Air Fryer Cheese Sticks: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a great way to make your favourite fried foods with less oil and a crispy texture. One popular snack to make in an air fryer is cheese sticks, which are gooey, crispy, and perfect for a party or snack. The process is simple: freeze the cheese, prep a breading station, bread the cheese sticks, and then cook them in the air fryer. The key to success is to double-coat the cheese sticks and freeze them for long enough to avoid a mess in your air fryer.

Freeze mozzarella sticks before breading

Freezing your mozzarella sticks before breading is a crucial step in making air fryer cheese sticks. Here's why this step is important and a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Freezing the cheese sticks before breading serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it ensures that the cheese is nice and frozen when placed in the air fryer, giving the breading time to crisp up and turn golden brown. This prevents the cheese from melting too quickly and oozing out of the breading. It also helps the breading adhere better to the cheese sticks, reducing the risk of it falling off during frying.

Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Before Breading:

• Cut your block of mozzarella cheese into sticks. You can also use string cheese, but keep in mind that block cheese has a stretchier texture and coats better. Cut each string cheese piece in half to make smaller pieces.
• Set up your breading station. You will need three small shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place flour, salt, and pepper; mix lightly. In the second bowl, add a beaten egg. In the third bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
• Now, it's time to bread the cheese sticks for the first time. One at a time, coat the mozzarella pieces in the flour mixture, then dip them into the beaten egg, and finally coat them with the panko mixture. Make sure to press lightly to help the coating adhere.
• Place the breaded cheese sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour.
• Once the initial freezing is done, take the cheese sticks out of the freezer and dip them back into the egg mixture, followed by a second coating of the breadcrumb mixture.
• Return the cheese sticks to the freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour. This second freezing helps ensure that the cheese is nice and frozen before placing them in the air fryer.

By following these steps and freezing your mozzarella sticks before breading, you'll end up with crispy, golden brown cheese sticks that are perfect for snacking or serving at your next party!

Use non-stick spray

Using non-stick spray is an important step in making air fryer cheese sticks. The spray helps to prevent the cheese sticks from sticking to the air fryer basket, ensuring they can be easily removed once cooked. It also helps to brown the cheese sticks, giving them a golden and crispy exterior.

To use non-stick spray, first, remove the mozzarella sticks from the freezer. You should always freeze your cheese sticks before air frying to ensure the cheese doesn't melt too early and spill out before the coating cooks. Then, spray the air fryer basket and the cheese sticks with a non-stick cooking spray. This will create a non-stick surface that will prevent the cheese from sticking to the basket.

It is important to use a light and even coating of non-stick spray. You don't want to overuse the spray, as it can make the cheese sticks greasy. Ensure you are spraying from a distance of about 6-8 inches away from the basket and the cheese sticks. This will help you get an even coating.

Once you have sprayed the basket and the cheese sticks, you can place the cheese sticks in the air fryer. Place them in a single layer, ensuring they are not overlapping or stacked. This will allow the hot air to circulate evenly around the cheese sticks and ensure even cooking.

If you don't have non-stick spray, you can use olive oil or another cooking oil of your choice. Simply use a brush to lightly coat the air fryer basket and the cheese sticks with oil before placing them in the air fryer.

Double-coat the cheese sticks

Double-coating your cheese sticks is crucial to achieving the perfect air-fried mozzarella stick. This process may be a little finicky, but it is well worth the effort. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide:

First, you will need to prepare your breading station. Set out three small, shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place flour, salt, and pepper; mix these dry ingredients lightly. In the second bowl, add an egg and beat it lightly. You can also add a tablespoon of water to the egg to create an egg wash. In the third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in some panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

Now you are ready to begin the double-coating process. Take each mozzarella stick and coat it in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the stick into the egg, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Next, coat the stick with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to ensure the coating adheres. Repeat this entire process, so that each stick has two layers of coating.

Once all the sticks have been double-coated, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Make sure the sticks are not touching. Return the coated sticks to the freezer for another freezing session. Freeze for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour. This second freezing session will ensure that the cheese is nice and frozen when it goes into the air fryer, giving the coating time to crisp up and turn golden brown before the cheese starts to melt and ooze out.

After the second freezing session, your cheese sticks are almost ready for the air fryer. Lightly spray the air fryer basket and the coated cheese sticks with a nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray. You can also use a little extra oil to help the sticks brown. Place the sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not crowded or stacked, and cook at 390-400°F for 5-8 minutes, until golden and crispy.

And that's it! You now have perfectly crispy, gooey, double-coated air-fried cheese sticks. Enjoy!

Freeze again after breading

Freezing your cheese sticks multiple times is an essential step in making air fryer cheese sticks. It may seem like a long wait, but it's imperative that you freeze your mozzarella sticks for at least 2 hours before coating and frying. The freezing process ensures that the cheese doesn't melt too quickly in the fryer, allowing the shell to set and turn golden and crispy before the cheese gets overcooked.

After you've cut your block of mozzarella into sticks, you'll want to bread them. Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. Coat the mozzarella sticks in flour, then dip them in the egg, and finally coat them with breadcrumbs. Place the breaded mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze again for about 30 minutes.

Freezing the breaded cheese sticks helps the breading adhere to the cheese, reducing the risk of it falling off during frying. It also ensures that the cheese is nice and frozen when they go into the air fryer, giving the breading time to crisp up and turn golden brown before the cheese starts to melt and ooze out.

Once the cheese sticks have been in the freezer for about 30 minutes, take them out and dip them in the egg and breadcrumb mixture again for a second coating. Return them to the freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour. This second freezing helps the second coating of breading adhere and gives the cheese a chance to freeze solid again before air frying.

After the second freezing, your cheese sticks are ready to be air-fried! They will cook more evenly if you spray them with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer. Air fry at 390°F to 400°F for 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Air fry for 5-7 minutes

Okay, so you've prepped your cheese sticks, and they're looking breaded and beautiful. Now it's time to cook them!

First, make sure you've preheated your air fryer. This is important because it will ensure your cheese sticks cook evenly and help to prevent the cheese from melting out of the breading. Set your air fryer to 390°F to 400°F.

Next, place your cheese sticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they're not crowded or stacked. Give them a spritz with some cooking spray or olive oil spray.

Now, it's time to air fry! Cook your cheese sticks for 5 to 7 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Keep a close eye on them, especially if you're using a different brand of air fryer, as the timing may vary. You're looking for a golden brown colour and a crispy texture.

Once they're done, carefully remove them from the air fryer and serve them up! These cheese sticks are best enjoyed fresh out of the fryer, but if you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat them for a couple of minutes in the air fryer.

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