Air-Fryer Croutons: A Crunchy, Homemade Delight

Making your own croutons in an air fryer is a simple, low-maintenance method that produces perfect results every time. Homemade croutons are superior to store-bought ones, which can get stale quickly. With an air fryer, you can transform stale or leftover bread into golden, crunchy croutons that are perfect for adding texture to salads and soups or even just snacking on. The process is straightforward: cut bread into cubes, season, and air fry for a few minutes. You can experiment with different types of bread, oils, and seasonings to find your favorite combination.

Choosing the right bread

The best part about making croutons in an air fryer is that you can use any type of bread. You can use fresh bread or day-old bread. Stale bread is perfect for making croutons as it will give you the ultimate crunch.

You can use sandwich bread, sourdough, Italian, French, baguette, white, wheat, or pumpernickel bread. You can even use gluten-free bread.

If you want to make big croutons, avoid using sandwich bread as it comes pre-sliced, and you won't be able to cut big cubes from it. If you want larger croutons, opt for a loaf of bread that you can cut into bigger pieces.

Different types of bread will give your croutons different flavours and textures. For instance, sourdough will give your croutons a complex and savoury flavour, while baguette will give you more crunchy edge pieces. White sandwich bread will give you a slightly sweet flavour and is the closest to store-bought croutons in terms of appearance and texture.

You can also experiment with different types of bread to see which one you like best.

Using oil or butter

You can use oil or butter to make croutons in an air fryer. If you're using butter, melt it before adding the bread. You can also use olive oil, avocado oil, or melted butter. For the best of both worlds, you can use half olive oil and half butter.

First, cut your bread into bite-sized cubes. You can use any type of bread, but if you want the ultimate crunch, go for stale or day-old bread.

Next, place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl. For every four slices of bread, you'll need around two to three tablespoons of oil or butter. Drizzle the oil over the bread cubes or, if using butter, carefully stir the bread to coat it well. You can also add your preferred seasonings to this mixture.

Now it's time to add the bread to the air fryer basket. Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer, making sure they're not overlapping. This will ensure even cooking.

Air fry at around 400°F for about 4-7 minutes. Keep an eye on your croutons, as they can quickly go from golden to burnt. Halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket to toss the croutons and ensure even cooking on both sides.

Once they're golden brown, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool. Your homemade croutons are now ready to be enjoyed!

Seasoning options

The seasoning options for homemade croutons in an air fryer are endless. You can use any number of spices, herbs, and seasonings to flavour your croutons. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Herbs

• Oregano
• Italian seasoning
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Parsley (dried or fresh)

Spices

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Salt and black pepper

Other Flavourings

• Parmesan cheese
• Red pepper flakes
• Ranch seasoning
• Cinnamon sugar

When choosing your seasonings, consider what you will be serving the croutons with. For example, if you are adding them to a Caesar salad, you might want to use garlic, oregano, and Parmesan cheese. If you are adding them to a soup, you might want to use onion powder and garlic powder for extra flavour.

You can also experiment with different types of bread and oils to change the flavour of your croutons. For example, you could use sourdough bread, whole wheat bread, or even gluten-free bread. For the oil, extra virgin olive oil is a popular choice, but you could also use avocado oil, melted butter, or a combination of oils/butter.

Air fryer temperature

The optimal temperature for making croutons in an air fryer is between 375°F and 400°F.

Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). At this temperature, the croutons will take between 4 and 8 minutes to cook.

However, some recipes suggest cooking at slightly lower temperatures. One recipe recommends cooking at 390°F, while another suggests 325°F (163°C).

It's important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the type of bread used, the size of the bread cubes, and the specific air fryer being used. Therefore, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the croutons while they're cooking to prevent burning.

Storage and reheating

• Store any leftover croutons in an airtight container or sealed zip lock bag for up to 1-2 weeks at room temperature.
• If you want to revive the crunch, pop the croutons in the air fryer for a quick reheat to restore crispness.
• You can also transform any leftovers into breadcrumbs! Simply pulse them in a food processor.
• If you feel like your croutons need to crisp up a little, you can always pop them in the air fryer for a couple of minutes at 400 degrees F.
• You can pop them in the oven at 300 degrees F for a few minutes to freshen them up as well.
• Once the croutons have cooled to room temperature, they should be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag.
• To freeze croutons, store them in a freezer-safe resealable bag. If they soften when defrosted, air fry them for a few minutes to give them a little crunch.

Frequently asked questions