How To Cook Frozen Pasta In An Air Fryer

Cooking pasta in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious meal with minimal fuss. It's an innovative method that simplifies the cooking process and adds a delightful texture to the pasta, making it perfect for those seeking a new twist on their favourite dish. You can cook frozen pasta in an air fryer, but it's important to note that the pasta needs to be pre-cooked or fresh before air frying. This means that you'll need to boil the pasta until it's slightly underdone, toss it with oil, and then air fry it to achieve a crispy texture. This approach allows for culinary experimentation and encourages amateur chefs to explore new dimensions of pasta dishes.

Cooking Frozen Pasta in an Air Fryer

Pre-cooking the pasta

When cooking frozen pasta in an air fryer, it is important to note that the pasta should be pre-cooked or fresh. You can use any type of pasta that fits conveniently into a baking dish, such as penne, fusilli, or macaroni. It is recommended to break the pasta into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking.

To pre-cook the pasta, simply boil it until it is slightly underdone. This means that it should be cooked until it is al dente, as it will continue to cook in the air fryer. After boiling, toss the pasta with oil to prevent it from sticking together and to add a nice texture. Olive oil or avocado oil are good choices, and you can also add seasonings like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or parmesan cheese at this stage for extra flavor.

Once the pasta is coated in oil and seasonings, it is ready to be placed in the air fryer. Spread the pasta pieces evenly in the air fryer basket and give it a good shake halfway through cooking to promote even crispiness. The cooking time may vary depending on the type of pasta and your desired level of crispiness, but on average, it should take around 10-12 minutes.

It is important to note that when cooking frozen pasta in the air fryer, you should not boil the pasta in the air fryer itself. The air fryer is used to achieve a crispy texture on the outside while maintaining a tender inside, rather than boiling the pasta.

Oil to prevent sticking

To prevent pasta from sticking together in the air fryer, toss the pasta with a little oil before cooking. This keeps the pasta pieces from sticking together or to the basket. You can use olive oil or avocado oil, or melted butter. A light coat of oil will do the trick, and you can also add seasonings like garlic powder, Italian herbs, or chilli flakes.

You can also use non-stick spray as an alternative to oil, but using oil will provide better flavour and help achieve a crispy texture.

If you are cooking frozen pasta, preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and cook the pasta for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally. For stuffed pasta, like ravioli, follow the same steps, adjusting the cooking time as needed.

If you are cooking fresh pasta, preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and cook for about 8-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even cooking. Check the pasta, and if needed, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the desired texture is achieved.

If you are cooking pasta with sauce, you can do this in an air fryer, but it may result in a drier texture.

Baking dish size

The baking dish size you use for cooking frozen pasta in an air fryer depends on the size of your air fryer. It is important to use a dish that fits inside your air fryer. For example, a 7-inch round pan can be used, or a 7.5-inch Staub casserole dish.

It is also important to ensure that the dish is air fryer-friendly. Glass, ceramic, metal, and silicone are usually safe to use, but it is important to check for any temperature guidelines, especially if using glass or silicone.

Additionally, it is recommended to line the base of the baking dish with aluminium foil to prevent the foil from blowing off in the air fryer. However, covering only the rim with foil may cause it to come off, so it is best to cover the entire dish.

Sauce and seasoning

When it comes to sauce and seasoning, you have a lot of options to choose from. You can use either a store-bought or homemade pasta sauce. If you're making your own sauce, you can roast tomatoes in a cake pan within your air fryer basket and then add the other ingredients to that pan. You can also make a sauce with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. If you want a sweeter sauce, you can add sugar, honey, or maple syrup. For a punchier sauce, try adding balsamic vinegar or a splash of white wine. You can also add butter, chilli flakes, oregano, capsicum, mushroom, salt, pepper, and sugar.

For seasoning, you can use Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, parsley, rosemary, chilli powder, paprika, or garlic. You can also use seasoning mixes such as fajita seasoning, peri peri seasoning, or cajun seasoning. If you're making a cheese sauce, you can use cheddar, mozzarella, red Leicester, parmesan, or vegan cheese. You can also add breadcrumbs and mixed herbs.

Reheating without drying

Reheating leftover pasta in an air fryer is a great way to prevent it from drying out. To do this, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the pasta on aluminium foil, which will also help to stop it from drying. Sprinkle a small amount of water onto the pasta to keep it moist. After around 5 to 10 minutes, your pasta should be thoroughly heated. You can add a little extra cheese halfway through cooking to get a slightly crunchy texture.

If you have leftover creamy pasta, it is best to heat it up on the stove to prevent it from drying out. To do this, gradually add room-temperature cream as the temperature of the stove slowly rises.

When cooking pasta in an air fryer, it is important to use precooked or fresh pasta. You can boil the pasta until it is slightly underdone, toss it with oil, and then air fry it for a crispy texture. It is also important to ensure that the pasta is well-coated with oil to prevent it from sticking to the air fryer. You should also give the air fryer basket a good shake halfway through cooking for even crispiness.

You can also cook pasta from scratch in an air fryer. This is a no-boil method where you add water along with the sauce to cook the pasta. It is important to make sure that the pasta is fully submerged in the water and sauce mixture. If the pasta feels dry, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix it through before baking again with the cheese topping.

Frequently asked questions