Emilie Meyer
Green tomatoes are a delicious Southern comfort food, and cooking them in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to frying them in oil or bacon grease. Air-fried green tomatoes are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and they can be served as an appetizer with a variety of dipping sauces, such as ranch, sriracha mayo, or caper mayonnaise. They can also be added to sandwiches or burgers. Preparing and cooking air-fried green tomatoes is a simple process that only takes about 10 minutes, and the tomatoes can be frozen and reheated later.
How to cook frozen fried green tomatoes in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation time | 10 minutes |
| Ingredients | Green tomatoes, flour, eggs, buttermilk, hot sauce, cornmeal, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oil |
| Instructions | Slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices. Pat dry with paper towels and let sit for 5 minutes. Set up a breading station with flour, eggs, and buttermilk in separate bowls. Combine cornmeal, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in another bowl. Dip tomato slices in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Spritz air fryer basket with oil. Place tomatoes in a single layer, spritz with oil, and air fry at 380-400°F for 5-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. |
| Serving suggestions | Serve as an appetizer with dipping sauces such as ranch, ketchup, or Sriracha mayonnaise. Can also be served on a sandwich or burger. |
| Reheating instructions | Reheat in the air fryer at 350-375°F for 3-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. |
| Storage | Best eaten fresh but can be frozen for up to 3 months. |
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare the tomatoes for frying
Preparing tomatoes for frying in an air fryer is simple. Start by slicing the green tomatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. It is important to use firm, unripe tomatoes for this recipe, as ripe red tomatoes will fall apart.
Next, pat the tomato slices dry with paper towels. This is an important step to ensure the tomatoes remain firm while frying. After patting them dry, season the slices with salt and let them sit for at least 5 minutes. This will help draw out any remaining moisture and intensify their flavour.
Now you can set up your breading station. You will need three shallow dishes. In the first dish, place flour with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. In the second dish, whisk together buttermilk and eggs until smooth. You can also add hot sauce to this mixture if you like your food spicy. In the third dish, combine the cornmeal, breadcrumbs, and any additional seasonings of your choice, such as paprika, garlic powder, or Creole seasoning. Stir this mixture to combine.
Take a tomato slice and dip it into the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Finally, dip the tomato slice into the cornmeal mixture, ensuring that all sides are coated. Repeat this process for each tomato slice.
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The breading and frying process
Next, set up a breading station with three shallow dishes. In the first dish, place flour, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. In the second dish, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce (optional). In the third dish, combine cornmeal, breadcrumbs, and seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or Creole seasoning. You can also add in some panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture.
Now, it's time to bread the tomatoes. Dip each tomato slice first into the flour, shaking off any excess, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the cornmeal and breadcrumb mixture. Ensure that each slice is fully coated at each stage. Press the tomatoes into the breadcrumbs to ensure the coating sticks.
After breading, spritz the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray or oil. Arrange the breaded tomatoes in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Spritz or brush the tops of the tomatoes with oil or cooking spray.
Air fry the tomatoes at a temperature between 380-400°F for 3-6 minutes. Then, open the air fryer, flip the slices, and spritz or brush this side with oil or cooking spray. Return them to the air fryer for another 3-6 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness.
Your frozen fried green tomatoes are now ready to be enjoyed! They should be golden brown and crispy. If not, put them back in for another minute or two and check again.
You can also freeze any leftover breaded tomato slices and air fry them later when you want to enjoy them.
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Oil and air fryer temperature settings
When cooking frozen fried green tomatoes in an air fryer, the temperature setting will depend on the stage of cooking. For instance, the temperature for cooking the tomatoes will differ from that for reheating them.
To cook the tomatoes, you should preheat your air fryer to a temperature of between 380 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature, the shorter the cooking time. For example, at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you should only need to cook the tomatoes for 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. At 380 degrees Fahrenheit, you may need to cook them for slightly longer, around 6 minutes per side.
If you are reheating the fried green tomatoes, a lower temperature of around 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. Reheating should only take a few minutes on each side.
In terms of oil settings, you don't need to use much oil when cooking with an air fryer. A light spray of cooking oil or olive oil on each side of the tomatoes should be sufficient. You can also use an oil mister bottle or a pump spray bottle. Avoid commercial spray oils, as these can damage the non-stick finish on the basket.
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Cooking time and instructions
To cook frozen fried green tomatoes in an air fryer, first, preheat your air fryer to 380–400 °F. Next, prepare the tomatoes by slicing them into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Generously sprinkle salt over the slices and let them sit for at least 5 minutes. This will allow any excess moisture to come out and enhance their flavour.
Now, set up your breading station. Place flour in one bowl, and add buttermilk, eggs, and hot sauce to a second bowl, whisking until smooth. In a third bowl, mix together cornmeal, breadcrumbs, and seasonings of your choice. You can add garlic powder, paprika, Creole seasoning, cayenne pepper, or black pepper to the third bowl. You can also add sugar and sea salt to the flour. If you don't have buttermilk, you can use whole milk or whole milk mixed with 1/2 a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice.
Dip each tomato slice into the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip it into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Finally, dip the slice into the cornmeal mixture, pressing to ensure the coating sticks to the tomato.
Spritz your air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray and arrange the breaded tomatoes in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch each other. Cook in batches if your air fryer basket is not large enough. Air fry the tomatoes for 3–6 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. For a keto-friendly version, you can use gluten-free flour and pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs.
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Reheating and freezing instructions
To reheat frozen fried green tomatoes in an air fryer, first, preheat your air fryer to 350–375 °F. Place the frozen tomatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Reheat for 3–6 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until heated thoroughly.
To freeze fried green tomatoes, first, let the air-fried tomatoes cool completely. Place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they do not touch. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Fried green tomatoes can be frozen for up to three months.
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Frequently asked questions
To cook frozen fried green tomatoes in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350-380 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the frozen tomatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until heated thoroughly.
It takes around 10 minutes to cook fried green tomatoes in an air fryer. The first side should be cooked for 4 to 5 minutes, and then flipped and cooked for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.
To make fried green tomatoes in an air fryer, slice firm, unripe green tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices. Set up three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with whisked eggs and buttermilk, and one with cornmeal, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. Dip each tomato slice into the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the cornmeal mixture, ensuring an even coat each time. Place the breaded tomatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spritz or brush with oil. Air fry at 380-400 degrees Fahrenheit for a total of 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
