Marianne Martinez
Cooking pumpkin in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare this versatile vegetable. You'll need to preheat your air fryer to a high temperature (around 350-380°F) and season your pumpkin with oil, salt and pepper. You can also add spices like cinnamon and paprika for extra flavour. Place the pumpkin in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for around 12-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The result is crispy, tender pumpkin that can be served as a side dish or appetiser.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat temperature | 350°F (175°C) to 380°F (190°C) |
| Oil | Coconut, avocado, olive, or other |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cinnamon |
| Cooking time | 12-20 minutes |
| Cooking method | Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket, shake halfway through |
What You'll Learn
How to season pumpkin for the air fryer
To season pumpkin for the air fryer, start by washing the exterior of the pumpkin and cutting off the stem. Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds with a large spoon. Then, cut each half into wedges. Coat the wedges in a tablespoon of melted coconut oil, or another oil such as olive or avocado oil. You can also spritz the wedges with oil spray.
For seasoning, you can use a mix of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and cinnamon. Be sure to coat the wedges evenly with the seasoning mix. Alternatively, you can simply season the pumpkin with salt and pepper.
Place the seasoned pumpkin cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) or 375°F (190°C). Cook the pumpkin cubes for 12-20 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the cubes halfway through until they are golden brown and tender.
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How long to cook pumpkin in an air fryer
Cooking pumpkin in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare this tasty vegetable. The length of time you need to cook pumpkin in an air fryer depends on the type of pumpkin and the size of the pieces.
If you are cooking pumpkin cubes, you should preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cook them for about 5-7 minutes. If you are cooking larger pieces of pumpkin, you should preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and cook for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. If your air fryer cooks at 380°F, you should cook the pumpkin for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket after 10 minutes.
You can also cook pumpkin in the air fryer by cutting it into wedges, coating them in oil and seasoning, and cooking at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
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How to reheat leftover pumpkin in an air fryer
To reheat leftover pumpkin in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover pumpkin cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for about 5-7 minutes until warmed through and crispy. You can also reheat the leftovers in a conventional oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), place the pumpkin cubes on a baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes until heated through.
If you are cooking the pumpkin from scratch, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) or 380°F (190°C). It will take roughly five minutes to heat. In a large bowl, coat the pumpkin with oil, salt, and pepper. Place the pumpkin into the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-20 minutes. Halfway through cooking, flip or shake the pumpkin. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Once cooked, a knife should easily cut into the pumpkin. If there is a bit of resistance, cook the pumpkin for longer.
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What type of pumpkin to use for the air fryer
When cooking pumpkin in an air fryer, it is important to use a culinary pumpkin, rather than a pumpkin meant for decoration. A sweet sugar pumpkin, or pie pumpkin, is a good choice.
To prepare the pumpkin, first, wash the exterior and cut the stem off. Then, cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds with a large spoon. Cut each half into wedges.
Once the pumpkin is prepared, coat the wedges in oil. You can use melted coconut oil, or other oils such as olive or avocado. Spritzing the wedges with oil spray is another option.
After coating the wedges in oil, season them. A simple mix of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and cinnamon is recommended. Be sure to coat the wedges evenly.
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How to cut pumpkin for the air fryer
To cook pumpkin in an air fryer, you will need to cut the pumpkin into cubes or wedges. First, wash the exterior of the pumpkin and cut the stem off. Then, cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds with a large spoon. Next, cut each half into wedges or cubes. The size of the cubes or wedges will depend on the size of your air fryer. You may need to cook the pumpkin in batches if it does not all fit in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
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Frequently asked questions
You should cook pumpkin in an air fryer for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket at about 10 minutes.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) or 375°F (190°C).
You can season pumpkin with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and oil.
First, wash the pumpkin and cut the stem off. Then, cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut each half into wedges.
You should use a culinary or sweet sugar pumpkin, not a pumpkin meant for decoration.
