Air Fryer Green Beans: Crispy, Quick, And Easy!

Air fryers are a great way to make crispy green beans, and they are healthier than deep-fried beans. You can use frozen or fresh green beans, but you should dry them thoroughly before cooking. You can also add a variety of seasonings, like smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, to taste. The cooking time will vary depending on the size and brand of your air fryer, but on average, it takes about 10 minutes to cook green beans in an air fryer.

Trimming the ends off the green beans

• Rinse the green beans under running water to remove any dirt or residue. You can also snap off the stems by hand or use a pair of clean scissors to trim them. This initial preparation should take no more than a couple of minutes.
• Line up a handful of green beans on a cutting board. You can cut the tips off individually with a paring knife, but this method is more time-consuming. Alternatively, you can trim them all at once with a sharp knife.
• Using a sharp chef's knife or a paring knife, cut a thin slice from the ends of the beans. You can also chop them into smaller pieces if desired, but this is optional.
• Repeat this process until all the green beans have been trimmed. It's important to ensure that they are all relatively even in size so that they cook uniformly in the air fryer.
• Once trimmed, give the beans a final rinse to remove any loose pieces and pat them dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels before adding any seasonings or coatings.
• If you're preparing a large batch of green beans, you can use the "shake and bake" method. Place the rinsed and trimmed beans in a Ziplock bag with flour, seal it, and shake until the beans are well coated. This method is quicker and easier when dealing with a large quantity of beans.

Using olive oil

Crispy Green Beans in the Air Fryer Using Olive Oil

Ingredients:

• Fresh green beans
• Olive oil
• Lemon wedges (optional)
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

• Start by rinsing your green beans and trimming off the stems. You can do this by hand or use scissors to cut them off.
• Place the green beans in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss the beans to ensure they are evenly coated.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper over the green beans and toss again to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasoning. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, chilli flakes, or lemon pepper.
• Preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F.
• Place the green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer. This will ensure they get crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beans in batches.
• Cook the green beans for 8-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Thinner beans will cook faster, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook.
• Serve immediately while they are still hot and crispy.

Tips:

• For an extra punch of flavour, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the cooked green beans.
• If you want to add some spice, use chilli oil instead of olive oil.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can cook the green beans in the oven at 400°F for 10-12 minutes.

Adding lemon wedges

Lemon wedges are a great, optional addition to your crispy green beans. They can be used to garnish the plate and add a punch of flavour to your dish.

To incorporate lemon wedges into your recipe, start by slicing a lemon into wedges. You can squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top of your crispy green beans for added flavour. You can also add a little bit of zest to your dish if you wish.

Lemon wedges are a great way to elevate your crispy green beans and add a refreshing twist to your meal.

Seasoning with salt and pepper

Firstly, prepare your green beans by washing and drying them thoroughly. Look for any stems or tips and trim them off using scissors or a sharp knife. This ensures that your beans are all roughly the same size and will cook evenly.

Next, it's time to season! Place your trimmed green beans in a large mixing bowl. Add a drizzle of olive oil, or any oil of your choice, over the beans. You only need a small amount, just enough to coat the beans lightly. Use your hands or tongs to toss the beans in the oil, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Now, it's time to add the salt and pepper. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper over the oiled beans. You can also add other seasonings at this point, such as garlic powder, chilli flakes, or lemon pepper, if you want to experiment with flavours. Again, use your hands or tongs to toss the beans, ensuring they are evenly coated in the salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings.

Once the beans are seasoned to your liking, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer. Spread the beans out in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This ensures that they cook evenly and get crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beans in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Cook the beans according to your desired level of doneness. For softer beans, cook for around 6-8 minutes. If you like them crispier, go for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them and give the basket a shake halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.

Finally, serve your crispy green beans fresh out of the air fryer. They are best enjoyed hot and crispy, so dig in as soon as they're done! You can also serve them with a squeeze of lemon juice for added flavour.

Cooking in a single layer

When cooking in a single layer, it is important to ensure that the green beans are not overcrowded in the air fryer. This is because they won't get that air fryer texture if they are stacked on top of each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the green beans in two batches.

To cook in a single layer, first trim the ends off the green beans and get rid of any stems. You might be able to snap them by hand, but if not, just use scissors to trim them. Then, add the trimmed green beans to a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss the beans to ensure they are fully coated.

Next, place the coated green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beans in two batches. Air fry at between 375°F and 400°F for 8-12 minutes, or until the green beans are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.

If you are cooking a large amount of green beans, you can use the "shake and bake" method. First, rinse the green beans and snap off the stems. Place the beans in a Ziplock bag with flour and shake until they are well coated. Then, beat some eggs and add them to the bag, gently moving the beans until they are coated. Finally, place the beans in a single layer over a bowl of breadcrumbs and gently toss until they are well coated. Air fry the beans in batches.

Frequently asked questions