Sauteing Onions In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a healthy alternative to deep-frying, and they can be used to cook onions in a variety of ways. You can make onion rings, caramelised onions, or even a whole blooming onion in your air fryer.

Air fryer onion rings

Onion rings are a great snack or side dish and can easily be made in an air fryer. They are healthier than deep-fried onion rings and are less of a hassle to make at home. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make Air Fryer Onion Rings.

Ingredients:

• Onions (1 large yellow onion or 3 medium sweet yellow onions)
• Flour (1 cup or ⅔ cup)
• Cornstarch (2 tablespoons)
• Eggs (2)
• Milk (unsweetened plain non-dairy milk or buttermilk)
• Breadcrumbs (Panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs)
• Oil (Extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil)
• Salt (1 teaspoon or 1½ teaspoons)
• Pepper (1 teaspoon)
• Cayenne Pepper (⅛ teaspoon)
• Parsley (optional)

Instructions:

• Cut the onions: Slice the onions into ½-inch-thick slices and separate the slices into rings. You can also cut them into wedges or petals for variety.
• Prepare the dredging station: In one bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch (optional), salt, and pepper. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until smooth. In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
• Dredge the onion rings: Dip each onion ring into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each ring is well coated at each step.
• Coat with oil: Drizzle or spray the onion rings with oil. This will help them become brown and crisp during cooking.
• Cook in the air fryer: Place the onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. Air fry at 350°F to 370°F for 8 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
• Serve: Air fryer onion rings are best served hot. You can serve them with a dip such as mayo, ketchup, tartar sauce, or ranch. Enjoy!

Tips:

• You can add additional spices and seasonings to the flour and breadcrumb mixtures for extra flavour.
• To reheat, place the onion rings back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes to warm them through.
• You can also freeze cooked onion rings and reheat them in the air fryer when needed.

Air fryer blooming onion

A blooming onion is a fun, flower-shaped appetizer that is usually deep-fried. But with an air fryer, you can make this crispy, salty treat at home with less oil and mess! Here's a step-by-step guide to making your own air fryer blooming onion:

Ingredients:

• Large sweet onion (Vidalia, yellow, or white)
• Flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
• Eggs
• Milk (regular, almond, soy, or oat)
• Spices: paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper
• Oil in a spray bottle (olive, avocado, canola, or vegetable oil)
• Dipping sauce: mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper

Instructions:

• Prepare the Onion: Cut off about half an inch from the top of the onion and remove the outer skin. Place the onion with the cut side down and make four evenly spaced cuts, about half an inch away from the root. Then, make three additional cuts in each of the four sections to create 16 evenly spaced cuts total. Flip the onion over and gently separate the petals.
• Make the Breading: In one bowl, mix the flour and spices. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
• Coat the Onion: Dip the onion into the egg mixture, then dredge it in the flour mixture, making sure to get the coating into all the nooks and crannies. Tap off any excess flour. Repeat this process for a second coat.
• Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F and preheat for about 10 minutes.
• Air Fry the Onion: Place the onion in the air fryer basket, cut-side up. Spray generously with oil and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remember to spray the onion with oil 2-3 times during cooking to ensure even crisping.
• Make the Dipping Sauce: While the onion is cooking, prepare the sauce by whisking together mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, and spices.
• Serve: Carefully remove the onion from the air fryer using a foil sling or tongs. Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Tips:

• To make the onion petals easier to separate, you can plunge the onion into boiling water for a minute and then into ice water before coating.
• If you don't have a spray bottle for the oil, you can lightly brush or drizzle oil onto the onion.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of onions and spices to find your favorite flavor combinations!

Air fryer onion strings

Ingredients:

• Sweet or yellow onions (you can also use white or red onions)
• Cooking oil (enough to coat the onions lightly)
• Eggs
• Milk (preferably whole milk)
• All-purpose flour
• Breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
• Salt and black pepper
• Other seasonings of your choice (optional)

Instructions:

• Thinly slice the onions. You can use a sharp knife or a mandolin slicer to get even slices, which will help ensure even cooking.
• Preheat your air fryer to 300°F (or 370°F if you want to caramelize the onions).
• Coat the onion slices with oil and place them in the air fryer basket.
• Cook the onions for 10 minutes at 300°F. Stir or shake the basket every 5 minutes for even cooking.
• Reduce the temperature to 240°F and continue cooking until the onions are crispy and golden brown. This should take around 15-18 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness.
• If you want to add extra flavor, you can soak the onion slices in a mixture of egg and milk before coating them with the dry ingredients.
• For a crispy coating, you can dredge the onion slices in a mixture of flour, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper before placing them in the air fryer.
• If you like your onion strings spicy, you can add seasonings such as chili powder, cayenne pepper, or garlic powder to the flour mixture.
• Once the onion strings are done, let them cool down before serving or storing.

Storage:

You can store leftover onion strings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Air fryer caramelised onions

Ingredients

You can use any variety of onion you like. Some people prefer yellow onions for a more savory flavor, while white onions have a sharper, more pungent flavor. Sweet onions, red onions, and Vidalia onions are also great options and will all give slightly different flavors.

You will also need olive oil or another oil of your choice, and salt.

Method

First, preheat your air fryer to 360-370°F. While the air fryer is heating up, slice your chosen onions and toss them in a large bowl with the olive oil and salt until they are well coated.

Place the coated onions into the preheated air fryer basket and cook for around 5 minutes, shaking the basket once halfway through. The onions are done when they reach your desired level of tenderness. If you prefer softer, more caramelized onions, you can extend the cooking time by a few minutes. For crispier onions, reduce the cooking time slightly. Be sure to give the onions a stir every few minutes to ensure even cooking.

Tips

• The larger the onion, the easier it is to get evenly sized slices, which will cook more evenly.
• Move the slices around during cooking to ensure they cook evenly and achieve an even golden brown color.
• For thinly sliced onions, a cooking time of around 12 to 15 minutes at 300°F is a good starting point.
• You can also add other seasonings to your onions, such as garlic powder, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or smoked paprika.

Storage

Once cooled, store cooked onions in an airtight container. They will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer or stove until warmed through. If frozen, be sure to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight first.

Air fryer roasted onion and peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sliced green bell pepper
• 1 cup sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup sliced red onion
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Optional Ingredients:

• You can also add some sliced green chillies or jalapenos for an extra kick.
• Spices and seasonings of your choice (e.g. Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, etc.)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
• In a large bowl, combine the sliced peppers, onion, olive oil, and salt. Toss them together until the vegetables are evenly coated.
• Transfer the mixture to the air fryer basket.
• Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring once, until the peppers and onions are tender and slightly browned.
• Once they are done, transfer the roasted vegetables to a serving bowl.
• Add the chopped cilantro and lime juice, and toss to coat.

Tips:

• You can use any combination of red, green, and/or yellow bell peppers.
• Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking.
• For a slight variation, you can also add sliced mushrooms to the mix and cook them together.

Enjoy your delicious and healthy air fryer roasted onion and peppers!

Frequently asked questions