Air-Frying Veggies: Basket Fryer Magic

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a similar result to roasting but with a crispier texture and in a shorter amount of time. You can use a basket fryer to air fry almost any vegetable, from tender veggies like zucchini and bell peppers to firm veggies like butternut squash and beets. The process is simple: chop your veggies, toss them in oil and seasonings, arrange them in a single layer in the fryer basket, and cook at the appropriate temperature for 10-30 minutes, depending on the type of vegetable. With an air fryer, you can enjoy delicious, healthy veggies without the hassle and grease of traditional frying or the long cook times of oven roasting.

How to prepare veggies for air frying

Preparing vegetables for air frying is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Choosing Your Vegetables:

You can air fry a wide variety of vegetables, including zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, and more. You can also air fry frozen vegetables, which is a convenient option with minimal prep time.

Seasoning and Marinating:

Before air frying, it is essential to season your vegetables to enhance their flavour. You can use various seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or any other spices and herbs of your choice. For a more roasted flavour, you can also marinate the vegetables in extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.

Preheating the Air Fryer:

Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature, typically between 360-400°F (180-200°C). Preheating ensures that your vegetables cook evenly and efficiently.

Preparing the Vegetables:

Chop the vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces. This ensures that they cook evenly and attain a crispy texture. You can also drizzle them with oil and add your desired seasonings, tossing to coat them evenly.

Cooking the Vegetables:

Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Overcrowding can cause steaming instead of browning. Cook for 10-20 minutes, depending on the type of vegetable and your desired level of doneness. Stir or shake the basket periodically to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.

Serving:

Once your vegetables are tender and browned, serve them immediately. You can also add toppings such as grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled goat cheese, or feta cheese for extra flavour.

Tips for Optimal Results:

• Go light on the oil to ensure vegetables crisp up properly.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent mushy vegetables.
• Cut vegetables into small, thin pieces to ensure even cooking.
• Shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to prevent sticking.
• For potato or sweet potato fries, soak them in water before cooking to remove excess starch for crispier results.

By following these steps, you'll be able to prepare delicious and healthy air-fried vegetables in no time!

The best oils for air frying veggies

Air fryers are a fantastic way to cook vegetables quickly and healthily. They can be used to cook a wide variety of vegetables, from zucchini and peppers to broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes.

While it is not necessary to use oil when air frying, it is recommended to add a little to ensure your veggies develop a nice golden colour and don't dry out. The type of oil you use will depend on the food you're cooking, the temperature you're cooking at, and the smoke point of the oil.

Avocado Oil

With a smoke point of 520°F (271°C), avocado oil is an excellent choice for air frying. It has a neutral flavour and is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

Light Olive Oil

Refined olive oil, sometimes labelled as light or extra light, has a smoke point of 465-470°F (241-243°C). It has a lighter colour and a more neutral flavour than extra virgin olive oil. Light olive oil also has a longer shelf life.

Clarified Butter (Ghee)

Commonly used in French and Indian cuisine, clarified butter has a smoke point of 482°F (250°C). It is simply butter with the milk solids and water removed.

Sunflower Oil

Pressed from sunflower seeds, sunflower oil has a smoke point of 450°F (232°C). It is rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fats and has a light flavour.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil has a nutty flavour and a smoke point of 450°F (232°C). It is commonly used for stir-frying and deep frying.

Grapeseed Oil

A byproduct of winemaking, grapeseed oil has a smoke point of 421°F (216°C). It is a good source of vitamin E and unsaturated fats and has a clean taste, making it a good all-purpose cooking oil.

Refined Coconut Oil

If you want to use coconut oil for air frying, be sure to choose refined coconut oil, which has a smoke point of 400°F (204°C). Unrefined coconut oil has a much lower smoke point of 350°F (177°C).

Other oils that can be used in an air fryer include safflower oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, and soybean oil.

When air frying, it is best to lightly spray or brush your vegetables with oil. You can also toss them in a bowl with a small amount of oil before placing them in the air fryer.

Air frying times and temperatures

Air frying is a great way to cook vegetables, giving them a crispy texture similar to roasting but in less time. The air fryer's convection technology cooks food with little to no oil, less fat, and fewer calories.

The air frying time and temperature will depend on the type of vegetables you are cooking. Tender vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus, cook more quickly than firmer vegetables like butternut squash and beets. Here are some general guidelines for air frying times and temperatures:

• Preheat your air fryer to between 360-400°F (180-200°C).
• For tender vegetables, cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• For firm vegetables, cook at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes.
• For frozen vegetables, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Shake the air fryer basket once or twice during cooking to promote even cooking.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation and even browning.
• Cut vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
• Broccoli and cauliflower: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
• Summer squash (zucchini and yellow squash): Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
• Onions: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
• Bell peppers: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
• Potatoes: Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes.
• Sweet potatoes: These will take a bit longer than white potatoes.
• Butternut squash: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes.
• Beets and carrots: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 20 minutes.

Air frying frozen vegetables

Air-frying is a great way to cook frozen vegetables, yielding similar results to cooking them in a convection oven. Here is a guide on how to air fry frozen vegetables:

Preparation

Air fryers circulate hot air around food in a small compartment, so there is no need to thaw frozen vegetables before putting them in the air fryer. In fact, cooking them from frozen will yield the best results as the circulating air helps to dry out the vegetables and achieve a beautiful exterior crispness.

Cooking

• Preheat your air fryer to 390°F to 400°F.
• Add your frozen vegetables directly into the basket of your air fryer.
• Toss the vegetables with olive oil or avocado oil and season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or a seasoning blend of your choice.
• Air fry for about 7 minutes. Shake the basket and drain any excess water from the bottom of the basket. Air fry for an additional 7-9 minutes.
• If using parmesan cheese, sprinkle it over the vegetables and air fry for 1 final minute.

Tips

• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Arrange your veggies in a single layer if possible, to allow air to get in between the pieces and dry them out more thoroughly.
• For crispier vegetables, ensure they are not sitting in water while roasting. Use an air fryer with a crisper plate or drain the water halfway through cooking.
• Soft frozen veggies, such as broccoli, bell pepper, green beans, and corn, cook in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Firmer veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, take 20 to 30 minutes to cook.

Vegetables that are not suitable for air frying

Yes, you can air fry vegetables in a basket fryer. In fact, it is a quick and easy way to cook veggies, yielding a delicious, healthy side dish. You can use any combination of vegetables you like, from bell peppers, onions, and zucchini to broccoli, potatoes, and carrots.

However, not all vegetables are suitable for air frying. Here are some vegetables that you should avoid air frying:

• Tough root vegetables like beets and sweet potatoes: These vegetables require a longer cook time and may not cook evenly with other veggies.
• Falafel: While not a vegetable, falafel is worth mentioning as it is best deep-fried rather than air-fried.
• Corn: Corn can burn easily and may not cook evenly with other vegetables.

When air frying vegetables, it is important to cut them into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Additionally, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation and caramelization.

Frequently asked questions