Air Fryer Hack: Cooking Dough Balls To Perfection

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance, and it's no surprise that people are experimenting with cooking all sorts of foods in them. Dough balls are a popular snack, and cooking them in an air fryer is a convenient option. The air fryer's ability to circulate hot air makes it perfect for cooking dough balls, resulting in a crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. You can even get creative with different flavours and fillings, such as garlic butter or cheese. Whether you're preparing a batch for a party or indulging in a solo treat, air-fried dough balls are a delicious option.

Dough preparation

The dough for air fryer dough balls can be prepared by hand, with a food processor, or in a bread maker. The ingredients required for the dough are 400g strong white flour, 1 sachet (7g) of easy-blend yeast, 2 teaspoons of salt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 250ml of tepid water.

Begin by mixing the ingredients together. Once the mixture becomes too stiff to stir with a fork, start kneading it with your hands. Push the dough forward with the heel of your hand, fold it back over itself, and turn it. Repeat this process for about 10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. It is ready to be shaped when it springs back lightly after being poked.

After kneading, shape the dough into a smooth ball. Then, place it in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with cling film. Leave the dough in a warm place for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

To ensure even cooking, weigh the dough and divide this number by 30 to determine the size of each dough ball. Tuck the dough under to create a smooth top, then gently press down and twist to even out the ball. Place the dough balls in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are no further than 1cm away from each other. This spacing allows for the dough to double in size during cooking, resulting in soft and fluffy dough balls.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking dough balls in an air fryer vary depending on the recipe and the type of dough being used. Here is a detailed guide on air fryer temperature and timing:

For vegan garlic dough balls, it is recommended to bake the dough balls at 200°C/400°F for 5 minutes. Then, without opening the air fryer, reduce the temperature to 160°C/320°F and bake for another 5 minutes. Finally, spread half of the garlic butter on the balls and bake for a further 5 minutes. The total cooking time is 15 minutes, including the time taken to spread the garlic butter.

For garlic dough balls made with pizza dough, a temperature of 180°C/350°C is suggested for 15 minutes. It is recommended to check on the dough balls after 8 minutes and give them a gentle shake to ensure even browning.

When making dough boys or fried dough balls, a cooking time of 9 minutes is suggested, flipping the dough bundles after 5 minutes. This timing is based on a recipe that uses Rhodes frozen dough to make 8 dough balls.

It is important to note that the size of your air fryer may require you to cook the dough balls in batches. Cooking times may also vary depending on the warmth of your kitchen, as dough rises more quickly in warmer environments. Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches, subsequent batches may cook faster since the air fryer is already warm.

Avoiding dough balls sticking to the fryer

Yes, you can cook dough balls in an air fryer. However, you may encounter the problem of the dough balls sticking to the fryer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

Firstly, if your air fryer is prone to sticking, it is recommended to place baking or parchment paper at the bottom of the fryer to prevent the dough balls from adhering. This is especially useful if you are cooking in batches, as the warmth of the air fryer will cause subsequent batches to cook even faster, and the paper will ensure they don't stick.

If your air fryer is reliable and not prone to sticking, you can lightly spray the basket with oil (not fry light) and place the dough balls directly inside. Alternatively, you can preheat the air fryer with the tray/basket inside, and then spray the tray/basket with oil before adding the dough balls. This method mimics cooking on the stove, where you heat up the pan with oil to create an exterior crust on the food, preventing it from sticking.

Additionally, lining the tray/basket with non-stick foil can also prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. However, be aware that blocking the airflow in this manner might alter the results of your recipe. Perforated parchment paper is a good option to allow airflow while keeping direct contact with the air fryer to a minimum.

Garlic butter sauce

Yes, you can cook dough balls in an air fryer! The soft, freshly baked dough balls coated with garlic butter are a perfect snack and are quite simple to make.

To make the garlic butter sauce, you will need:

• 50g of butter
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled (adjust the amount according to your preference)
• 7g of flat-leaf parsley
• ½ teaspoon of sea salt (optional)

• Melt the butter in a bowl or jug using a microwave or in a saucepan on the hob.
• Chop the fresh parsley finely using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife and stir it into the melted butter.
• Use a garlic crusher to crush the garlic cloves directly into the butter mixture. You can also mince or finely chop the garlic before crushing it into the butter.
• Stir the mixture until everything is well combined.
• Pour the garlic butter sauce over the freshly cooked dough balls as soon as they come out of the air fryer.
• Serve the dough balls immediately while they are still hot and enjoy the delicious aroma and taste!

Tips:

• If you are using a silicone liner in your air fryer, consider placing some baking paper at the bottom to prevent the dough balls from sticking. Alternatively, you can lightly spray the basket with oil.
• Check the dough balls a few minutes earlier than the recipe suggests, especially if your air fryer requires preheating or if you are cooking multiple batches.

Cheese filling

If you're looking to elevate your dough balls with a cheesy, herby filling, there are a few options to consider. For a more indulgent option, you can use cream cheese as your base. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature or slightly warmed to make mixing and filling easier. You can also create a mac and cheese filling by preparing a thick and creamy base, forming it into balls, and freezing them before air frying. For a lighter option, you can simply fill your dough balls with your favourite shredded or crumbled cheese. Popular options include mozzarella, parmesan, feta, or cheddar.

To create a cohesive dough ball with a cheese filling, it's important to ensure that your cheese mixture is thick enough to hold its shape. For cream cheese, this may involve allowing it to firm up in the refrigerator before filling your dough. For shredded or crumbled cheese, you may need to mix it with a small amount of flour or other dry ingredient to help it bind.

Once you've prepared your cheese filling, you can portion it out and wrap the cheese in your dough before air frying according to your recipe instructions.

Frequently asked questions