Air-Fried Zucchini Bread: A Healthy, Quick Treat?

Yes, you can make zucchini bread in an air fryer. It is easy and quick, and using the air fryer saves substantially on electricity and the need to heat up the kitchen. The bread comes out moist, sweet, and delicious. The recipe typically involves mixing eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla in one bowl, and flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in another, before combining the mixtures and pouring the batter into a baking pan that fits inside the air fryer. The bread takes around 30-35 minutes to cook at 310-320 degrees Fahrenheit.

Zucchini bread recipe ingredients

Zucchini bread is a simple recipe that can be adapted to your taste preferences. The ingredients listed below are for a basic zucchini bread recipe, but you can add your choice of nuts, dried fruits, or spices to customise it.

To make zucchini bread, you will need the following ingredients:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 2 1/4 cups of sugar (white, light or dark brown, or a mix)
• 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 cups of grated zucchini (about 1-2 medium zucchini)
• 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans
• 3/4 cup of unsalted butter, melted, or vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt (omit if using salted butter)
• 1 cup of dried cranberries, raisins, or other dried fruit (optional)

The zucchini should be grated using a standard box grater; there is no need to peel it first. If your zucchini is on the dry side, you can sprinkle it with water and let it drain in a sieve before adding it to the batter.

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will need to preheat your oven or air fryer to the appropriate temperature (around 325-350°F or 165-175°C). Grease and flour two 8x4-inch or 9x5-inch loaf pans to prepare them for the batter.

Combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg) in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt, if using). Stir in the zucchini and melted butter or oil, then add the flour mixture and beat well. Finally, fold in the nuts and dried fruit (if using) until everything is well combined.

Pour the batter into your prepared pans and bake for around 40-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool in the pans for at least 10 minutes before removing and serving.

How to prepare the zucchini

Preparing zucchini for zucchini bread in an air fryer is simple and only requires a few steps. Here is a detailed guide on how to prepare the zucchini:

Firstly, wash the zucchini thoroughly under running water. You can use a soft vegetable brush to gently scrub the surface and remove any dirt or residue. After washing, dry the zucchini with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Next, use a sharp knife to trim and cut off both ends of the zucchini. This step ensures you remove any tough or fibrous parts. Once trimmed, cut the zucchini into large chunks or slices. The size of the chunks can vary, but they should be manageable for the next step.

Now, it's time to shred the zucchini. You can use a food processor with a shredding disc or a manual grater for this step. If using a food processor, feed the zucchini chunks through the chute and process them until they are finely shredded. If using a manual grater, gently rub the zucchini against the grater, applying light pressure to create shreds. Continue this process until all the zucchini chunks are shredded.

Once shredded, it is essential to remove excess moisture from the zucchini. Place the shredded zucchini on a few layers of paper towels and gently roll them up. Squeeze gently to absorb the moisture. This step is crucial as it ensures your zucchini bread batter is not too watery.

After removing the moisture, your zucchini is almost ready for the batter. You can now transfer the shredded zucchini to a large bowl and set it aside until you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

When you are ready to bake, simply fold the zucchini into your batter. Ensure you gently fold it in rather than vigorously mixing it, as zucchini can be delicate.

And that's it! Your zucchini is now prepared and ready to be transformed into delicious zucchini bread in your air fryer. Enjoy the baking process and the wonderful aroma of freshly baked zucchini bread!

How to make the batter

To make the batter for zucchini bread in an air fryer, you'll need to first shred the zucchini. It's important to squeeze out excess moisture from the zucchini by placing it inside paper towels and gently pressing. This will ensure your zucchini doesn't sink to the bottom of the batter and that your bread has a fluffy texture.

Next, in a small bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients: eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Whisk the wet ingredients until well combined.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until they are fully incorporated. Finally, gently fold in the shredded zucchini. Your batter is now ready to be poured into greased mini loaf pans and baked in the air fryer!

Air fryer temperature and cooking time

The temperature and cooking time for making zucchini bread in an air fryer can vary depending on the recipe and the desired level of doneness. Here are some general guidelines and instructions from different sources:

• Preheat your air fryer to 310 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Then, add the prepared loaves and bake for 30-35 minutes. Check the doneness at 30 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the centre of the loaf. If it comes out clean, with no wet batter attached, the bread is ready. If not, put it back in the air fryer and check again in 5 minutes.
• Another recipe suggests baking the zucchini bread at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes. After 35 minutes, check the doneness with a toothpick or cake tester. If the bread is not quite done, return it to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• It is important to allow the zucchini bread to cool before removing it from the pan. Let it cool in the baking pan on the removed air fryer tray for at least 10 minutes. Then, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool further before slicing and serving.
• The cooking time may also depend on the size of your air fryer basket and the number of loaves you are baking at once. Most air fryer baskets can fit two mini loaves or a mini bundt pan. If you are baking multiple batches, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

How to store zucchini bread

You've made your zucchini bread in an air fryer, and now you want to store it. But how?

Firstly, let the zucchini bread cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes before attempting to remove it. Then, once the bread has cooled down, you can remove it from the pan.

Now, you have a few options for storing your zucchini bread. You can keep it at room temperature for up to one week, either covered or in a container. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container or sealed bag in the freezer for months.

If you want to store your zucchini bread in the refrigerator, it's best to wrap it up first. Use aluminium foil or cling wrap, and make sure you wrap it up as firmly as you can. You could also place it in a resealable plastic bag. If you plan to keep it in the fridge for longer than three days, it's best to put it in the freezer instead.

If you want to freeze your zucchini bread, again, make sure it's wrapped up well. You can use foil or plastic wrap, and then put it inside a resealable bag. If you want to freeze individual slices, wait until the bread has cooled completely before cutting it, then double-wrap each slice.

To defrost your zucchini bread, simply let it thaw at room temperature, or zap it in the microwave to reheat.

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