Air Fryer Veggies: Perfect Timing For Crispy Treats

Air fryers are a fantastic way to cook vegetables, offering a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to roasting. The cooking time varies depending on the type of vegetable and the desired level of crispiness. For softer vegetables like zucchini, squash, and peppers, the cooking time is around 10-15 minutes. For firmer vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash, the cooking time is longer, around 20-30 minutes. To get the best results, it's important to cut the vegetables into even-sized pieces and ensure they are in a single layer in the air fryer to allow for even cooking.

How to roast vegetables without oil

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a healthy, tasty, and quick alternative to roasting in an oven. The convection oven-like appliance uses little to no oil to fry foods, reducing fat and calories.

Preparation

First, chop your chosen vegetables into evenly-sized pieces. For tender vegetables, like zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus, cut them into 1-inch pieces. For firm vegetables, like root veggies and winter squash, cut them into smaller pieces to ensure they cook faster.

Place the vegetables in a large bowl and add your desired seasoning. You can use Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, or a Mediterranean blend. Toss the vegetables to ensure they are evenly coated.

Cooking

Arrange the vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches to ensure proper air circulation.

Preheat the air fryer to 360-375°F (180-190°C). Cook tender vegetables for 10-15 minutes, and firm vegetables for 20-30 minutes, stirring or shaking the basket halfway through to promote even cooking.

Tips

• For a lighter version, coat the vegetables with seasoning and spray with a little oil or leave out the oil entirely. They won't get as crispy but will still cook through.
• Use a mixture of colorful vegetables to create a vibrant dish.
• For crispier results, dry the vegetables with a towel before adding seasoning to remove excess moisture.
• If you are cooking frozen vegetables, add a few minutes to the cooking time and ensure there is space between the veggies for proper air circulation.

Suggested Vegetables

You can cook a wide variety of vegetables in an air fryer, including:

• Zucchini/squash
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Asparagus
• Green beans
• Mushrooms
• Potatoes
• Beets
• Parsnips
• Winter squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin)

How to roast vegetables without an air fryer

Roasting vegetables is a delicious way to cook them, and you don't need an air fryer to do it! Here's a guide on how to roast vegetables without one:

Choosing Your Vegetables

First, select your vegetables. You can use a variety of vegetables, such as zucchini, squash, mushrooms, cauliflower, asparagus, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and carrots. Try to choose vegetables with similar cooking times to make the process easier. For example, root vegetables like potatoes and carrots will take longer to cook than bell peppers.

Seasoning Your Vegetables

Once you've chosen your vegetables, it's time to season them. Place your vegetables in a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil or vegetable oil. Then, add your desired seasoning. You can use store-bought seasoning blends like Italian seasoning, Mediterranean seasoning, or make your own with dried herbs. You can also add garlic powder, salt, and pepper to enhance the flavour. Toss the vegetables in the bowl until they are evenly coated with oil and seasoning.

Roasting Your Vegetables

Preheat your oven to a temperature between 360°F (180°C) and 375°F (190°C). Spread the seasoned vegetables on a baking sheet or roasting pan in a single layer. Make sure they have enough space to cook evenly and don't overcrowd the pan. Place the pan in the oven and roast the vegetables for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are tender and browned. For firmer vegetables like potatoes and carrots, you may need to roast them for up to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Serving Your Roasted Vegetables

Once your vegetables are roasted to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the oven and serve them hot. You can enjoy them as a side dish or use them as a pizza topping or pasta mix-in. They are delicious on their own or with your favourite dipping sauce. You can also squeeze some fresh lemon juice over them or sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs like parsley for an extra flavour boost.

How to roast vegetables with frozen vegetables

Roasting vegetables in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to cook veggies. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to roast frozen vegetables in an air fryer:

Preparation:

Before you begin, ensure that you have not thawed or defrosted the frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables should be cooked straight from the freezer for the best results. You can use any type of frozen vegetables, such as mixed vegetables, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, green beans, or sliced Brussels sprouts.

Step 1:

Place the frozen vegetables in a large bowl. You can use around 3-4 cups of frozen veggies, depending on the size of your air fryer. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables and sprinkle on seasonings like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning. Toss the vegetables well to ensure they are evenly coated.

Step 2:

Place the seasoned vegetables into the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the vegetables in batches to ensure they are in a single layer. Cooking in a single layer helps the hot air circulate and makes the vegetables crispy.

Step 3:

Preheat your air fryer to between 360-400°F (180-200°C). Air fry the vegetables for about 10-15 minutes, tossing or shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. For larger vegetables, such as whole Brussels sprouts, you may need to increase the cooking time to about 20 minutes.

Step 4:

If desired, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the vegetables and air fry for an additional minute.

Tips:

• For crispier vegetables, drain any excess water that collects at the bottom of the air fryer basket during cooking.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent steaming and promote browning.
• Cut firm vegetables into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking with tender vegetables.

Enjoy your delicious and healthy roasted frozen veggies as a side dish or a tasty snack!

How long to roast vegetables based on their type

Roasting vegetables in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook veggies. It gives them a crispy texture and a roasted taste, but in half the time it takes to roast them in an oven.

Tender Vegetables

Tender vegetables include cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, as well as summer squash (zucchini and yellow squash), soft veggies (bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions), and thin veggies (asparagus and green beans).

To cook these vegetables in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Chop the veggies to the desired size and optionally drizzle them with olive oil for a more roasted taste. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking for even browning.

Firm Vegetables

Firm vegetables include root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips) and winter squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin).

To cook these, preheat the air fryer to the same temperature as above. Chop the veggies into small pieces, as smaller pieces will cook faster. Optionally drizzle them with oil and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking the basket a few times during cooking to ensure even cooking.

Combination of Tender and Firm Vegetables

When cooking a combination of tender and firm vegetables, cook the firm vegetables first. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) and place the firm vegetables in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the tender vegetables and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to redistribute the veggies and ensure even cooking.

Frozen Vegetables

You can also cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer. Determine whether your veggie is tender or firm, then add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for thawing. It is crucial to give space between frozen veggies to ensure they become perfectly roasted.

How long to roast vegetables based on the temperature setting

The cooking time for roasting vegetables in an air fryer depends on the type of vegetable and the desired crispness. Here is a guide on how long to roast vegetables based on the temperature setting:

For Tender Vegetables:

• Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) or 375°F (190°C).
• Prepare tender vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, and green beans by chopping them to the desired size.
• Optionally, drizzle the vegetables with olive oil for a more roasted taste.
• Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
• Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring or shaking the basket halfway through to prevent burning and promote even cooking.

For Firm Vegetables:

• Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) or 375°F (190°C).
• Prepare firm vegetables such as root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips), winter squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin), and Brussels sprouts by chopping them into uniform pieces. Smaller pieces will cook faster.
• Optionally, drizzle the vegetables with olive oil for a more roasted taste.
• Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
• Cook for 15 to 30 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally to redistribute the vegetables and ensure even cooking.

For Frozen Vegetables:

• Identify whether your frozen vegetables are tender or firm.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
• If using tender frozen vegetables, cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
• If using firm frozen vegetables, cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Ensure that there is space between the frozen vegetables to allow for even cooking and evaporation of moisture.

Note that cooking times may vary depending on the specific air fryer model and the desired level of doneness. Always keep an eye on your vegetables to prevent overcooking or burning.

Frequently asked questions