Your ultimate guide to air fryer vegetables! How to air fry virtually any vegetable into perfectly cooked, healthy deliciousness.
In today’s edition of “What Food Can You Cook In The Air Fryer” … vegetables! Specifically, all the vegetables. Cooking your vegetables in the air fryer gives you a result similar to roasting, but slightly crispier on the outside. So today I’m walking you through how to cook virtually any veggie in your trusty air fryer.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll break down our vegetables into two categories: tender and firm. Tender veggies, like zucchini and tomato, are quicker cooking than their tougher friends, like butternut and beets. And you can even throw in your frozen veggies! Click the links below to jump around the post:
- Tender vegetables in an air fryer
- Firm vegetables in an air fryer
- Frozen vegetables in an air fryer
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Vegetables Video
I used a Philips Air Fryer (affiliate link) to make all of these air fryer potato recipes and absolutely love it, though any air fryer should do the job! (Curious about which air fryer is right for you? We rounded up the best air fryers here.)
How to Air Fry Tender Vegetables
Any quick cooking veggie will fall into the Tender Vegetable category. These are great for busy weeknights when you need to get a vegetable on the table! It includes veggies like:
- Crucifers (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
- Soft Veggies (like bell pepper, tomato)
- Thin Veggies (like asparagus)
To cook tender vegetables in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 C). Prep your veggies by chopping them to the size you want, optionally drizzling with oil (this will make them a bit more roasted tasting in the end). Add to your air fryer in as flat of a layer as possible and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan once or twice during cooking to promote even cooking.
How to Air Fry Firm Vegetables
When I think of roasted veggies, the firm vegetables usually come to mind. These guys take a bit longer to cook, but oh is it worth it! Firm vegetables include:
- Root Vegetables (carrots, beets, potato, parsnip)
- Winter Squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin)
To cook firm vegetables in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 C). Prep your veggies by chopping them to the size you want (remember: smaller pieces cook faster!) Optionally drizzle with oil and add to your air fryer in as flat of a layer as possible. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan a few times during cooking to promote even cooking.
How to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
You can even use your air fryer to cook frozen vegetables! Figure out which category your veggie falls under (tender or firm, see notes above), then just add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the veggies having to thaw during the cooking process. It’s crucial when cooking frozen vegetables in your air fryer to give them space! Be sure there is some room between your veggies to ensure water can evaporate and they can become perfectly roasted.
I used a Philips Air Fryer (affiliate link) to make all of these air fryer vegetable recipes and absolutely love it! You can get a bunch of handy accessories like a baking pan or grill skewers (though I just used the basics to make these air fried vegetables). Enjoy!
Air Fryer FAQs
Is air fried food healthy? Air frying is healthier than deep frying because you need much less (or no) oil. It is similar in healthiness to conventional ovens, though it’s much quicker cooking.
Do air fryers need oil? Nope! Air fryers work by circulating hot air, which makes your food crispy without the need for oil. If you do add oil, it should be directly on the food (for example, rubbed onto vegetables before air frying).
Why does my air fryer smoke? The bottom of your baking pan may be oily. Simply clean it out to prevent the oil from smoking. I also like to place my air fryer under the stove hood so I can fan away the smell of cooking food.
Have a question not answered in this post? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
For more information, please see more information about Roast root vegetables air fryer
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