Air Fryer Biscuits: How Long To Fry Them Perfectly?

Air fryers are a quick and convenient way to make biscuits. The cooking time depends on the type of air fryer and the size of the biscuits. For example, large biscuits will take 7-9 minutes, while small biscuits will take 5-6 minutes. The ideal temperature for cooking biscuits is 330°F, but this may vary depending on the air fryer model. It's important to note that air fryers with multiple trays or racks may require adjustments, as the biscuits should be cooked in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

How to make biscuits in an air fryer from scratch

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, cold and cubed, plus 2 tablespoons for brushing
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, cold

Method:

First, preheat your air fryer to 390°F or 400°F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry cutter or fork, mix in the butter until it is combined and the butter is about the size of small peas. Stir in the buttermilk until a thick dough forms.

Transfer the dough to a clean, floured surface and knead 6 to 7 times until the flour is all incorporated. Be careful not to overwork the dough—you want to see butter pieces throughout, as this will make the biscuits flaky.

Form the dough into a circle that is about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut the biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Bring any leftover dough together to cut more biscuits.

Coat the basket of your air fryer with non-stick spray. Place the biscuits 2 inches apart on the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can fit 4 to 6 biscuits in one batch.

Cook at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. You can also cook at 390°F, but keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

Once done, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush it over the hot biscuits.

Tips:

• Using salted butter will give your biscuits a salty, buttery edge.
• Using cold butter will leave pea-sized bits throughout the dough, resulting in flaky layers.
• Make sure your baking powder is fresh to get sky-high biscuits.
• If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute by mixing 3/4 cup of milk with 2 teaspoons of vinegar.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake these biscuits in the oven at 425°F for 10 to 15 minutes.
• To reheat, place the biscuits in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Store your biscuits in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Enjoy your freshly made, flaky, and golden brown biscuits!

How to make biscuits in an air fryer from a can

Ingredients:

1 can of refrigerated biscuits (any brand will do, but Pilsbury is recommended)

Method:

• Remove the refrigerated biscuits from the can.
• Place the biscuits in the basket or tray of your air fryer. You can use parchment paper or oil the basket, but this is optional. Make sure to only cook a single layer of biscuits at a time and space them out so they're not touching.
• Air fry the biscuits at 330°F/165°C for 9-10 minutes. If you are cooking larger biscuits, air fry for 6-7 minutes, then gently wiggle the biscuits to loosen them from the basket and continue to air fry for another 1-3 minutes. For smaller biscuits, air fry for 5 minutes, then flip the biscuits and air fry for another 2-4 minutes. Flip the biscuits over halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly.
• Carefully remove the biscuits from the air fryer and serve with butter, honey, jam, or gravy. Enjoy!

Tips:

• If you have an oven-style air fryer with multiple trays, cook the biscuits on the middle rack.
• If you want to cook two racks at a time, rotate the racks during cooking and flip the biscuits.
• If your biscuits are still doughy or raw in the middle, leave them in the turned-off air fryer for 2-3 minutes to continue cooking in the residual heat.
• To reheat the biscuits, place them back in the air fryer at 350°F and air fry for 2-3 minutes.

How to reheat biscuits in an air fryer

If you have leftover biscuits and want to reheat them in your air fryer, follow these steps:

First, note that you should only reheat one layer of biscuits at a time. If you stack them, they will not heat through correctly.

Place the biscuits on the rack of your air fryer. You can use a little cooking spray on the rack if you're worried about sticking, but this shouldn't be necessary if you're just reheating.

Set your air fryer to 350°F and reheat for 2-3 minutes.

Storing Biscuits

Store your biscuits in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. Biscuits are best when eaten on the same day they are made, but they can last a few days if stored correctly. You can also freeze biscuits. Place them in an airtight container and store for up to 30 days. Allow them to thaw at room temperature, and then reheat.

How to cook biscuits in a basket air fryer

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, cold and cubed + 2 tablespoons
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, cold

Method

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter or fork, mix in the butter until combined and butter is about the size of small peas. Stir the buttermilk into the flour mixture until a thick dough forms.
• Transfer the dough to a clean counter and knead 6 to 7 times until the flour is all incorporated. Don’t overwork the dough. You want to see butter pieces throughout, this makes the biscuits flaky.
• Form the dough into a 1 1/2-inch circle and cut the biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.
• Coat the basket of your air fryer with non-stick spray. Place biscuits 2 inches apart in a single layer in the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will be able to fit 4–6 biscuits in the basket.
• Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes until golden brown.
• Melt more butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and brush the melted butter on the hot biscuits.

Tips

• If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by mixing 3/4 milk with 2 teaspoons of vinegar.
• You can also use a small food processor to blend the ingredients.
• You can store the biscuits in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• To reheat, place the biscuits on the rack of your air fryer and cook at 350°F for 2–3 minutes.
• You can also freeze biscuits by placing them in an airtight container and storing for up to 30 days. Allow them to thaw at room temperature and reheat.

Troubleshooting

If your biscuits are golden brown on the outside but still doughy on the inside, try cooking at a lower temperature or for a shorter amount of time. You can also try placing them back in the air fryer after cooking and using the residual heat to finish cooking.

How to cook biscuits in an oven-style air fryer

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, cold and cubed, plus 2 tablespoons for brushing
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, cold

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 390°F–400°F. Some air fryers don't need to be preheated, so check your manual.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter or fork, mix in the butter until combined and the butter is about the size of small peas.
• Stir in the buttermilk until a thick dough forms.
• Transfer the dough to a clean counter and knead 6 to 7 times until the flour is all incorporated. Don't overwork the dough. You want to see butter pieces throughout, as this will make the biscuits flaky.
• Form the dough into a 1 1/2-inch circle and cut the biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.
• Coat the basket of your air fryer with non-stick spray. Place the biscuits 2 inches apart in a single layer on the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will be able to fit 4–6 biscuits in the basket.
• If you have an oven-style air fryer with multiple racks, use the middle rack. Even if you have multiple racks, it's best to cook on one rack for the most evenly cooked biscuits.
• Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes until golden brown.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Brush the melted butter on the hot biscuits.

Tips

• If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by following this guide.
• You can use a small food processor to blend the ingredients.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake these biscuits in the oven at 425°F for 10–15 minutes.
• You can store the biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze them for up to 30 days.

Frequently asked questions