Air-Fryer Flour Tortilla Bowls: A Quick, Easy Treat

Air Fryer Flour Tortilla Bowls are a fun and tasty way to elevate your taco nights and impress your guests. They are easy to make, customisable, and perfect for DIY tostadas or taco salads. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making these tortilla bowls, offer tips for creating a variety of fillings and toppings, and provide ideas to customise them to your taste. So, get ready to make some delicious and crispy tortilla bowls that will be a hit with your family and friends!

Choosing the right tortilla size

The tortilla size you choose will depend on the size of your air fryer. If you have a small air fryer, you will need to use 8-inch taco-size tortillas. If you have a larger air fryer, you can use either 8-inch or 10-inch tortillas. It's important to note that the bigger the tortilla, the bigger the mould should be. Just make sure the mould fits in your air fryer.

For taco-size tortillas, a 6-inch bowl and a 3.5-inch bowl can be used to create the mould. For burrito-size tortillas, a 6-inch bowl and an 8-inch bowl can be used. It's also important to ensure that the bowls you use are oven-safe.

When shaping the tortilla into a bowl, you don't want much extra tortilla hanging over the edges of the bowls. This will cause the tortilla to go in whatever direction it wants and may result in a less-than-perfect bowl shape.

If you are using corn tortillas, you may need to soften them in the microwave before air frying to make them more pliable.

Using a mould to shape the tortilla

First, you'll need to gather the right tools and ingredients. Make sure you have an air fryer and two oven-safe bowls of different sizes that will fit inside your air fryer. One bowl will be used as the outer mould, and the other will be the inner mould to weigh down the tortilla and prevent air bubbles. You'll also need flour tortillas—either taco-sized (8-inch) or burrito-sized (10-inch)—and some cooking spray or oil.

Now, let's get started with the process:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F to 375°F.
• Take a flour tortilla and spray it lightly with cooking spray or brush both sides with oil. This will help enhance the crispiness of your tortilla bowl.
• Place the tortilla, oiled side down, into the larger outer bowl. Gently press the tortilla into the bowl to start forming the bowl shape.
• Spray the tortilla with cooking spray again or brush with more oil.
• Place the smaller inner bowl on top of the tortilla. This will help weigh it down and keep the tortilla in place during cooking.
• Put the prepared bowls and tortilla setup into the air fryer.
• Air fry at 350°F to 375°F for 5 minutes. This initial cooking time helps set the tortilla bowl shape.
• Carefully remove the outer bowl from the tortilla and inner bowl setup using tongs. Be cautious, as the bowls will be hot.
• Air fry the tortilla and inner bowl for another 3 to 4 minutes. This step helps brown the outside of the tortilla bowl.
• If you're happy with the colour of your tortilla bowl, you can stop here. Otherwise, continue for additional browning.
• Remove the inner bowl from the air fryer and carefully flip over the tortilla bowl.
• Air fry the tortilla bowl for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely, until you achieve your desired level of crispness and browning. Flipping the bowl helps prevent it from flying around in the air fryer and ensures even cooking.

By using this moulding technique, you can create crispy and delicious flour tortilla bowls for your favourite taco salad fillings. Experiment with different sizes of tortillas and bowls to find the perfect fit for your air fryer, and feel free to adjust cooking times as needed.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in making flour tortilla bowls. It ensures that your tortilla bowls cook evenly and helps to achieve the desired crispy texture. The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer to is between 350°F and 375°F. For example, one source recommends preheating to 350°F for 3 minutes, while another suggests heating to 375°F.

The preheating time will depend on your air fryer model and the size of the tortilla bowls you are making. It is important to ensure that your air fryer is fully preheated before placing the tortilla bowls inside. This will help you achieve the best results in terms of both texture and cooking time.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your tortillas and shape them into bowls. First, spray both sides of your tortillas with cooking spray or oil. Then, place a large bowl or ramekin in the centre of the tortilla and gently press the tortilla into the bowl to form a bowl shape. You can also use oven-safe bowls or a taco bowl mold designed for air fryers to shape your tortillas.

Once your air fryer has preheated to the desired temperature, you can place your prepared tortilla bowls inside and begin the cooking process. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your tortilla bowls and the temperature of your air fryer, so it is important to keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Brushing the tortilla with oil

Firstly, you will need to choose a suitable oil for brushing. Avocado oil is a popular choice for this purpose, as it has a high smoke point and a neutral flavour that won't overpower the taste of your tortilla. Other options include olive oil, canola oil, or any other cooking oil with a high smoke point.

Next, lightly brush both sides of the tortilla with oil. You can use a pastry brush or even your clean fingers to apply the oil evenly. Don't be tempted to skip this step or apply too little oil, as it is essential for achieving the desired crispiness.

After brushing, you may need to wait a moment for the oil to be absorbed and for the tortilla to become pliable. Then, you can proceed to shape the tortilla into a bowl using either actual bowls or aluminium foil as a mould.

Finally, place the tortilla in the air fryer. The oil will work its magic as the air fryer does its job, resulting in a delicious, crispy tortilla bowl that is perfect for filling with your favourite taco salad ingredients.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for tortilla bowls in an air fryer will depend on the size of the tortilla and the type of air fryer you are using. For a large tortilla, you will need a bigger air fryer, such as the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer, which can fit burrito-sized tortillas. Smaller air fryers may only fit taco-sized tortillas.

Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to 350-375°F (190°C). The cooking time will vary depending on the desired crispiness of your tortilla bowl, but it generally takes around 5 minutes to form the bowl shape, and then an additional 3-5 minutes to brown the tortilla.

• Preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
• Lightly spray one side of a flour tortilla with oil and place it, oil side down, into a large outer bowl. Press the tortilla into the bowl to form a bowl shape.
• Spray the tortilla with oil again, and place a smaller inner bowl on top of the tortilla.
• Place the bowl setup into the air fryer and air fry at 350-375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
• Remove the outer bowl, leaving the tortilla and inner bowl in place. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes to brown the outside of the tortilla bowl.
• If you want additional browning, remove the inner bowl and air fry for 1-2 minutes more.

Keep in mind that cooking times may vary, so it is important to keep an eye on your tortilla bowl to prevent overcooking or burning.

Frequently asked questions