Cody Casey
Cheddar brats are a delicious, quick and easy meal to make in your air fryer. They are a great alternative to grilled bratwurst, especially in the winter when grilling isn't an option. With just a package of bratwurst and your air fryer, you can make juicy, golden brown and snappy cheddar brats in about 10-15 minutes. You can serve them with a variety of toppings, buns, and sides for a perfect summertime meal.
How to Cook Cheddar Brats in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat Temperature | 350°F-390°F |
| Preheat Time | 5 minutes |
| Cooking Temperature | 370°F-380°F |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Internal Temperature | 160°F |
| Cooking Spray | Not necessary |
| Layer | Single |
| Flipping | Halfway through |
| Toppings | Beer cheese sauce, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, shredded cheddar, ketchup, potato chips |
| Sides | Onion rings, coleslaw, cucumber salad, pierogies, green beans with bacon |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures your cheddar brats cook evenly and helps to create a brown crust. Depending on the make and model of your air fryer, preheating times and temperatures may vary slightly. However, most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to a temperature between 350 and 390 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, one recipe suggests preheating your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit, while another suggests 390 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes.
When preheating your air fryer, it is important to ensure that the cooking basket is inside. This allows the basket to heat up, which helps to cook the brats evenly. It is also important to note that the preheating time does not count towards the overall cooking time of your cheddar brats. So, make sure to set aside enough time for both preheating and cooking.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your cheddar brats. Start by gathering your ingredients and ensuring you have enough brats for the number of people you are serving. Most air fryers can fit five brats in a single layer, but this may vary depending on the size of your air fryer. If you are cooking for a larger group, you may need to cook the brats in batches.
In addition to setting the right temperature, it is crucial to use the correct cooking mode on your air fryer. Most air fryers have multiple cooking modes, such as air fry, bake, or roast. For cooking cheddar brats, you should select the "air fry" mode, if available. This mode uses a combination of hot air circulation and a small amount of oil to create a crispy exterior and juicy interior.
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Arrange the brats in the basket
When arranging the cheddar brats in the air fryer basket, it is important to ensure they are in a single layer and not touching each other. This allows for even cooking and browning. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the brats in batches. If your air fryer is large enough, you can cook five brats at once, which is typically the number in one package.
It is also important to leave some space around the brats for air to circulate. This helps ensure that they cook evenly and prevents them from steaming, which can make the casing sticky. If you are using frozen brats, you can cook them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 13 to 15 minutes. For best results, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
When arranging the brats in the basket, you may choose to line it with aluminium foil for easier cleanup. However, this is not necessary, as the natural casing of the brats will prevent them from sticking to the basket. If you are concerned about sticking, you can pierce the brats with a fork before cooking to let the grease escape. Alternatively, you can give the basket a quick spray with cooking spray.
Once the brats are arranged in the basket, you can proceed to air fry them according to your desired level of doneness. For a golden brown crust, cook the brats until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take about 10 to 12 minutes at 380 to 390 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them halfway through.
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Cook the brats
Cooking cheddar brats in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious meal on the table. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking cheddar brats in an air fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating to between 350-390°F (about 177-199°C) for 5 minutes. However, some recipes suggest lower temperatures of 320°F or 360°F (about 160-182°C).
- Prepare the brats: Place the raw, uncooked brats in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them. You may need to cook in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. You can line the basket with aluminium foil if desired, but this is not necessary as the natural casing of the brats will prevent them from sticking.
- Air fry: Cook the brats for 10-15 minutes, turning them halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the temperature and the number of brats you are cooking. The brats are ready when they are golden brown and have an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
Once the brats are cooked, you can serve them with your choice of buns, toppings, and sides. Enjoy!
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Make toppings and sides
While your cheddar brats are cooking in the air fryer, you can prepare some toppings and sides to serve with them.
For toppings, you can keep it simple with just mustard, or load up with beer cheese sauce. To make the beer cheese sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour and cook for a minute. Next, whisk in beer and milk, and keep whisking until the sauce thickens. Finally, stir in shredded cheddar, smoked paprika, and chives. You can skip the chives if you're not a fan. The sauce goes great with hot dogs, too. If you want to add even more cheese, you can put some shredded cheddar on top of the brats and put them back in the hot air fryer for 1-2 minutes to melt.
For sides, potato chips and either potato salad or macaroni salad are a great choice. You could also serve the brats with onion rings, coleslaw, cucumber salad, pierogies, or green beans with bacon. If you're cooking for kids, potato chips and ketchup is a popular choice.
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Reheat and store leftovers
Storing and reheating your cheddar brat leftovers is simple. If you're planning to eat them within three to four days, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you're ready to reheat, pop them in the air fryer or a hot skillet for a few minutes, or use the microwave until they're heated through.
If you want to keep your brats for longer, you can freeze them for up to two to three months. Wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. When you're ready to enjoy them, thaw them by placing them in the fridge overnight, then reheat them using one of the methods mentioned above.
For reheating, you can also follow the same cooking instructions as before, but for a shorter duration. Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about three to five minutes, or until warmed thoroughly.
Now you can enjoy your cheddar brats whenever you're craving them!
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 10-15 minutes to cook cheddar brats in the air fryer.
The air fryer should be preheated to 350-390°F.
You can top your cheddar brats with beer cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, ketchup, potato chips, or sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.
