing them in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) or 180°C/360°F for about three to four minutes.

Yorkshire puddings can also be frozen and then reheated in the air fryer straight from frozen. First, make a batch and allow them to cool completely, then spread them out on a tray and freeze. Once frozen, you can store them in a bag or suitable container. When you're ready to reheat them, pop them into the basket of your air fryer and air fry for five minutes at 180°C (360°F).

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