Air Fryer Frozen Pizza: A Quick, Easy Treat?

Air fryers are a quick and convenient way to cook frozen pizza. They can fit small, personal pies or heat individual slices, and some larger air fryers can cook an entire pizza. The high heat and air circulation of an air fryer produce a pizza with a crispy crust and melted cheese in a fraction of the time and energy it would take to cook in a conventional oven.

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F to 400°F (190°C to 200°C)

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. While some recipes and air fryer manufacturers may claim that preheating is unnecessary, doing so will ensure your food cooks evenly and efficiently.

When preparing to cook frozen pizza in an air fryer, it is recommended that you preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F (190°C to 200°C). This temperature range is higher than the standard preheating temperature of 350°F (180°C) for most air fryers. The higher temperature is necessary to ensure that the pizza cooks through and achieves the desired crispiness, especially if you are cooking thicker crust pizzas or larger pizzas.

It is important to note that air fryers cook food by circulating hot air, which means that they cook faster than conventional ovens. Therefore, you should reduce the cooking temperature and time when adapting recipes from a conventional oven to an air fryer. As a general rule, reduce the temperature by 25°F and the cooking time by 20% when converting oven instructions to air fryer settings.

Additionally, it is recommended to preheat your air fryer for around 5 to 7 minutes before adding your food. This will ensure that the air fryer is sufficiently heated and will help you achieve the best results.

Prepare the frozen pizza

Preparing a frozen pizza in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a crispy crust and melted cheese. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the best results:

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

It is recommended to preheat your air fryer to ensure the pizza cooks evenly. Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or follow the specific instructions for your air fryer model. Preheat for about 5 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached.

Step 2: Prepare the Frozen Pizza

Take the frozen pizza out of its packaging and place it on a chopping board or a flat surface. If your air fryer is large enough to accommodate the whole pizza, you can leave it intact. However, most air fryers will require you to cut the pizza into smaller pieces or slices. For a crispier crust, it is best to avoid using a parchment round or aluminium foil underneath the pizza.

Step 3: Cook the Pizza

Place the frozen pizza directly into the air fryer basket. If you are using a larger air fryer that can fit the whole pizza, follow the cooking instructions on the pizza box as a guide. For smaller pizzas or slices, cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. You can also add a little extra cheese during the last minute of cooking for an even cheesier pizza.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the pizza is cooked to your liking, carefully remove it from the air fryer using a spatula or tongs. Place it on a serving board or a plate and let it cool down for a couple of minutes before cutting and serving. You can serve it with a side of your choice and enjoy the delicious, crispy air-fried pizza!

Tips for Best Results:

• Always preheat your air fryer for consistent cooking results.
• Avoid using parchment paper or aluminium foil for a crispier crust.
• Experiment with different types of frozen pizzas, such as French bread pizza, deep dish pizza, or mini pizzas.
• Adjust the cooking time and temperature based on your air fryer model and the type of pizza you are cooking.
• Keep an eye on the pizza while it's cooking to prevent overcooking or burning.

Add your favourite toppings

If you're looking to add your favourite toppings to a frozen pizza in the air fryer, you're in luck! You can absolutely add toppings to a frozen pizza before cooking it in the air fryer. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your pizza turns out perfectly.

First, it's important to note that not all air fryers are the same size, so you'll need to make sure your pizza fits in your air fryer. Most air fryers can fit small personal pizzas or mini pizzas, but if you have a larger air fryer, you may be able to fit a whole pizza. If your pizza is too big, you can always slice it into smaller pieces and cook them in batches.

Once you've determined that your pizza fits, it's time to add your toppings. You can add almost any toppings you like, such as extra cheese, vegetables, or pre-cooked meats. However, it's important to note that vegetables and cheeses should be added at the beginning of the cooking process, while pre-cooked meats should be added halfway through to avoid overcooking.

Another thing to keep in mind is that adding toppings may affect the cooking time of your pizza. Depending on the thickness of your crust and the amount of toppings you add, you may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two. Be sure to keep an eye on your pizza to ensure it doesn't burn.

Now, let's talk about the cooking process. Here are a few tips to ensure your pizza comes out perfectly:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place your pizza directly in the air fryer basket. There's no need to use parchment paper or aluminium foil, as this can affect the airflow and prevent your pizza from cooking evenly.
• Cook your pizza for 6-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your crust. Check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't burn.
• If you're adding toppings, add them after the first few minutes of cooking to ensure they don't burn.
• Once your pizza is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

And that's it! You can now enjoy your favourite frozen pizza with all your favourite toppings, cooked to perfection in your air fryer.

Place the pizza in the air fryer basket

When you're ready to cook your pizza, carefully place it in the air fryer basket. If you're cooking more than one pizza, place as many slices as will fit in a single layer in the basket. If you're using a Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven, you can place the pizza directly on the rack. If you feel the need, spray the rack with cooking spray before turning on the oven.

Make sure the pizza is placed evenly in the basket to ensure even cooking. Close the air fryer and set the timer according to the instructions on the pizza packaging. As a general rule, frozen pizzas take between 6 to 10 minutes to cook at 380-400°F (180-200°C). However, cooking time will depend on the thickness of your pizza's crust. For instance, a thicker crust will likely take 8 minutes or more to cook.

If you're using an air fryer oven, you may need to rotate the pizza halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning. Once the pizza is cooked to your liking, carefully remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Cook for 6-10 minutes

Once you've preheated your air fryer and added your pizza, it's time to cook! Depending on the type of pizza and your air fryer model, cooking times will vary. For instance, a small frozen personal pizza or mini pizza should be cooked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 minutes. On the other hand, French bread pizza and Ellio's pizza should be cooked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. If you're cooking a personal frozen deep-dish pizza, such as Red Baron's, set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 6 to 8 minutes.

If you're using a Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven, you don't need to preheat the appliance. Simply place the pizza directly on the rack, select "Bake," and cook at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks, as you may need to rotate it to ensure even browning.

For other types of frozen pizza, it's recommended to start with a cooking time of 6 to 10 minutes and then adjust as needed. Check your pizza at the 6-minute mark, and continue cooking until the crust is done to your liking. If your pizza has a thicker crust, it will likely take 8 minutes or more to cook.

If you're cooking a French bread pizza, which is usually a little larger and thicker than round personal pizzas, you may need to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time. Start by cooking at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 minutes, and then adjust as needed.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you may need to experiment a bit to find the perfect cooking time for your particular air fryer and pizza combination.

Frequently asked questions