Air Fryer Cheese On Toast: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Yes, you can make cheese on toast in an air fryer! It's a quick, easy, and mess-free way to make a delicious snack.

Here's a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

- 2 slices of bread (white, wholemeal, sourdough, or any type of your choice)

- Butter (softened or at room temperature)

- 80-200g of cheese (cheddar, Gruyere, brie, or any variety that melts well), grated

- Optional: Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or other toppings of your choice

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 180-200°C.

2. Butter one side of each slice of bread.

3. Place the bread, buttered side down, in the air fryer and toast for 2-4 minutes until lightly browned.

4. Remove the bread from the air fryer and top with grated cheese. Add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce, if desired.

5. Place the cheese on toast back into the air fryer and cook for another 4-8 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Feel free to experiment with different types of bread, cheese, and toppings to find your favourite combination. You can also make a healthier version by using reduced-fat cheese and a cooking oil spray instead of butter.

How to make cheese on toast in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Bread (white, wholemeal, sourdough, granary, gluten-free, or your preference)
• Cheese (cheddar, gruyere, brie, or another melting variety)
• Butter (optional)
• Oil (optional)
• Salt (optional)
• Other toppings of your choice (e.g. ham, tomato, chutney)

Method

• If your air fryer requires pre-heating, start this setting now.
• Spread butter on one side of the bread, or spray/drizzle oil.
• Place the bread, butter/oil side down, in the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
• Flip the bread and add your chosen cheese, along with any other toppings.
• Air-fry for another 4-8 minutes, keeping an eye on it, until the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted to your liking.

Tips

• Pre-toasting the bread will help to ensure it doesn't become soggy.
• Use freshly grated cheese from a block, rather than pre-grated, for the best melting results.
• If using sliced cheese, press it down gently to prevent it from blowing off during cooking.
• If your air fryer has a very strong fan, you may need to weigh down the bread and cheese with skewers or a trivet.
• For a healthier version, use reduced-fat cheese and cooking spray instead of butter.

The best type of bread to use

Firstly, it is recommended to use thicker slices of bread. This is because thinner slices may blow off during cooking or result in a "soggy bottom". Texas toast, sourdough, multi-grain bread, and leftover artisan bread are all good options.

Secondly, it is important to toast the bread before adding the cheese. This helps to ensure that the bread is crispy and not too bready underneath the cheese. Pre-toasting can be done in a toaster or directly in the air fryer. If toasting in the air fryer, place the bread butter-side down and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Finally, when adding the cheese, it is best to use grated or crumbled cheese instead of thick slices. This helps to prevent the cheese from flying off the bread due to the strong airflow in the air fryer. Simply press the grated or crumbled cheese into the toasted bread before placing it back in the air fryer to melt the cheese.

The best type of cheese to use

The best type of cheese for cheese on toast in an air fryer is a matter of personal preference, but it should be a variety that melts well.

Cheddar is a popular choice and works well in the air fryer, as do Swiss, Gruyere, Brie, Provolone, American, Monterey Jack, Fontina, and Havarti. For a UK-style cheese on toast, add a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce.

It is best to grate the cheese yourself rather than using pre-grated cheese, and it is also better to use block cheese rather than sliced cheese. If you are using sliced or pre-grated cheese, keep a close eye on it as the cooking time will vary.

For a healthier version, use reduced-fat cheddar cheese and a cooking oil spray instead of butter.

How to stop the cheese from flying off

The circulating heat and fan of an air fryer can be a bit strong for cheese, blowing it off the bread. Here are some tips to prevent this:

• Use freshly grated cheese from a block, not pre-grated cheese, and press it gently into the bread. This will help to compact it and stop it from blowing away.
• Use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together.
• If you are making an open-faced sandwich, do not use a rack to double-stack the cheese toasts. Keep the bread at the bottom of the air fryer.
• If you are making a closed sandwich, make sure the buttered sides of the bread are facing down and touching the bottom of the air fryer basket.
• If your air fryer has very strong airflow, try putting skewers through the sandwich or placing a trivet over it to weigh it down.

Serving suggestions

There are lots of ways to serve cheese on toast. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• With soup: Try pairing your cheese on toast with a bowl of tomato, pumpkin, roasted swede, or parsnip soup for a comforting meal.
• As a side: Cheese on toast makes the perfect side dish to dunk into a big bowl of tomato or vegetable soup.
• With beans: Serve your air fryer grilled cheese with a pot of baked beans for dunking and dipping.
• With fries: For a true cheese-fest, pair your cheese on toast with pizza fries or halloumi fries. Sweet potato fries or baked carrot fries would also make a great side.
• On its own: Cheese on toast can be enjoyed as a quick and easy snack on its own, with or without a side of baked beans.
• With a twist: Spread a small amount of Marmite, Vegemite, or Worcestershire sauce on top of the cheese before serving. Alternatively, try using sliced Brie or crumbled blue cheese instead of cheddar.
• With chutney: If you're not a fan of mustard mayo, try swapping it out for red onion chutney to add a sweet and tangy flavour.
• Hearty snack: For a more filling option, add a slice of ham or cooked bacon underneath the cheese.
• With pesto: Spread a layer of pesto on the bread before adding the cheese for a burst of flavour.
• Fresh produce: Top the cheese on toast with slices of fresh tomato and mozzarella cheese. Air fry until the cheese is melted and the tomato is slightly roasted.
• Rarebit: Try making Welsh Rarebit in the air fryer! This variation features a puffy, creamy, and mustardy cheese sauce.
• Customise: Feel free to get creative and add your favourite toppings or seasonings to your cheese on toast.

Frequently asked questions