Air Fryer Hack: Shredded Cheese, Melted To Perfection

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, and for good reason: they cook food quickly, with less grease and oil, and many claim that they make food taste better. But can you put shredded cheese in an air fryer? The short answer is no. Most cheeses have a low melting point, so the cheese will melt before it crisps up. This will leave you with a basket full of sticky, gooey cheese that's difficult to clean. However, there are a few exceptions and workarounds if you're careful.

Can you put shredded cheese in an air fryer?

How to make shredded cheese work in an air fryer

Shredded cheese can be used in an air fryer, but it can be tricky. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the best results:

Choose the Right Cheese

Not all cheeses are created equal when it comes to air frying. It's important to choose a cheese with a high melting point, such as halloumi, feta, or ricotta. These cheeses will get soft and gooey on the inside without melting completely and making a mess in your air fryer.

Prepare Your Air Fryer

Before adding your cheese, it's a good idea to line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. This will make cleanup easier in case your cheese does start to melt and ooze. Make sure the parchment paper you choose is safe for the temperature you'll be cooking at. For example, Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Paper is oven-safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).

Contain the Cheese

To prevent shredded cheese from flying around or melting off your food, it's important to contain it. If you're making something like a grilled cheese sandwich, you can butter the outside of the bread or use toothpicks to hold it together. You can also try preheating your air fryer to let the cheese melt and adhere to your food before turning it up to the full temperature.

Experiment with Recipes

Shredded cheese can be used in a variety of air fryer recipes. You can make grilled cheese sandwiches, add it to frozen fries, or even make cheese crisps. Experiment with different recipes to find what works best for you.

Add Other Toppings

To make your shredded cheese go further and add some extra flavor, try adding other toppings. For example, you could add shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, or green onions to your cheese fries. Get creative and find combinations that you love!

The best cheeses for air frying

Air-fried cheese is a delicious, gooey delight, and there are several types of cheese that work well in an air fryer. While it's best to avoid putting cheese directly into your air fryer, there are some exceptions.

Halloumi

Tangy halloumi can be grilled or placed in an air fryer to crisp up. It's gooey and soft on the inside, and can be dressed up with drizzles of honey or balsamic vinegar, or flakes of sea salt and herbs. It can be served in strips on a plate or added to wraps and sandwiches. Halloumi can be cooked in an air fryer in as little as 10 minutes. Simply coat quarter-inch pieces with cooking oil and season to taste.

Feta

Instead of frying or baking feta, you can cook it in an air fryer for a golden, crispy finish. It can be topped with honey and sesame seeds, or sea salt and herbs, and served with garlic bread or crackers. For the crispiest finish, coat the feta in a mixture of egg and flour before placing it in the air fryer.

Ricotta

Ricotta can be cooked in an air fryer to make a creamy, impressive dish. You can make ricotta balls coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, or use greased baking dishes to cook seasoned blends of ricotta, egg, parmesan, and dried herbs.

Boursin

Boursin cheese can be cooked in an air fryer for a creamy, gooey treat. Bread the pieces with panko or breadcrumbs for a crispier finish.

Brie

Brie can be cooked in an air fryer and used in dishes like cranberry brie bites. Line the basket of your air fryer with parchment paper and place the wheel of cheese inside. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the brie and the machine, so be careful not to overcook it.

Camembert

Camembert is a soft, funky, and slightly rare cheese that can be cooked in an air fryer. Sprinkle it with sugar and serve it with homemade preserves or cranberry sauce. If it's packaged in a small wooden container, remove it and use a different container that's safe to put in the air fryer basket to avoid spills.

Cheddar, American, or Aged Mozzarella

Shredded cheddar, American, or aged mozzarella cheese can be used to make crispy cheese crisps in an air fryer. You can also add spices and seasonings, like cayenne powder, for extra flavor.

Air fryer cheese fries

Ingredients:

• Frozen French fries (16 oz or about half a bag)
• Shredded cheese (1 cup) – pepper jack, Colby jack, or medium cheddar work well
• Salt (optional, 1/4 teaspoon)
• Oil for spritzing on the fries (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Add the frozen French fries to the air fryer basket. Do not pile them too high to ensure even cooking.
• Set the timer for 8 minutes. Once the timer goes off, open the basket and shake the fries around.
• Close the basket and set the timer for another 5 minutes. Open and shake the fries again.
• Add salt (if desired) and sprinkle the shredded cheese over the fries in an even layer.
• Cook for 1 more minute or until the cheese is melted.
• Serve immediately.

Tips:

• You can add other toppings to your cheese fries, such as shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbs, jalapeno ranch, bacon, sour cream, or green onions.
• For a fun twist on chicken parmesan, add shredded chicken, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese to your cheese fries.
• If you don't have shredded cheese, you can cut a block of cheese into fry-shaped pieces and brush them with oil before air frying.
• Using parchment paper can make cleanup easier if your cheese melts and oozes out.

Air fryer grilled cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of thick white bread
• 4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese, sliced thinly
• 4-8 slices of Swiss, provolone, American, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Fontina, or Havarti cheese
• Butter, for spreading

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Assemble the sandwiches by buttering the outsides of the bread slices and placing the cheese in the centre.
• Use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together (if your bread is thin, the top piece may blow off during cooking).
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket or on the rack in an even layer. You will likely need to cook them in batches.
• Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes. Check often to ensure the sandwich doesn't burn and that the top slice of bread hasn't blown off.
• Flip the sandwich and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of brownness.
• Remove the toothpick and serve.

Tips:

• If you don't want to use butter, you can spray the top of the bread with oil after placing the sandwich in the air fryer. Spray the other side after flipping.
• For a ham and cheese sandwich, add a thin slice of ham between the two slices of cheese.
• For a grilled cheese with mayo, spread a light layer of mayo on the insides of the bread.
• For a pimento cheese grilled cheese, spread a light layer of pimento cheese on the insides of the bread.

Air fryer cheese toast

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of bread (white, brown, sourdough, or multi-grain)
• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• 1-2 slices of cheddar cheese (or any melty cheese of your choice)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Optional: Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 180C.
• While you're waiting, spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. You can also add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the bread, buttered side down, in the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
• Add the cheese over the untoasted side of the bread. You can also add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce at this point.
• Place the bread back in the air fryer and cook for another 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and browned to your liking.
• Serve immediately.

Tips:

• For a more indulgent treat, try using thicker-cut bread like Texas toast or Sara Lee Artesano bread.
• If you want to get fancy, try adding other ingredients like sliced tomatoes, ham, or spring onions.
• To prevent the cheese from flying off the bread, press it down gently or use toothpicks to secure it.
• If you're short on time, you can skip pre-toasting the bread, but it won't be as crispy.
• If you want a slightly creamier result, mix the cheese with a little milk before adding it to the toast.

Frequently asked questions