Air-Fryer Fried Pizza Dough: A Tasty, Quick Treat

Air fryers are a great alternative to traditional ovens when it comes to making pizza. Not only do they cook the pizza more quickly, but they also produce a perfectly crispy bottom crust that can be hard to achieve in a conventional oven.

The key to success is to pre-cook the dough first, as this ensures the toppings don't burn and the crust is cooked through. You can use store-bought dough or make your own, and the thickness of the crust is also up to you.

Once the dough is prepared, poke some holes in it with a fork to stop it from ballooning, then place it in the air fryer for around three minutes. After this, you can add your toppings and sauce, and put the pizza back in the air fryer for another five minutes or so.

And that's it! A delicious, crispy pizza, cooked in half the time of a conventional oven.

Pre-cooking the dough

Pre-cooking the pizza dough is an important step in making pizza in an air fryer. This is because the dough needs more time to cook than the toppings. Pre-cooking the dough will also help you achieve a crispy bottom without overcooking the toppings.

To pre-cook the dough, first, prepare your dough and work it into rounds that are slightly smaller than your air fryer basket. Then, preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with oil and carefully place the dough inside. Cook the dough for 2 to 4 minutes, then flip it over and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden. If you want the crust to be extra crispy, you can cook each side for a couple of minutes more.

The thickness of your dough will determine how long it needs to be cooked. Thinner crusts will cook quicker and crispier, while thicker crusts will take longer. It's important to note that the air fryer won't char the pizza crust like a traditional oven, but it will still brown it nicely.

Once the dough is pre-cooked, you can add your toppings and cook the pizza for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Choosing toppings

The first thing to consider is the type of cheese you will use. Shredded mozzarella is the classic choice, as it gives the pizza its iconic gooey, stretchy texture. However, you can also use other types of cheese such as parmesan, gouda, blue cheese, or a combination of several cheeses.

Next, you can select your main toppings. Meat lovers might opt for pepperoni, cooked ground beef, cooked sausage, cooked bacon, cooked ham, or spicy sausage. For a vegetarian option, try sliced olives, bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, or even pineapple. If you're feeling adventurous, you could go for a seafood pizza or a unique combination like beet pesto with goat cheese and kale.

To add some extra flavor and color to your pizza, consider using fresh herbs like basil. You can also add some spice with red pepper flakes or jalapeños.

Remember that air fryer pizzas cook quickly, so it's best to use thinly sliced toppings to ensure even cooking. You also want to avoid overloading your pizza with too many toppings, as this can result in a soggy crust.

Now that you've chosen your toppings, it's time to assemble and cook your pizza!

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for fried pizza dough in an air fryer will depend on the type of crust you want, the toppings you choose, and the size of your air fryer.

For a thin crust, you should preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. Then, cook the crust for around 3 minutes, before flipping it over and cooking for a further 2 to 3 minutes. After adding your toppings, cook the pizza for around 4 to 7 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted.

For a thicker crust, you may want to cook the base for a little longer, around 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly golden. Then, add your toppings and cook for a further 15 minutes, or until the toppings are cooked to your liking. If your toppings start to brown too quickly, you can tent the pizza with foil.

It's important to note that air fryers cook food from the top down, so it's a good idea to pre-cook the crust before adding your toppings to ensure it is cooked through without burning the toppings. This is especially important if you are using raw dough, as it needs more time to cook than pre-cooked crusts.

Additionally, the fan in an air fryer can be strong and blow lightweight toppings around, so you may want to place a rack over the pizza to keep everything in place.

Flipping the dough

To avoid this, after you've rolled out your pizza dough and placed it in the air fryer, cook it for around 3 minutes and then flip it over. You can then cook it for another 2-4 minutes before adding your toppings. This will help you achieve a crispy, golden brown crust.

It's worth noting that the cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your dough and the type of air fryer you have, so keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't overcook or burn.

Once you've flipped your dough and cooked it for the additional time, you can then add your desired toppings and continue with the rest of the cooking process.

Reheating and freezing instructions

Air fryers are a great way to reheat your leftover pizza. They can make your pizza crispy and tasty, almost as if it were fresh out of the oven. Here are some tips to reheat your pizza:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176-190°C).
• Place your leftover pizza slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Optionally, place parchment paper under the slices to make cleanup easier and prevent cheese from sticking to the basket.
• Air fry for 3-5 minutes for thin-crust pizza and 5-7 minutes for thick-crust pizza.
• Check on your pizza after 3 minutes and add more time if needed.
• Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!

If you are reheating frozen pizza, the process is slightly different:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
• Place the frozen pizza in the air fryer.
• Cook for 6-8 minutes for a small frozen personal pizza or mini pizza.
• For a frozen French bread pizza, cook at 350°F for about 5 minutes.
• For a personal frozen deep-dish pizza, cook at 400°F for 6-8 minutes.
• Remove the pizza from the air fryer and enjoy!

Freezing instructions:

If you have leftover pizza dough, you can freeze it for later use. Here are some tips for freezing pizza dough:

• Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a well-oiled freezer bag.
• Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal the bag tightly.
• Label the bag with the date and store it in the freezer.
• To thaw the dough, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• You can also thaw the dough at room temperature for 2-3 hours before using it.

Frequently asked questions