Air-Fried French Bread: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Making French bread in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get homemade bread on the table without the mess. The hot air circulating around the bread makes it tender and delicious. You can use a pre-made dough, or make your own dough from scratch. If you're short on time, you can even cook frozen French bread pizzas in the air fryer!

Choosing the right flour and yeast

Selecting the Right Flour

The type of flour you use can significantly impact the texture and taste of your French bread. For this recipe, it is best to use all-purpose flour, which is readily available in most supermarkets. All-purpose flour has a moderate protein content, typically between 9 and 12%, which will give your bread the perfect balance of chewiness and softness.

Yeast Selection

Yeast is a crucial ingredient in bread-making, as it enables the dough to rise and gives the bread its airy texture. For French bread made in an air fryer, you can use either active dry yeast or instant yeast. Active dry yeast needs to be dissolved in water before use, while instant yeast can be mixed directly into the flour. Refer to the package instructions for the correct amount to use, as too much yeast can lead to an overpowering flavour.

Mixing and Kneading

Once you have measured out your flour and yeast, combine them in a mixing bowl, adding the other dry ingredients, such as salt. Create a well in the centre and gradually add the warm water, mixing until the dough begins to form. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it until it becomes smooth and elastic. This process should take around 10 minutes. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle a little more flour onto your hands and the work surface.

Proofing the Dough

After kneading, place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a damp cloth. Let the dough rest in a warm, draft-free place for 1 to 2 hours. This proofing process allows the yeast to work, producing air bubbles that will give your bread a light and airy texture.

Shaping the Dough

Once the dough has doubled in size, it's time to shape it into French rolls. Divide the dough into six equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Let these dough balls rest for 15 minutes, then flatten them with your hands and shape them into the desired French roll shape.

By following these steps and choosing the right flour and yeast, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, airy French bread in your air fryer.

Preparing the dough

To make French bread in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients: 580g of flour, 7g of yeast, 355ml of warm water, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

First, combine the yeast with warm water and give it a quick stir. Next, add the flour and salt, mixing everything together until a dough begins to form. Keep kneading the dough until it is smooth and non-sticky. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a bowl, coating it with a thin layer of oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 1-2 hours.

Once the dough has rested, remove it from the bowl and flatten it slightly with your hands. Cut the dough into six equal-sized pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Let the dough balls rest for 15 minutes. After this, take one of the balls and flatten it with your hands, turning it over and rolling it up before pinching the edges to seal them. Repeat this process with the remaining dough balls.

Place each piece of dough on a piece of parchment paper and cover them with a cloth. Let the dough rest for another hour. Before placing the dough in the air fryer, use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the middle of each piece.

Alternatively, you can use pre-made dough from your local grocery store. Simply remove the dough from the can and place it on a cutting board. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut the dough in half.

Shaping the dough

First, remove the dough from the can or package and place it on a clean, flat surface, such as a cutting board. The amount of dough you will need depends on the size of your air fryer. For a smaller air fryer, you may need to cut the dough in half.

Next, divide the dough into equal-sized pieces. For French bread rolls, you can divide the dough into six pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a ball and let them rest for about 15 minutes. This will make the dough easier to work with and help relax the gluten, resulting in softer bread.

Now, it's time to shape each dough ball into a French roll. Flatten the dough with your hands and stretch it out a bit. Then, flip it over and roll it up, pinching the edges to seal them. This will create a smooth surface on top. You can also try different shaping techniques, such as rolling the dough into a baguette shape or a longer loaf.

After shaping, place the dough on a piece of parchment paper. Cover it with a cloth and let it rest for another hour. This final proof will give the dough its final rise before baking.

Before placing the dough in the air fryer, use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the middle of each roll. This will help control the expansion of the dough during baking and create a classic French bread look. Optionally, you can cook the bread in a pan for 1-2 minutes before transferring it to the air fryer. This will make it easier to remove the parchment paper.

Finally, carefully place the shaped dough into the air fryer basket or tray. If desired, spray the dough with water to create a crispier crust. Set the air fryer to the recommended temperature and time, typically around 400°F for 10 minutes, and your French bread will be ready to enjoy!

Air fryer settings

The first step to making French bread in an air fryer is to preheat the air fryer. If you are using a Cosori 5.8 qt air fryer, preheat to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. If you are using a different model, you may need to adjust the temperature and timing accordingly.

Once the air fryer is preheated, it is time to prepare the bread. If you are using a pre-made dough, remove it from the can and place it on a cutting board. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut the dough in half. For example, the Omni Air Fryer can fit an entire loaf.

After preparing the dough, it is important to spray the air fryer tray with olive oil to prevent sticking. Then, place the bread into the air fryer basket. The temperature and timing will vary depending on the type of bread you are making.

For French bread, set the air fryer to 320 degrees F for 6 minutes. Check the bread after the time is up, and if it is not done, add another 2 minutes. Remember that every air fryer is different, so you may need to adjust the timing accordingly.

If you are making French bread pizza, the settings will be slightly different. First, slice the French bread in half lengthwise, and then cut each piece into the desired size for your pizzas. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F, and cook the bread for 3 minutes to toast it.

Once the bread is toasted, remove it from the air fryer and add your desired toppings. Then, return the pizzas to the air fryer and cook at 370 degrees F for 5-6 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

It is important to note that toppings may fly off during cooking, depending on how light they are and how strong your air fryer fan is. To prevent this, you can use an air fryer rack to keep the toppings in place.

Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce the timing by a few minutes.

Serving suggestions

French bread made in an air fryer can be served as a side dish to accompany any meal. It can be served with a pat of butter, or seasoned with garlic powder and oregano and garnished with melted butter and garlic for a homemade garlic bread.

French bread can also be used as a base for French bread pizza. To make French bread pizza, slice the loaf of French bread in half lengthwise, and then cut each piece in half. Mix olive oil with garlic powder and oregano and brush the mixture over the cut side of the French bread. Place the seasoned French bread into the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes to toast the bread. Once toasted, remove the bread from the air fryer and spread each piece with a thin layer of pizza sauce, then top with cheese and your desired toppings. Return the pizzas to the air fryer and cook until the cheese is melted.

French bread pizzas can be customized with a variety of toppings and sauces. For example, you can replace the pizza sauce with pesto sauce and top with sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. Alternatively, you can spread barbecue sauce, followed by leftover rotisserie chicken, and Monterey jack cheese for a BBQ chicken pizza. For a breakfast option, replace the seasoned olive oil with softened butter, and top with scrambled eggs, cooked breakfast sausage, and sliced cheddar cheese.

French bread pizzas can be served as a quick lunch, late-night snack, or appetizer. They can also be made ahead of time and frozen for later consumption. To reheat, simply air fry the frozen pizzas for 4-5 minutes at 380°F until heated through and crispy.

Frequently asked questions