Air Fryer Magic: Making Can Biscuits Perfectly

Air fryers are a quick and convenient way to make fluffy, warm biscuits with a delightful golden crust. They are perfect for when you want a small batch to accompany a meal, without having to turn on your oven and bake a whole sheet pan.

The air fryer's convection cooking method is the key to achieving crispy perfection, ensuring an even bake and a golden-brown exterior, without the worry of soggy bottoms. Plus, cleanup is a breeze as there are no greasy pans or baking sheets to scrub.

To make canned biscuits in an air fryer, simply spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, place the biscuits inside in a single layer, and air fry at 330°F/165°C for 9-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. That's it! You'll have warm, golden-brown biscuits in no time.

Choosing the right biscuits

When it comes to choosing the right biscuits for your air fryer, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide on the type of biscuit you want. Are you looking for a fluffy and flaky biscuit, or something more dense and crispy? This will determine whether you go for a refrigerated biscuit dough or make your own biscuit dough from scratch.

Refrigerated Biscuit Dough

If you're short on time or simply prefer the convenience, opting for refrigerated biscuit dough is a great choice. Pillsbury Grands Biscuits are a popular option and can be found in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores. This type of biscuit is designed to be fluffy and flaky, with a soft and tender interior. They come in a can and are typically found in the jumbo or regular size. When using this type of biscuit, follow the instructions on the package and adjust the cooking time and temperature slightly for your air fryer.

Homemade Biscuit Dough

For those who want to make their biscuits from scratch, creating your own biscuit dough allows for more customisation in terms of flavour and texture. You can experiment with different recipes and ingredients, such as cheese biscuits or whole wheat biscuits. When making your own dough, remember that cold butter is key to achieving flaky and tender biscuits. Keep your butter and milk in the fridge until you're ready to use them, and be careful not to overwork the dough once the milk has been added to avoid dense biscuits.

Other Considerations

• Air Fryer Style: Depending on whether you have a basket-style or oven-style air fryer, you may need to adjust your cooking method. Basket-style air fryers typically allow for cooking all the biscuits in one layer, while oven-style air fryers with multiple trays may require cooking in batches or rotating the racks during cooking.
• Biscuit Size: The size of your biscuits will impact the cooking time and temperature. Smaller biscuits will generally cook faster than larger ones, so adjust your settings accordingly.
• Brand: While Pillsbury is a popular choice, feel free to use any brand of canned biscuits that you prefer. Just keep in mind that different brands may have slight variations in cooking time, so always check on your biscuits regularly to avoid overcooking.

Air fryer settings

The air fryer is a great alternative to a conventional oven for making canned biscuits, as it requires minimal effort and takes less time. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

Lightly spray the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the biscuits from sticking. You can also use a sheet of parchment paper, but this is optional. If you do use parchment paper, cut it to the size of your air fryer basket and poke a few holes in it to ensure proper airflow.

Step 2: Arrange the Biscuits

Place the biscuits in a single layer on the bottom of the basket, ensuring they are not stacked or touching the sides. Leave as much space between them as your air fryer allows.

Step 3: Cook the Biscuits

Set the air fryer temperature to between 330°F and 350°F. Cook the biscuits for 6 minutes, then flip and rotate them. Continue cooking for an additional 2 to 4 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown. The total cooking time will be between 8 and 10 minutes.

Step 4: Serve

Serve the biscuits warm with your choice of spreads and toppings, such as butter, jam, gravy, or honey.

Tips for Best Results:

• It is not necessary to preheat the air fryer, but doing so for 5 minutes at 330°F can help the biscuits cook more evenly.
• Depending on the size and style of your air fryer, you may need to cook the biscuits in batches to ensure even cooking.
• If using an oven-style air fryer with multiple trays, use the middle rack for the best results.
• Flip the biscuits during cooking to ensure even browning.
• If your biscuits are still doughy or raw in the middle after cooking, leave them in the turned-off air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes to continue cooking in the residual heat.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for making canned biscuits in an air fryer will depend on the type of air fryer you have, the size of the biscuits, and whether they are cooked from chilled or frozen.

For chilled biscuits, the air fryer should be set to between 330°F/165°C and 350°F/177°C. The biscuits should be cooked for between 6 and 10 minutes, depending on the size of the biscuits and your air fryer. For larger biscuits, cook for 6-7 minutes, and for smaller biscuits, 5 minutes. Flip the biscuits over and cook for another 1-4 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

If you are cooking frozen biscuits, the cooking time will be slightly longer, typically around 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Biscuit arrangement

When arranging your biscuits in the air fryer, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, always arrange the biscuits in a single layer at the bottom of the basket. This ensures even cooking and allows the hot air to circulate properly. While the sides of the biscuits can touch slightly, it's best to leave as much space between them as your air fryer allows.

If you're using an oven-style air fryer with multiple trays, it's best to cook one tray at a time, using the middle rack position. This is because the biscuits on the top rack will burn on the outside before the inside cooks through, and the biscuits on the bottom rack will cook more slowly and may be raw in the centre. If you do need to cook two trays at once, you must rotate the racks during cooking and still flip the biscuits.

For basket-style air fryers, you can cook the biscuits all in one layer, and you may not even need to flip them. However, if you do need to flip them, it's best to do so halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking on both sides.

To prevent the biscuits from sticking to the air fryer, you can lightly spray the basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. If using parchment paper, be sure to cut it to the size of your air fryer basket and poke a few holes in it to allow the air to circulate.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer canned biscuits are incredibly versatile. They can be served as a side, a snack, or as part of a larger meal. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:

As a Side

Topped with a little butter, these biscuits are a great way to round out any meal. They go particularly well with creamy scrambled eggs and bacon.

For Breakfast

Air fryer biscuits are perfect for breakfast. For a sweet option, serve them with butter and honey or jam and fresh fruit. For a savoury breakfast, use them as a base for eggs benedict or eggs royale, or fill them with fried or scrambled egg, bacon or ham, and cheese for a breakfast sandwich.

For Brunch

Air fryer biscuits are also ideal for brunch. Try them with cheese, ham, and a fried egg, or with bacon, sausage, or cream gravy for a quick and comforting dish.

For Lunch or Dinner

Use the biscuits as a bun for sliders, or serve them with your favourite soup or stew.

As a Snack or Dessert

For a sweet treat, add some cinnamon sugar, or top with jam, fruit preserves, honey, or a sweet glaze and sprinkles. For a more savoury snack, brush the biscuits with melted butter or try them with cheese or jelly.

Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and gravy is a classic combination that is perfect for breakfast or brunch. Make a big pot of homemade sausage gravy, or try a vegetarian gravy if you prefer.

Ham and Cheese Biscuits

Slice the baked biscuits in half, add a slice of ham and cheese, and heat for one minute longer in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Donuts

For a sweet twist, turn these biscuits into air fryer donuts by cutting a hole in the centre and air frying them. Coat with cinnamon sugar or a sweet glaze after cooking.

Air Fryer Biscuit Bombs

Stuff the inside of the biscuit with something delicious, like cheese, bacon, or jelly.

With Butter and Fruit Preserves

This classic combination is a perfect pairing and a great way to enjoy freshly baked biscuits.

Frequently asked questions