Tillie Doyle
Cooking personal pan pizzas in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make your favourite pizza without having to heat up a large oven. Air fryers can cook pizzas from frozen, and they can also be used to reheat leftover pizza. The size and type of air fryer, as well as the size and thickness of the pizza, will determine how long it takes to cook.
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What You'll Learn
Personal pan pizza dough preparation
Personal pan pizzas are a fun and easy way to enjoy your favourite pizza at home. The dough for personal pan pizzas can be prepared in a few different ways, depending on your preferences and the equipment you have available. Here is a detailed guide to preparing the dough for your personal pan pizza:
Ingredients
To make the dough, you will need the following ingredients:
- Flour (400 grams)
- Salt (10 grams)
- Yeast (4 grams) of active dry yeast or instant yeast
- Water (275 grams), or 1/3 cup between 100°F and 110°F to activate the yeast
- Oil (8 grams), preferably olive oil
Mixing the Dough
In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, yeast, water, and oil. You can do this by hand or with a wooden spoon. Ensure that all the ingredients are combined and there is no dry flour remaining in the bowl. There is no need to knead, punch, or massage the dough.
Rising and Resting
Once the dough is mixed, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at room temperature for anywhere between 8 to 24 hours. During this time, the dough will rise and develop flavour.
Shaping the Dough
After the resting period, the dough should have a puffy and lumpy appearance. At this stage, you can prepare the dough for shaping. If you are using refrigerated dough, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes to make it easier to work with.
Divide the dough into equal portions depending on how many personal pan pizzas you plan to make. For a 16-ounce package of dough, dividing it into three equal pieces is typical.
Shape each portion of dough into a ball. You can do this by working the dough with your hands, forming a taut ball with a smooth, elastic top. Use your fingers to pinch and smooth out the bottom of the ball of dough.
Stretching and Pressing the Dough
Coat a smooth surface, such as a cast-iron skillet or round cake pan, with a small amount of olive oil. Place one dough ball on the oiled surface and stretch it into a circle or round shape. You can use your hands or a rolling pin to stretch the dough to the desired size, ensuring it will fit in your air fryer basket.
Gently poke the dough with your fingertips to eliminate any large air bubbles and shape the edges to form a crust. You can also dock the dough by poking it with a fork or docking tool to prevent it from bubbling up during baking.
Final Preparations
Brush the top of the dough with olive oil. This will help with the cooking process and add flavour.
At this point, you can add your desired toppings, such as pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. However, if you are preparing the dough in advance, there are a few options for storing it:
- Refrigeration: Place the shaped dough balls in a covered bowl or sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: After coating the dough balls with olive oil, place them on a sheet pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Freeze for about 2 hours, then transfer the frozen dough balls to a plastic bag, removing as much air as possible. Label the bag with the date, and the dough can be stored for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to use the refrigerated or frozen dough, allow it to come to room temperature before shaping and adding toppings.
Now that your personal pan pizza dough is prepared, you can move on to the cooking process in your air fryer!
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Air fryer temperature settings
Air fryers are a great alternative to using a traditional oven to cook pizzas, as they can be faster and more energy-efficient. However, the temperature settings for cooking pizza in an air fryer can vary depending on the type of pizza you are cooking, the size and model of your air fryer, and your personal preferences for crust crispiness.
When cooking fresh pizza dough in an air fryer, it is generally recommended to preheat the air fryer to a temperature between 375 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range will help ensure that your pizza dough cooks through and gets a nice crispy crust without burning. Once preheated, you can place your prepared pizza dough into the air fryer and cook it for around 3 minutes. After this initial cook, you can add your desired toppings and then return the pizza to the air fryer, cooking it for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden.
If you are cooking a frozen pizza in your air fryer, the temperature settings may vary slightly. It is often recommended to preheat your air fryer to a slightly lower temperature, around 370 degrees Fahrenheit, and then cook the frozen pizza for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
It is important to note that air fryers can vary in size and power, so you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly. Some air fryers may heat in increments of 10 degrees, while others may heat in increments of 5 degrees. Additionally, if you notice that your pizza is browning too quickly, you can try reducing the temperature by 25 to 50 degrees and cooking it for a slightly longer time.
When reheating leftover pizza in an air fryer, you can follow similar temperature settings as cooking a frozen pizza. Preheat your air fryer to around 370 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the pizza for 2 to 5 minutes, or until it is hot and crispy.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that some air fryers have different settings, such as bake settings, which may affect the temperature and cooking time. It may take some experimentation to find the perfect temperature and time settings for your specific air fryer and pizza preferences.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for personal pan pizzas in an air fryer depends on the size and type of pizza, the size and brand of the air fryer, and individual preferences for the base and toppings.
It is recommended that you preheat your air fryer for at least 3 minutes, and up to 5 minutes, at 375-380°F (190°C). You should then par-bake your pizza base for around 10 minutes at the same temperature, brushing it with oil first to prevent bubbling and achieve a crispy texture. After adding your desired toppings, cook the pizza for 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden, and the crust is cooked.
If you are cooking a mini pizza, you may only need to cook the pizza for 5 minutes in total, whereas a larger pizza may take up to 15 minutes. If your pizza has lots of toppings, you may need to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time to ensure it is cooked to your preference.
Some sources suggest cooking the pizza for half the time, adding the toppings, and then cooking for the remainder of the time, to prevent toppings from burning and drying out. You can also spray a light layer of oil on top of the pizza to achieve this.
If you are reheating leftover pizza in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 370°F and cook for 4-5 minutes, or use the reheat setting for 5-7 minutes.
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Toppings and customisation
Personal pan pizzas cooked in an air fryer are a fun and easy way to make a quick, delicious meal. The best part about making pizza at home is that you can customise it with your favourite toppings.
Pizza toppings are a personal choice, and you can choose to keep it simple or go crazy with lots of toppings. The most popular pizza toppings include pepperoni, roasted peppers, cooked mushrooms, tomatoes, cooked broccoli, chicken, sausage, ham, bacon, fresh mozzarella, and ricotta cheese. You can also add black olives, but remember to press them into the cheese so they don't fly off!
If you're making pizza in an air fryer, it's important to note that the heat comes from one direction, usually straight down from above. So, it's recommended to par-bake your pizza crust and then flip it over before adding the toppings. This ensures that the bottom crust gets cooked and crisp.
- Brush the crust with olive oil to create a nice golden crust.
- Use pizza sauce, pasta sauce, or marinara sauce as your base.
- Use shredded Italian blend, mozzarella, cheddar, or little mozzarella balls (Bocconcini) as your cheese. A sprinkle of Parmesan is also a great option.
- If you want a flavoured crust, sprinkle some garlic salt and Italian herbs over the outer crust.
- Add your favourite toppings, such as meat, vegetables, or more cheese!
- If using toppings that may fly off, such as olives, press them into the cheese first. You can also add a layer of cheese on top of your other toppings to help anchor them.
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Reheating and storing leftovers
Storing leftover personal pan pizzas in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator can keep them fresh for up to 3-4 days. To freeze leftover pizza slices, wrap them in plastic and place them in an airtight container or large zip-top bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
Reheating leftover pizza in an air fryer can bring it back to life, resulting in a crispy and tasty treat. The air fryer's rapid hot air technology crisps up the crust without drying it out and heats the pizza evenly, avoiding the sogginess that can occur with microwaves. It is a quick and convenient option, taking just a few minutes.
To reheat pizza in an air fryer, first, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to avoid sticking and for easy cleanup. Then, place the pizza slices in a single layer with a little space between them to ensure proper air circulation. For thin-crust pizzas, reheat at 350°F for 3-6 minutes, and for thick or deep-dish pizzas, lower the temperature to 325°F and reheat for 4-7 minutes. Check the pizza regularly to ensure it doesn't burn, especially if it is super thin-crust. Once the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy, the pizza is ready to be enjoyed!
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking personal pan pizzas in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and convenient way to make pizza without having to heat up a large oven. It is also a great way to reheat leftover pizza.
The temperature will depend on the type of pizza you are cooking. For fresh pizza dough, preheat your air fryer to between 375-380°F (190°C) for at least 3 minutes. For frozen pizza, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (206°C) and cook for 5-15 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the pizza.
Air fryers can cook at very high temperatures, so it is important to keep an eye on your pizza as it cooks. If your pizza is burning, reduce the temperature to 360°F and check on it after the first 4 minutes. You can also spray a light layer of oil on top of the pizza to prevent the toppings from burning.
The beauty of making personal pan pizzas is that you can add whatever toppings you like! Popular options include pepperoni, black olives, sirloin steak, onions, red peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, chicken, sausage, ham, bacon, and various types of cheese.
