Air Fryer Pizza: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens for making pizza. They are quicker, easier, and more convenient, and they can be used to cook pizza from scratch or to reheat leftover slices. Air-fried pizza has a perfectly crispy, golden crust, and you can use store-bought or homemade dough, as well as any toppings you like.

Pre-cooking the pizza dough

Preparing the Dough:

Before you start, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. If using store-bought pizza dough, remove it from the can and cut it in half. Shape each piece into a circle, crimping the edges to form a crust. Make sure the size fits your air fryer basket.

Cooking the Crust:

Place one pizza crust into the air fryer basket and lightly spray or brush it with olive oil. Prick the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles from forming. Precook the crust for 3 minutes. This step ensures that your crust will be cooked through without overcooking the toppings.

Flipping the Crust:

After the initial 3 minutes, remove the crust from the air fryer and flip it over. This step helps prevent a white bottom and ensures even cooking. Place the crust back into the air fryer for another 2-3 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness.

Adding Toppings:

Once the crust is pre-cooked, it's time to assemble your pizza. Spread a light layer of tomato sauce or your favorite pizza sauce onto the crust. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese or your choice of cheese over the sauce. You can also add other toppings like pepperoni, onions, or vegetables at this stage.

Final Cooking:

Place the assembled pizza back into the air fryer and cook at 375°F for about 7 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so monitor the pizza closely to avoid overcooking.

By pre-cooking the pizza dough, you'll achieve a crispy and golden brown crust without sacrificing the perfect doneness of your toppings. Enjoy your delicious air-fried pizza!

Adding toppings

Once you've prepared your pizza dough, it's time to add your toppings. The great thing about making pizza in an air fryer is that you can add any toppings you like. Whether you're a fan of classic pepperoni or want to get creative with unique combinations, the options are endless.

• Pre-cook the crust: Before adding your toppings, it's essential to partially cook the pizza dough. This step helps achieve a crispy crust and ensures that your toppings don't make the crust soggy. Place the dough in the air fryer for around 3 minutes, or until it puffs up and turns slightly golden.
• Flip the dough: After the initial cooking phase, carefully flip the partially cooked dough. This step ensures even cooking and prevents a white bottom.
• Sauce application: Choose your favourite pizza sauce and spread it evenly over the pre-cooked dough. The sauce acts as a "glue" for the toppings and provides the base flavour for your pizza.
• Cheese distribution: Add shredded mozzarella cheese or your preferred variety evenly across the sauced surface. Cheese is a key component of pizza, providing the gooey, melty texture that everyone loves.
• Get creative with toppings: Now it's time to add your desired toppings! Be creative and experiment with different combinations. You can go for classic options like pepperoni, bell peppers, and onions, or try something unique like a seafood pizza or a four-cheese delight. Just remember to thinly slice your toppings for even and quick cooking.
• Second cooking phase: Once you've added your toppings, it's time for the final cook. Place the pizza back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 3-7 minutes, depending on your air fryer's settings and the desired doneness of your toppings. Keep an eye on your pizza to avoid overcooking or burning.
• Finishing touches: After cooking, you can add some fresh basil or other herbs for extra flavour and a beautiful presentation.

Remember, the beauty of making pizza in an air fryer is the customisation. You can make individual-sized pizzas and tailor the toppings to each person's preferences, ensuring everyone gets their favourite pizza.

Cooking the pizza

Ingredients

You can use store-bought or homemade pizza dough, rolled-out crescent rolls, or a tortilla. A 12-inch piece of dough will make two personal pizzas. For the sauce, you can use store-bought tomato sauce or make your own marinara sauce. For cheese, use buffalo mozzarella, known for its creamy texture and rich flavour, or regular mozzarella. You can also add some Parmesan. For toppings, you can use fresh basil, pepperoni, red pepper flakes, onions, olives, green peppers, ham, salami, or any of your favourites.

Method

First, preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F for 1-5 minutes. You can also spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Next, cut your dough in half and shape each piece into a circle, crimping the edges to form a crust. Make sure it fits in your air fryer basket. Place one crust in the basket and prick the dough with a fork. You can brush the crust with olive oil for a crispier base.

Precook the crust for 3 minutes to ensure it cooks through. Then, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. You can also precook the base with just the sauce for 3 minutes, and then add the toppings for the remaining 6-7 minutes.

Air fry for about 7-10 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted. If your air fryer doesn't have a bottom heating element, you may need to flip the pizza halfway through to prevent the bottom from being raw.

Finally, remove the pizza from the air fryer and let it cool before serving.

Tips

• If you want to keep the pizza warm while cooking another one, place it in the oven at the lowest temperature.
• To reheat pizza in the air fryer, set the temperature to 325°F and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
• If your dough forms an air bubble during air frying, simply poke it with a fork or spatula.
• If your toppings are blowing around in the air fryer, use an air fryer rack or add more cheese to hold them down.
• You can also use pre-cooked dough or naan bread to save time.

Reheating pizza in the air fryer

Leftover pizza is a wonderful thing, and reheating it in an air fryer is an even more wonderful thing. No more cold slices or soggy crusts. Using an air fryer to reheat your pizza is fast, easy, and gives you a crispy crust and gooey, melted cheese.

How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Place your leftover pizza slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You can place the slices directly into the basket or line it with disposable parchment paper or a reusable silicone liner for easy cleanup.

If your pizza has a lot of cheese, it is helpful to lay a piece of parchment paper underneath to catch any cheese that melts off. Punch a few small holes in the parchment paper directly under the crust to ensure air can still circulate.

Cook the pizza for 3-4 minutes for thin crust, and 4-6 minutes for thick crust. Keep an eye on it, as you don't want the cheese to burn. Check on it occasionally, and if it is browning too quickly, lower the temperature by 25°F. If it's not done after the recommended time, simply add more time as needed.

Using an air fryer to reheat pizza is much faster than using a conventional oven, and you don't have to heat up the whole oven for just a couple of slices. It also gives a better texture than a microwave, which can make pizza soggy and chewy.

Air fryers are also very easy to clean, and you don't have to worry about cleaning baking sheets. Plus, they use very little energy, so you're saving money and helping the planet!

Customising your pizza

Firstly, decide on your base. You can use a classic pizza dough, but you could also try a tortilla, crescent roll dough, or even Italian bread. If you're short on time, you can use a pre-made base, or you can make your own from scratch.

Now, for the sauce. While a classic tomato-based pizza sauce is always a good option, you could also try a white sauce, pesto, or even just a drizzle of olive oil. If you're feeling extra creative, make your own sauce from scratch with your favourite herbs and spices.

Cheese is, of course, a must-have for most pizzas. Mozzarella is a classic choice, but you can also try other varieties like cheddar, Parmesan, or a mix of multiple cheeses. Just remember to pat the cheese dry before adding it to your pizza to prevent a soggy pizza.

When it comes to toppings, the sky's the limit. You can go with traditional options like pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, and sausages, or get creative with ingredients like steak, sirloin, or even beetroot. If you're a fan of spice, add some red pepper flakes, or keep it cool with fresh basil leaves.

Don't forget to season your pizza with salt, pepper, and maybe some dried herbs. You can also add some extra virgin olive oil for a golden, crispy crust.

Remember to pre-cook any raw ingredients like meat or vegetables before adding them to your pizza, and always cook your pizza according to your air fryer's instructions to ensure even cooking and browning.

Frequently asked questions