Melted Cheese In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches. You can make a grilled cheese sandwich in an air fryer by spreading butter on slices of bread, adding cheese slices or shredded cheese, and then placing the sandwich in the air fryer for a few minutes. The key is to use a thick slice of bread and not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking. You can also make grilled cheese on toast, a grilled cheese sandwich, or load French bread with cheese in an air fryer.

Grilled cheese sandwiches

Ingredients

You can use any type of bread you like for grilled cheese sandwiches in the air fryer. Some common options are white sandwich bread, French bread, or sourdough.

For the spread, you can use butter, mayonnaise, or even a light spray of olive oil.

When it comes to cheese, you want something that melts well. Good options include sharp cheddar, Havarti, Monterey Jack, American cheese, Swiss, Guyere, and Fontina.

You can also add extra ingredients to your sandwich, such as sliced tomatoes, apples, pears, bacon, ham, or jalapenos.

Method

Start by preheating your air fryer to around 350-400°F.

Lightly spread your chosen spread on the outside of each slice of bread. Place your cheese in the centre of one slice. You can add extra ingredients on top of the cheese if you like. Then, place the other slice of bread on top, with the spread facing outwards.

Some recipes suggest using toothpicks to secure your sandwich, especially if your bread is thin. However, remember to remove them before eating!

Place your sandwich in the air fryer basket. Cook for around 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Then, flip the sandwich and cook for another 2-5 minutes, or until the bread is golden and toasted.

Tips

• If you want to get really crispy results, you can butter both sides of the bread and cook the sandwich for a little longer.
• You can also add a pinch of garlic powder to the outside of the bread for extra flavour.
• If you're making more than one sandwich, you may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two per sandwich.
• If you're making a particularly thick sandwich, you may need to cook it at a lower temperature first to melt the cheese, and then increase the temperature to crisp up the bread.

Cheese on toast

Ingredients

• Bread (white, wholemeal, granary, or sourdough)
• Butter (optional)
• Cheese (cheddar, gruyere, brie, or any other cheese that melts well)
• Mustard mayo (optional)
• Other toppings of your choice (e.g. ham, bacon, tomato, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce)

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
• Lightly butter one side of each slice of bread (optional).
• Place the bread, buttered side down, in the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
• Add your cheese and any other toppings of your choice.
• Place back in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted to your liking.

Tips

• Pre-toasting the bread will give it a crispier texture.
• Use grated cheese rather than sliced for even melting.
• If using thin or light bread, secure the sandwich with toothpicks to prevent it from flying off in the air fryer.
• If your air fryer has a very strong fan, gently press the cheese onto the bread to prevent it from blowing away.
• For a healthier version, use reduced-fat cheese and a cooking oil spray instead of butter.

Cheese fries

Air Fryer Cheese Fries

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces frozen french fries
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, colby jack, mozzarella, or swiss)
• ¼ teaspoon salt, optional
• Shredded chicken (optional)
• Sour cream (optional)
• Sliced olives (optional)
• Bacon bits (optional)
• Salsa (optional)
• Sliced jalapenos (optional)
• Nacho sauce (optional)
• Buffalo sauce (optional)
• Blue cheese (optional)
• Green onions (optional)

Method:

• Add the french fries to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don't pile them too high if you want them to cook evenly. You may need to cook them in batches.
• Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 8 minutes.
• Open the basket and shake the fries around. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Open and shake the fries again. Sprinkle with salt (if using) and cheese.
• Cook for another minute or until the cheese has melted.
• Serve immediately with your choice of toppings and dips.

Toasted sandwiches

Air fryers are great for toasted sandwiches. You can make a classic ham and cheese toastie, or get creative with different types of bread and cheese.

Ingredients

• Bread
• Butter or margarine
• Cheese (cheddar, Gruyère, Swiss, Guyere, fontina, or Jarlsburg)
• Ham (optional)
• Tomato (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat your air fryer to 200°C or 390°F for around 3 minutes.
• Layer cheese in between two slices of bread.
• Butter the outside of the bread, or spray with light olive oil. You could also spread the outside with mayonnaise.
• Place a toothpick through the top of the sandwich to stop the bread from flying off in the air fryer.
• Put the sandwich in the air fryer basket and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese melts.
• Flip the sandwich and increase the heat to 380°F to finish and crisp the bread. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the sandwich is golden brown and toasted to your liking.
• Remove the toothpicks and allow the sandwich to cool before eating.

Tips

• If you're using thin, light bread, it may fly off in the air fryer, so secure it with toothpicks.
• The thicker the cheese, the longer it will take to melt.
• Different types of bread will toast at different speeds, so keep an eye on your sandwich to make sure it doesn't burn.

Reheating grilled cheese

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350°F or 175°C for about 5 minutes. This is a crucial step to ensure even cooking and achieve the desired crispiness.

Step 2: Prepare the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your grilled cheese sandwich. If you're starting with a leftover sandwich, simply skip to placing it in the air fryer.

To make a grilled cheese sandwich from scratch, start by buttering each slice of bread. You can use softened butter or even spread mayonnaise on the outside of the bread. Then, layer your favourite melting cheese in the centre of the slices. Close the sandwich, securing it with toothpicks if the bread is thin.

Step 3: Air Fry the Grilled Cheese

Once the air fryer is preheated, carefully place the grilled cheese sandwich in the air fryer basket. Cook the sandwich at 350°F or 175°C for 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't burn, as different breads will toast at different speeds.

Step 4: Flip and Increase Heat

After the first few minutes of cooking, flip the sandwich and increase the heat to 380°F to finish cooking and crisp up the bread. Air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sandwich reaches your desired level of crispiness. Remember to remove the toothpicks before serving!

Tips for Success:

• Choose a good melting cheese such as American cheese, sharp cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, or Jarlsberg.
• If using thick slices of cheese, cook the sandwich at a lower temperature for a longer time to ensure the cheese melts fully.
• Avoid using watery vegetables like lettuce, as they won't taste good when reheated.
• If your sandwich has sauces like mayonnaise, consider adding a bit more after reheating to refresh the taste.

Frequently asked questions