Air Fryer Grilled Cheese: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Making grilled cheese in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy this classic comfort food. The air fryer method is essentially fail-proof, resulting in crispy bread and perfectly melted cheese. It is also a healthier option compared to traditional frying methods as it requires less oil and doesn't leave your house smelling like deep frying.

To make grilled cheese in an Instant Vortex Air Fryer, you'll need bread, cheese, and butter or mayonnaise. You can experiment with different types of bread, such as white, sourdough, French, wheat, or Texas toast, and choose your favourite cheese, including cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or American.

The process is simple: spread butter or mayonnaise on the bread slices, place the cheese in between, and secure the sandwich with toothpicks if needed. Preheat your air fryer to around 360-390°F, and cook the sandwich for about 4-8 minutes, flipping it halfway through, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

How to Make Grilled Cheese in an Instant Vortex Air Fryer

Choosing the right bread

The bread you choose for your grilled cheese sandwich is important. It needs to be sturdy enough to hold the cheese and other fillings without falling apart. It should also be thick enough to create a contrast between the crisp exterior and the soft, warm interior.

A classic grilled cheese sandwich is made with plain white sandwich bread. However, you can use other types of bread such as:

• Sourdough
• French bread
• Wheat bread
• Texas toast (a thicker slice of white bread)
• Rye bread
• Pumpernickel

If you want to get creative, you can even use gluten-free bread, just make sure it's thick enough so that it doesn't fall apart.

When using an air fryer, it's important to ensure that the bread doesn't fly off or move around due to the intense air circulation. To prevent this, you can use toothpicks to secure the sandwich or place a trivet or air fryer-safe accessory on top of the sandwiches.

Additionally, the type of bread you choose can affect the cooking time. Thicker breads, such as Texas toast, may require a longer cooking time compared to thinner slices of sandwich bread.

Selecting the best cheese

The cheese is the star of the grilled cheese sandwich, so it's important to choose the right one. Here are some tips and recommendations for selecting the best cheese for your Instant Vortex Air Fryer grilled cheese sandwich:

Melting Qualities

When selecting a cheese for your grilled cheese sandwich, it's important to consider its melting qualities. You want a cheese that will melt easily and create that irresistible gooey centre. Cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, American cheese, Swiss cheese, and provolone are known for their excellent melting qualities. These cheeses tend to be softer and have a higher fat content, which contributes to their meltability.

Flavour

While meltability is important, don't forget about flavour! A good vintage cheddar, gruyere, or gouda can add a depth of flavour to your sandwich. These cheeses have a more pronounced flavour that can elevate your grilled cheese. You can also mix different cheeses to create a more complex flavour profile. For example, combining mozzarella with a sharper, more flavourful cheese like cheddar or gruyere can give you the best of both worlds in terms of melt and taste.

Texture

Consider the texture you want in your grilled cheese. If you're looking for that classic cheese pull, then mozzarella is your best bet. Its stretchy, stringy texture is perfect for achieving that gooey, Instagram-worthy cheese pull. On the other hand, if you prefer a creamier texture, cheeses like American cheese, havarti, or Monterey Jack can give you a smoother, more even melt.

Freshness

For the ultimate grilled cheese experience, opt for freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded or pre-sliced cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking agents that can affect its melting properties, resulting in a gloopier, rubberier texture. Grating your own cheese ensures a smoother, softer melt.

Personal Preference

At the end of the day, the "best" cheese for your grilled cheese sandwich comes down to your personal preference. Experiment with different cheeses and find the ones that make your taste buds sing. Whether it's a sharp cheddar, a creamy havarti, or a blend of several cheeses, the options are endless. You can even get creative and add some herbs or spices to your cheese for an extra flavour boost.

Adding extra ingredients

For a fancier sandwich, consider adding thinly sliced red or green apples, tomatoes, or pears, or spreading some orange marmalade on your bread for a touch of sweetness. This can pair well with saltier cheeses.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can try more unique additions, such as avocado, spicy mayo, a fried egg, or pickles. You can also get creative with different types of bread, like sourdough, French bread, wheat bread, rye, or pumpernickel.

And remember, the beauty of grilled cheese is that it's versatile and easy to customise, so feel free to experiment with different combinations of cheeses and add-ins to find your perfect sandwich!

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for grilled cheese in an Instant Vortex Air Fryer vary depending on the recipe and the desired level of crispiness. However, most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to a temperature between 360°F and 390°F.

For example, one recipe suggests preheating the air fryer to 360°F and cooking the sandwich for about 4-6 minutes, flipping it halfway through. Another recipe recommends preheating the air fryer to 375°F and cooking the sandwich for a total of 7-16 minutes, depending on the desired level of doneness.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of the air fryer and the thickness of the bread. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a close eye on the sandwich while it is cooking and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Additionally, some recipes suggest using toothpicks to secure the sandwich and prevent the top slice of bread from flying off due to the intense air circulation inside the air fryer.

Serving suggestions

The classic grilled cheese sandwich is a comforting, indulgent dish, and the air fryer is the perfect way to cook it. The bread is crispy, the cheese is melted, and it's a quick and easy meal. But what should you serve with your air fryer grilled cheese? Here are some ideas:

• Soup: Grilled cheese sandwiches are commonly served with a bowl of soup. Try classic tomato soup, roasted red pepper soup, butternut squash soup, or broccoli cheese soup.
• Salad: For a lighter option, pair your grilled cheese with a simple garden salad, fruit salad, or a crunchy Chinese cabbage salad.
• Vegetables: Roasted brussels sprouts and asparagus go well with grilled cheese, or try air fryer roasted vegetables like rosemary potatoes or cheese fries.
• Fries: For a comforting, indulgent meal, serve your grilled cheese with sweet potato fries or crunchy Air Fryer breakfast potatoes.
• Other Sides: How about some Air Fryer onion rings or Air Fryer Carrot Fries?

For a complete meal, you can also add some protein to your grilled cheese sandwich, such as bacon, ham, or strips of cooked bacon. Or, for a fancier sandwich, add some thinly sliced apples, tomatoes, or pears for a touch of sweetness.

Frequently asked questions