Air Fryer Scone Perfection: Timing Is Everything

Air fryer scones are a quick and easy treat to make, with most recipes suggesting they take around 15 minutes to cook. You can make them in batches, and they're best served warm with jam and cream.

How long to cook scones in an air fryer: 7-18 minutes depending on the air fryer and recipe

The cooking time for scones in an air fryer depends on the air fryer and the recipe. For example, one recipe recommends cooking scones at 180ºC for 15 minutes, with the option of adding two-minute intervals if they're not cooked through. Another recipe suggests cooking scones at 180°C for 12 minutes, or until golden.

Some recipes suggest cooking scones for less time, such as seven to eight minutes, or 14 to 18 minutes, until golden and risen.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your scones while they're cooking to ensure they don't overcook.

Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 2 minutes

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the scone-making process. It ensures that your scones cook evenly and helps to create a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process.

To preheat your air fryer, simply turn it on and set the temperature to 180°C. Allow it to heat up for 2 minutes before placing your scones inside. This short preheating time ensures that your air fryer is ready to cook your scones to perfection.

It is important to note that different air fryers may vary in terms of cooking time. Therefore, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on your scones while they are cooking. Depending on the size and model of your air fryer, the cooking time may need to be adjusted slightly.

By preheating your air fryer to 180°C for 2 minutes, you create an optimal cooking environment for your scones. This temperature and timing combination helps to ensure that your scones cook through evenly and develop a beautiful golden colour.

Brush or glaze the tops of the scones with milk

Brushing or glazing the tops of the scones with milk is an important step in the air-frying process. This technique not only adds a beautiful golden colour to the scones but also helps to create a crispy, flaky texture.

To begin, lightly brush the tops of the scones with milk. You can use a pastry brush or even your fingertips to gently apply the milk. Be sure to cover the entire surface of each scone evenly. This step ensures that the scones will develop a golden crust while baking.

The milk acts as a glaze, providing a shiny finish and enhancing the overall appearance of the scones. It also contributes to the formation of a crispy exterior, which is a desirable trait in scones. The milk helps to promote even browning and prevents the scones from drying out during the cooking process.

Additionally, brushing with milk can aid in achieving a flaky texture. As the milk heats up in the air fryer, it creates steam, which helps to separate the layers of the scone dough, resulting in a tender, flaky interior. This technique is especially beneficial for creating light and airy scones.

Finally, the milk adds a subtle hint of sweetness to the scones. While this step may seem simple, it plays a crucial role in the overall flavour and texture of the final product. By brushing or glazing the tops of the scones with milk, you can achieve the perfect balance of a crispy exterior and a soft, flaky interior.

How to shape the scone dough: shape into a round disc roughly 3-5cm thick

To shape the scone dough, first dust a work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it. Bring the dough into a ball, then flatten it slightly until it is around 3-5cm deep. Using your hands, shape the dough into a round disc. You can use a 5cm round dough cutter to cut out the scones, but if you don't have one, that's fine. You may need to cut out two or three first, then reshape the dough and cut again. You'll need to keep reforming the dough into a disc with your hands until you have used it all up.

Once you have shaped the dough, glaze the tops of the scones with milk, and then place them in your air fryer basket. Brush them lightly with milk and cook at 180ºC for 7-18 minutes, or until golden brown and risen.

How to serve air fryer scones: with jam, cream, or a watercress, chicory, apple and walnut salad

Air fryer scones are best served warm, with lashings of jam and cream. If you're looking for something savoury, try serving them with a watercress, chicory, apple and walnut salad.

To make air fryer scones, you'll need to preheat your air fryer to 180ºC. Lightly flour your work surface and shape your scone dough into a round disc, roughly 3-5cm thick. Using a 5cm cutter, stamp out your scones. You'll need to keep reforming the dough into a disc until you've used it all up. Glaze the tops of the scones with milk, then place them in your air fryer basket. Brush the air fryer shelf with a little olive oil, then cook the scones for 7-18 minutes, or until golden brown and well risen.

If you're making a batch of scones, you may need to work in batches. Once cooked, remove the scones from the air fryer and cool them on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving. They're best served warm, but will keep in an airtight container for three days. To soften, warm in the microwave for 30 seconds.

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