Air Fryer Whole Beets: The Perfect Timing

Air frying beets is a quick and easy way to cook them, and it brings out their natural sugars, making them nice and sweet. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches to ensure the beets cook evenly. Set your air fryer to 380-390°F and cook the beets for 18-20 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. If you want to cook whole beets without peeling them first, you can wrap them in aluminium foil and roast them in the oven at 450°F for 40-70 minutes, depending on their size.

Air frying whole beets at 390°F for 18-20 minutes

To start, transfer your beets to the basket of your air fryer, arranging them in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Set the temperature to 390°F and let the beets cook for 18 to 20 minutes.

During the cooking process, it's a good idea to check on your beets to ensure even cooking and prevent overcooking. Use a fork to poke the beets around the 12-minute mark. If they feel tender, they're likely done and can be removed from the air fryer. If not, continue cooking for another minute or two.

Once the beets are fork-tender, they're ready to serve! Air-fried beets are delicious on their own, but you can also add some embellishments. Try serving them with garlic aioli or topping them with feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese for an extra touch of flavour.

Air frying whole beets at 380°F for 20 minutes

First, prepare your beets by peeling them and cutting them into bite-sized wedges. Try to slice each piece to the same size so that they cook evenly in the air fryer. Then, transfer the beets to the basket of your air fryer, arranging them in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.

Set the temperature to 380°F and cook for 20 minutes, tossing once or twice to ensure even cooking. Check for tenderness near the end of the cooking time. The beets are done when they are fork-tender, which means there will be little to no resistance when you poke a fork into the beet.

Once they are fork-tender, remove the beets from the air fryer and serve. Air fryer beets are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with garlic aioli, feta cheese, or crumbled goat cheese on top.

Beets are naturally sweet, and roasting them in the air fryer brings out their natural sugars. However, be careful not to overcook them, as they can become bitter if they start to burn.

Checking if beets are cooked by poking with a fork

Cooking whole beets in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. You should set your air fryer to 380-390°F and cook the beets for 18-20 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beets in batches to avoid overcrowding.

To check if your beets are cooked, you can poke them with a fork. If the fork slides in with little to no resistance, then your beets are done. This is known as being 'fork-tender'. If the beets are still firm after 20 minutes, continue cooking in 1-2 minute intervals until they reach the desired tenderness.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your beets. Smaller beets may be done in as little as 18 minutes, while larger beets may take a few minutes longer.

Additionally, if you're cooking your beets in the oven, the cooking time will be significantly longer. Whole beets wrapped in aluminium foil and roasted at 450°F can take up to 40-70 minutes to become tender.

Peeling and cutting beets into wedges before air frying

Cooking whole beets in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare this nutritious root vegetable. However, if you want to speed up the cooking process and ensure even cooking, it is a good idea to peel and cut your beets into wedges before air frying.

First, peel your beets. This will help the beets cook more evenly and prevent them from burning on the outside before they are cooked through. Then, cut the peeled beets into bite-sized wedges. Try to slice each piece to a similar size so that they cook at the same rate.

Once your beets are prepared, transfer them to the basket of your air fryer. Arrange the wedges in a single layer, ensuring they are not crowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Set the temperature to 380-390°F (200°C) and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Beets are done when they are soft and offer little to no resistance when poked with a fork. It is a good idea to check on your beets at the 12-minute mark by poking them with a fork. If they are not tender enough, continue cooking for 1-2 minutes at a time until they reach the desired level of doneness.

Air-fried beets are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with garlic aioli, feta cheese, or crumbled goat cheese for an extra touch of flavour.

Roasting whole beets in the oven without peeling

If you are using an air fryer, the process is similar. First, transfer the beets to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Set the temperature to 390°F (200°C) and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, or until fork-tender. The beets are ready to serve when you can easily poke a fork into them with little to no resistance.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your beets and the specific model of your air fryer. To ensure even cooking, it is recommended to cut your beets into evenly sized wedges before placing them in the air fryer. Check on your beets by poking them with a fork at the 12-minute mark. If they are not tender enough, continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes.

Air frying beets is a great way to bring out their natural sweetness. However, be careful not to overcook them, as they can become bitter if they start to burn.

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