Marianne Martinez
Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens for cooking pizzas, especially if you want a perfectly crispy crust. They are simple to make, easy to customise, and can be prepared in minutes. You can use store-bought prepared crust or homemade dough, and the toppings are completely up to you. Air fryer pizzas are usually cooked at around 375°F (190°C) for 7–9 minutes, but cooking times may vary depending on the brand and size of your air fryer.
Cooking a Small Pizza in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat Air Fryer | 375°F (190°C) |
| Oil | Spray air fryer basket with oil |
| Mozzarella | Pat dry with paper towels |
| Pizza Dough | Roll out to the size of the air fryer basket |
| Olive Oil | Brush dough lightly with olive oil |
| Fork | Prick dough in a few places with a fork |
| Cook Time | 3 minutes |
| Flip | Flip the dough over |
| Tomato Sauce | Spread a light layer of tomato sauce on the pre-cooked dough |
| Mozzarella | Sprinkle chunks of mozzarella on the pre-cooked dough |
| Basil | Sprinkle basil on the pizza |
| Parmesan | Grate Parmesan on the pizza |
| Pepper Flakes | Sprinkle pepper flakes on the pizza |
| Cook Time | 7 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C)
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the pizza-making process. It ensures that your pizza cooks evenly and that the timing in your recipe is accurate. To preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C), start by ensuring your air fryer is set to the correct temperature. Most air fryers have a temperature dial or a digital display where you can set the desired temperature. Set the dial or input the temperature using the buttons, aiming for 375°F (190°C).
Different air fryers may have slightly different preheating processes, so it is always a good idea to refer to your air fryer's user manual for specific instructions. Once you have set the temperature, close the air fryer and allow it to preheat for a few minutes. The time required for preheating can vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so it is important to familiarise yourself with your appliance. As a general rule, larger air fryers may take slightly longer to preheat than smaller ones.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your pizza toppings and sauce. Chop any fresh herbs or vegetables you plan to use, and grate or shred any cheese. You can also use this time to roll out and prepare your pizza dough, if making it from scratch. By the time your pizza is assembled, the air fryer should be preheated and ready for cooking.
Preheating your air fryer ensures that your pizza will cook evenly and efficiently. It is an important step to achieving that perfect, crispy crust and melted cheese that makes air fryer pizzas so delicious. Once your air fryer reaches the desired temperature of 375°F (190°C), you can carefully place your pizza inside and begin the cooking process, following your recipe's instructions.
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Use a pizza crust or homemade dough
You can use a store-bought pizza base or make your own dough for this recipe. If you are making your own dough, roll it out to the size of your air fryer basket. If your homemade dough requires you to pre-bake the crust, place the prepared dough in the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. You can also pre-bake the crust in your oven if you prefer.
If you are using a store-bought pizza base, place it on a piece of parchment paper to make it easier to transfer in and out of the air fryer. You can also use a small square pan that fits in your air fryer if you have one.
Once your dough is ready, brush it lightly with olive oil and prick it in a few places with a fork. This will help create a crispy crust. You can also try brushing the crust with garlic spread instead of olive oil for a garlicky flavour.
After brushing with oil, place the dough in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes. Then, flip the dough over and cook for another 3 minutes. This will give you a crispy crust without overcooking your toppings.
If you are using a pre-made pizza crust, simply place it in the air fryer and add your toppings.
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Cook the crust first for 3 minutes
Cooking a pizza in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a crispy, tasty pizza. The first step to achieving pizza perfection is to cook the crust first. This initial cook will ensure a crispy base without overcooking your toppings.
To start, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). It's important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking and to get that sought-after crispy crust. While the air fryer is heating up, prepare your pizza dough. Roll out the dough to fit the size of your air fryer basket. If you're making a few pizzas, it's best to roll them out one at a time to ensure freshness.
Once your air fryer is preheated, carefully transfer the dough to the basket. You can use a piece of parchment paper to make this process easier and less messy. Lightly brush the dough with olive oil and prick it in a few places with a fork. This step will help create a crispy texture and prevent the dough from puffing up too much.
Now, it's time to cook the crust. Place the dough in the air fryer and set the timer for 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it, as air fryers can vary in temperature and cooking time. You may need to adjust the time slightly depending on your air fryer's settings and your desired level of crispness.
After 3 minutes, your crust should be partially cooked and starting to turn golden. It's now time to flip the crust over to ensure even cooking on both sides. This step is crucial, as it prevents the bottom of the crust from remaining raw or soggy.
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Add toppings and cook for 7-8 minutes
Now it's time to add your toppings of choice. The options are endless, from classic pepperoni to sirloin steak, or even just cheese. You can also add fresh basil, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes for extra flavour. If you're using a rack, place it over the pizza to prevent toppings from flying around. If you don't have a rack, that's okay too; just keep an eye on your pizza halfway through cooking and adjust the toppings if needed.
Once you've added your toppings, it's time to cook your pizza. Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook for 7-8 minutes. If you're using a store-bought crust, you might need to adjust the cooking time to 4-5 minutes. Keep an eye on your pizza to make sure it doesn't overcook or burn, as cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer.
Your pizza is ready when the crust is golden brown and crispy, and the cheese has melted. If you're cooking multiple pizzas, keep the first one warm in the oven at the lowest temperature while cooking the second one. Enjoy your freshly cooked, delicious air fryer pizza!
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Reheat at 325°F for 4 minutes
Reheating pizza in an air fryer is a great way to enjoy your favourite meal again without the sogginess that comes from reheating in a microwave or the lengthy process of using an oven. To reheat your pizza, set your air fryer to 325°F (165°C) and let it preheat. Place your leftover pizza inside the air fryer and let it cook for about 4 minutes. If you are reheating a larger slice of pizza, you may need to adjust the time and temperature settings. For instance, you can reheat a larger slice of pizza at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
When reheating frozen pizza, you can preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the pizza is hot and the cheese has melted. You can also cook a frozen pizza at 400°F for 6 to 8 minutes, depending on the type of pizza. For instance, frozen French bread pizza or Ellio's frozen pizza will cook at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
Reheating your pizza in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to enjoy your favourite meal without compromising on taste or texture.
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Frequently asked questions
The best temperature to cook a small pizza in an air fryer is 375°F (190°C).
It takes 7-9 minutes to cook a small pizza in an air fryer.
To stop your pizza toppings from flying around in the air fryer, you can use an air fryer rack, a liner of parchment paper, or some extra cheese on top of your toppings.
To get a crispy crust on your small pizza, pre-cook the crust for 3 minutes before adding your toppings. You can also use a liner of parchment paper to ensure the crust cooks evenly.
