Air-Fried Schnitzel: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Schnitzel is a popular dish in Germany, Austria and Israel, and can be made with veal, pork, beef or chicken. This paragraph will focus on how to make chicken schnitzel in an air fryer. Chicken schnitzel is a delicious, easy-to-make, healthy and low-fat dish that can be made in an air fryer. The chicken is coated in breadcrumbs and then fried in a small amount of oil in the air fryer, resulting in a crispy and juicy schnitzel. The exact cook time will depend on the thickness of the schnitzel and the power of the air fryer, but it should be cooked until golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.

Schnitzel meat preparation

Schnitzel is made with a thin cut of boneless meat. You can use chicken, veal, pork, beef or chicken. For chicken schnitzel, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs.

If you are using chicken breasts, it is recommended to use smaller ones with the tenders removed. The tender is a small piece of meat found under the chicken breast, which can be awkward to work with when making schnitzel.

To prepare the meat, place each chicken breast between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin or a kitchen hammer/meat mallet, roll or pound the chicken breasts until they are thin, ideally about 1/4-inch thick. Be careful not to tear the chicken by pounding or rolling too aggressively. Alternatively, you can butterfly the chicken breasts or cut them in half horizontally to get a thinner cut.

Breading the schnitzel

Firstly, prepare your breading stations. Place the flour in a large bowl or shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and any desired seasonings or spices. You can add a little mayonnaise or mustard to the egg mixture for extra flavour. Finally, place the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for an extra light and crispy texture. If you're gluten-free, you can substitute with pork rinds or almond meal.

Now you're ready to start breading! Take a piece of chicken and lightly coat it in the flour, making sure to shake off any excess. This step helps to absorb moisture and will ensure the egg mixture sticks better.

Next, dip the floured chicken into the egg mixture, ensuring it's fully coated on both sides. Again, shake off any excess.

After that, it's time to move the chicken to the breadcrumbs. Generously coat the chicken with the breadcrumbs, lightly pressing them into the chicken so they stick well. You can use your dry hand to press the crumbs onto the chicken, ensuring an even and thorough coating.

Once your chicken is coated in breadcrumbs, transfer it to a plate and repeat the process with the remaining pieces of chicken. It's important to bread all the chicken pieces before moving on to the next step, as this will ensure consistent cooking.

Finally, once all the chicken pieces are breaded, you can lightly brush or spritz them with oil. This step is optional but will help you achieve an extra crispy schnitzel.

Your schnitzel is now ready to be cooked in the air fryer!

Oil alternatives

When making schnitzel in an air fryer, you can use a variety of oil alternatives to achieve a crispy texture and moist interior. Here are some options to consider:

• Oil sprayers: You can use a non-aerosol pump-style oil sprayer that has no propellant and is safe for your air fryer. Look for a sprayer with a high smoke point oil, such as avocado oil spray, which has a smoke point of 500°F and won't burn at high temperatures.
• High smoke point oils: Oils with high smoke points are ideal for air frying because they can withstand higher cooking temperatures without smoking and producing carcinogens. Examples include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and light olive oil.
• Butter alternatives: If you're looking for a dairy-free option, you can use ghee (clarified butter) as a butter alternative. Ghee has a high smoke point and is commonly used in French and Indian cuisine.
• Non-stick cooking spray: While you should avoid using non-stick cooking sprays like PAM, you can opt for a non-aerosol, pump-style cooking spray that is low in saturated fats and free of unhealthy chemicals.
• Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs can also help create a crispy coating on your schnitzel without the need for excessive oil. You can use fine white breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for a lighter and crispier texture.
• Oil-free alternatives: If you want to avoid oil altogether, you can simply omit it from the recipe. However, keep in mind that oil helps give a golden color to the schnitzel and keeps it moist during cooking.

Air fryer temperature

The air fryer temperature you should set depends on the type of schnitzel you are making and the level of "doneness" you are looking for.

For chicken schnitzel, the air fryer temperature should be set to around 360°F (180°C) to 400°F and cooked for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat reaches 165°F (74°C).

For pork schnitzel, one user recommends preheating the air fryer for 3 minutes at 400°F (200°C) and then cooking the schnitzel for a total of 10-12 minutes at the same temperature.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the schnitzel and the power of your air fryer, so it is always a good idea to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached the safe temperature of 165°F/74°C.

Additionally, some air fryers may require food to be flipped halfway through the cooking time, so be sure to check your air fryer manual for specific instructions.

Cooking time

The cooking time for schnitzel in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the schnitzel, the power of your air fryer, and the number of schnitzels being cooked at once.

Most recipes recommend cooking schnitzel in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 360-400°F/180-200°C. However, this may vary depending on the thickness of your schnitzel and the power of your air fryer. For example, one source recommends cooking schnitzel at 375°F until the tops are browned, which takes about 7-8 minutes. Then, flipping the schnitzel and cooking for another 7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

It's important to note that most air fryers can only fit two cutlets at a time, so you may need to work in batches. Additionally, some air fryers require food to be flipped over halfway through the cooking time, so be sure to check your manual.

To ensure your schnitzel is cooked properly, it's recommended to use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The schnitzel should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C or higher. If the schnitzel hasn't reached this temperature, you can air fry it for additional 2-minute intervals until it's done.

Frequently asked questions