Air-Fried Garlic Butter: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Garlic butter is a delicious addition to many dishes, and it's easy to make in an air fryer. The air fryer method is quicker than oven roasting, and it won't heat up your whole house! You can use garlic butter to add flavour to steak, scallops, soups, salad dressings, pasta, bread, and more. Here's how to make it.

How to make garlic butter

Ingredients

• Butter
• Fresh parsley
• Garlic
• Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• Salt
• Olive oil

Method

• Place softened butter, finely minced parsley, minced garlic, and (optional) Worcestershire sauce in a small mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
• Lay a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on the counter and place the butter mixture on it. Wrap and shape the butter into a log, then twist the ends of the paper to secure it.
• Chill the garlic butter in the refrigerator.

Air-Fryer Roasted Garlic (optional)

If you want to add roasted garlic to your garlic butter, you can roast garlic cloves in your air fryer. This is a quick and easy way to add extra garlic flavor to many dishes.

• Keeping the garlic bulb in its shell, slice off the top to expose the inner cloves. Place the cut bulb in a piece of aluminum foil large enough to tightly wrap the entire bulb.
• Drizzle each head of garlic with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil so that it coats the exposed cloves and drips down the outside of the bulb. Secure the entire head of garlic tightly in the aluminum foil, keeping the top slightly exposed.
• Set your air fryer to 390°F/198°C. Put the foil-wrapped garlic bulbs in the air fryer basket and roast for 20-25 minutes, until the top of the garlic bulb begins to caramelize and turn golden brown.
• When the top of the garlic has turned golden brown and reached caramelization, remove it from the air fryer with tongs and oven mitts. Let it cool for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the individual garlic cloves from their shells by gently squeezing the bottom of the roasted garlic bulb into a dish or piece of foil.
• Add the roasted garlic to your garlic butter mixture and mix until well combined.

Storage

Store your garlic butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for later use.

Choosing the right air fryer

Basket vs Oven-Style

The first decision to make is whether to go for a basket-style or oven-style air fryer. Basket-style air fryers are more basic, affordable, and compact. They have a tub or basket that you slide out to put your food in and often have dishwasher-safe parts, making them easier to clean. Oven-style air fryers, also known as multi-ovens, are essentially toaster ovens with additional features such as air-frying, roasting, and dehydrating. They tend to be more expensive and high-tech, with larger capacities that can fit a whole chicken or a large turkey.

Size and Capacity

Air fryers come in various sizes, from small 2-quart models suitable for one or two people to larger options that can accommodate a family. Consider how much food you'll need to cook at once and choose a size accordingly. Keep in mind that larger air fryers may take longer to cook, while smaller ones can cook faster and more efficiently.

Advanced Features

Air fryers can range from simple machines with basic controls to those with multiple preset cooking functions and smart programs. Consider whether you want a model with features like dehydration, baking, rotisserie cooking, or specific food presets. These additional functions can be handy, but they may also increase the cost.

Price

Air fryers can vary significantly in price, from as low as $30 to several hundred dollars for high-end models. You don't necessarily need to spend a lot to get a good air fryer, as even basic models can produce excellent results. However, investing a little more can get you a better build, more power, and additional features.

Brand and Warranty

Look for reputable brands that offer a reasonable warranty period. This can give you some peace of mind and indicate the manufacturer's confidence in the product. Check out brands like Black+Decker, Chefman, Cosori, Cuisinart, Dash, Elite Gourmet, Gourmia, GoWise, Hamilton Beach, Instant, Ninja, Oster, and PowerXL.

Preparing the garlic

Step 1: Cut and Season the Garlic

Start by cutting off the top part of the garlic bulb, exposing the inner cloves. It is important to ensure that each clove is slightly exposed, as this will help achieve even caramelization. Place the cut garlic bulb on a square piece of aluminium foil. Add a pinch of salt to the exposed cloves and drizzle them with olive oil. You can also add some fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil at this stage for extra flavour.

Step 2: Wrap the Garlic

Wrap the garlic head tightly in the foil, bringing the sides of the foil up and around the garlic. Make sure to keep the top of the garlic head slightly exposed. This will allow the garlic to roast in the olive oil and caramelize.

Step 3: Air Fry the Garlic

Preheat your air fryer to between 380-400°F (190-198°C). The exact temperature may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model. Once preheated, place the foil-wrapped garlic into the air fryer basket or on the shelf. Roast the garlic for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on it, and remove it from the air fryer when the top of the garlic starts to turn golden brown and caramelize.

Step 4: Cool and Squeeze

Carefully remove the roasted garlic from the air fryer using oven mitts or tongs, as it will be very hot. Let the garlic cool for at least 10 minutes. Then, unwrap the foil and gently squeeze the bottom of the garlic bulb to release the cloves. They should easily slide out of their shells. Your roasted garlic is now ready to be used in your garlic butter recipe!

Storage Tips:

If you have any leftover roasted garlic cloves, you can store them in an airtight container, glass jar, or freezer bag. Submerge the cloves completely in extra virgin olive oil and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Roasted garlic will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer when stored this way.

Cooking the garlic

To cook the garlic, you'll need a whole head of garlic, keeping the bulb intact with the shell on, a good-quality oil such as extra virgin olive oil, aluminium foil, oven mitts, and tongs.

Firstly, cut off a small amount from the bottom of the garlic bulb to expose the inner cloves. Place the cut bulb on a piece of aluminium foil large enough to wrap the entire bulb. Drizzle each head of garlic with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil, so that it coats the exposed cloves and drips down the outside of the bulb. Secure the garlic head tightly in the foil, keeping the top slightly exposed.

Preheat your air fryer to between 380-400°F/190-198°C. Put the foil-wrapped garlic bulbs in the air fryer basket or on the shelf (for oven-type air fryers). Roast for 16-25 minutes, until the top of the garlic bulb begins to caramelize and turn golden brown.

When the garlic is ready, carefully remove it from the air fryer using oven mitts and tongs, as the steam escaping from the foil pouch will be very hot. Let the garlic cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the individual cloves from their shells by gently squeezing the bottom of the roasted garlic bulb.

Storing roasted garlic

Roasted garlic cloves can be stored in an airtight container, glass jar, or freezer bag. Cover the cloves completely with extra virgin olive oil and store in the fridge or freezer. Roasted garlic will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge if submerged in oil, or for about 6 months in the freezer.

For ready-to-use portions, place a specific amount of garlic cloves in an ice cube tray, cover with olive oil, and wrap tightly with plastic wrap before storing in the freezer.

Storing the garlic

Storing Roasted Garlic Cloves:

• Allow the roasted garlic to cool down completely before storing.
• Gently squeeze the roasted garlic bulb to remove the individual cloves from their shells.
• Place the garlic cloves in an airtight container, glass jar, or freezer-safe storage bag.
• Cover the cloves completely with extra virgin olive oil. Ensure they are fully submerged.
• Seal the container or bag tightly and store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Roasted garlic cloves can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks if submerged in oil.
• In the freezer, roasted garlic cloves can be stored for about 6 months.

Storing in Ready-to-Use Portions:

• Place individual garlic cloves in an ice cube tray.
• Pour extra virgin olive oil into each section of the ice cube tray to cover the cloves.
• Wrap the tray tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the freezer.
• When ready to use, pop out the desired number of garlic cubes and thaw them at room temperature before adding them to your recipes.

Storing Raw Garlic:

If you are storing raw garlic cloves or a whole garlic bulb, here are some tips:

• Store raw garlic cloves or bulbs in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a pantry or cabinet.
• Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as this can cause them to sprout or spoil faster.
• Raw garlic can be stored for up to several weeks or even months, depending on the storage conditions.
• You can also peel and mince garlic cloves and store them in a jar covered with olive oil in the refrigerator. This will extend their shelf life and make them convenient to use in recipes.

Frequently asked questions