Can You Cook Eggs In An Air Fryer?
Air fryers are truly versatile, and if you think that you can’t cook eggs in them then prepare to unlock the different ways to prepare food using just your air fryer!
There is a myth surrounding the use of air fryers where people believe that these convection ovens can only cook a handful of recipes.
This is far from the truth! Air fryers are designed to be like table-top ovens, so anything that you can cook in an oven, you can cook in an air fryer too.
Can you cook eggs in an air fryer? Yes. Air fryers are more than capable of cooking eggs in various ways. You can boil, poach and even fry an egg within an air fryer and one can also argue that air frying is a better way to cook eggs than traditional methods.
To learn more about how air fryers can cook eggs and other things better, read on below!
Air Fryer Technology
Air fryers aren’t exactly new.
The concept of using hot air to cook food has been around for centuries (like how pizzas can be made in brick ovens)!
Convection ovens or air fryers work using the same principle but they do it much more efficiently thanks to modern design and engineering. Air fryers use hot air to cook food in a way that is much more controlled than ovens.
Air fryers are equipped with a heating element that gets hot as electricity is passed through it. A fan above then blows air over it which heats it as it travels downwards towards the food.
The air isn’t static here like brick ovens, though. The fan moves it around and creates a whirlpool or tornado of heat.
The air completely encapsulates the entire chamber which mimics how heat is distributed when you fry food in hot oil. With equal heat on each side and with full coverage, you get more or less the same results as deep frying.
So, when you cook an egg using a pan and a stove, you basically just cook the bottom and the heat is transferred from the base of the pan to the bottom of the egg and then upwards to the surface.
Most of the time, the yolk remains uncooked – this could either be on purpose or can also be without intention.
The thing about undercooked food is that it could be hazardous. Bacteria thrive in different environments but most of them can be treated with heat.
We recommend cooking eggs at an internal temperature of 160°F until the egg and yolk are whitish and firm.
This ensures that you don’t contract Salmonella or other bacteria. Cooking with a pan over a traditional stove can be convenient but most people might just undercook their eggs. This is where air fryers come in.
Air fryers take away the human element from the equation, which means that the chances of human error or undercooked food are drastically reduced.
In the case of eggs, air fryers can cook them from all directions instead of just from the bottom.
The air is circulated evenly across the cooking chamber and every side of the food is “touched” or exposed to hot air. This means that you would have a better and thoroughly cooked egg than if you were to cook over a stove.
But just how many ways can you cook an egg?
Cooking Eggs In An Air Fryer
There are many methods to cook an egg in an air fryer. We will discuss the 3 most popular methods used by people around the world: poaching, frying, and boiling.
Did you know, around 95 million dozen eggs are consumed annually in the US alone? That’s almost 300 eggs per person in 1 year!
So, if you are going to have 300 eggs in any given year, why not make the most of it and have them cooked the right way?
Before we begin, we would like to first dispel any myths surrounding the supposedly limited use of air fryers in the kitchen. For this reason, we would have to first understand how eggs are prepared using different methods.
For example, poached eggs are cooked using hot water where you create a small whirlpool and drop in a cracked raw egg. In this method, the water acts as a medium to cook the eggs without damaging their delicate texture.
Poached eggs are tricky and require practice and one small mistake can result in a mess. Air fryers can get rid of most of the technique of poaching an egg but you can still use a few sneaky tricks to make them even better.
Poached Eggs
To make poached eggs, take a cup and fill it halfway with water.
Now there are two ways to cook poached eggs using the air fryer. In the first method, you can simply drop a cracked egg in the water-filled cup and put it in the air fryer for about 10 minutes at 340°F.
When done, take the cup out and carefully lift the cooked egg with a spoon, and transfer on to a plate.
You can then pat dry the egg with soft tissue paper and serve.
The second method is where you would fill the cup halfway with water and then heat just the cup and the water for 10 minutes at 340°F.
Take the cup out once hot and create a small vortex using either a teaspoon or an electric milk frother.
When you see a stable and subtle vortex, drop in the cracked egg and then gently put the cup back in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 340°F.
Check for doneness and cook more if necessary. Repeat the steps above and transfer the egg to a plate and pat dry.
These two methods only require you to time the eggs. The first method is the easiest and most convenient but if you want to go a bit further then the second method would be much better.
Fried Eggs
This method cooks and fries the egg just like you would on a stove – but in a much efficient way.
To fry an egg, take an aluminum plate and place it inside the air fryer basket
Make sure that the base of the plate is smooth and without wrinkles or folds for the best results. When you have successfully fit the plate inside the basket, simply pour in or spray in your favorite oil and drop in a cracked egg.
Add salt, black pepper, or anything else that you would like and set the air fryer to 340°F for 8 minutes. The egg should be whitish and the yolk should either be firm or a bit loose. In general, the egg must be cooked all over.
If you feel that the egg(s) is undercooked, then put in the eggs for 5 more minutes or until done. Remove the plate carefully.
Remember, the plate is going to be super-hot so you will need to be careful. You can also use a spatula to lift the eggs from the plate while it is still in the basket too.
If you want a bit more flavor then we recommend adding or spraying a bit of oil on top of the eggs before air frying for better texture.
If you want runny eggs then you can try experimenting with the cooking time for better results, however, we recommend that you fully cook the egg before eating it.
Boiled Eggs
Boiling eggs is very easy and just as poaching, you’ll be required to submerge the egg in boiling water for 10 minutes until it is hard-boiled. However, with air fryers, you can cook without water.
Remember, we use water in a pot because it covers the egg completely. This way the water acts as a medium to boil the egg equally from the inside and outside.
Air fryers do the same thing except instead of water, it uses hot air, so the same principle applies.
To boil an egg in the air fryer, simply put two or three (or as many) eggs in the cooking basket, set the timer for 15 minutes, and set the temperature at 265°F.
Let the air fryer do its magic, and once done, you can remove the basket and run it over cold water.
Remember, the eggs will be very hot so we do not recommend that you take them out using your hands.
If the design of your air fryer allows it, then simply remove the basket and pour water over the eggs. Lay them out on a plate and let them sit for a while.
Then just break open the shell and voila! Hard-boiled eggs without creating a mess. The great thing about this method is that you don’t need to do anything other than put the eggs in and set the air fryer.
Other Methods Of Cooking Eggs
There are many other ways you can use your air fryer to cook eggs too. For example, our favorite is baked egg and spinach. To make this delicious recipe all you need is:
- 1 large egg
- Cooking spray or oil
- Finely chopped spinach
- Cheese of your choice
- Salt and pepper
- Ramekins or cupcake molds
- An air fryer
First, prepare the ramekin or cupcake mold by spraying in some oil. Remember, do not spray oil directly into the cooking basket as it may erode or damage the surface of the basket over time. Crack an egg and put it in each mold.
Add in some finely chopped spinach and throw in some cheese too. We recommend using cheddar or mozzarella.
Sprinkle on some salt and pepper and then with a small spoon gently mix only the egg white. You would want to keep the yolk intact so be careful.
You can also sprinkle some extra salt and pepper over the yolk if you would like. Once all the molds are ready place them inside the cooking basket and set the temperature for 330°F and cook for about 10 minutes.
Check for doneness and serve this delicious recipe while it’s hot. If you feel that the eggs need more time then throw them in the basket for 3-4 more minutes and then check for doneness. The idea here is to try to keep the yolk a bit runny.
If you dislike runny yolks then you can just cook it through.
Things To Look Out For
Air fryers come in different sizes so it would be wise if you were to become accustomed to the cooking time and temperature for your particular model.
Bigger air fryers may require more time as they have a bigger cooking chamber.
However, you can always consult with the manufacturer or salesperson to learn more about cooking times.
Once you have built enough intuition, you can write the prep time for each recipe down on a post-it and paste it on a wall near the air fryer.
Remember, air fryers are super versatile so you can also use your imagination and a bit of experimentation to come up with new and different ways to cook food.
Anything that ovens can do, air fryers can arguably do better. It’s just a matter of problem-solving!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve gone over how to cook eggs in an air fryer, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!
Can I cook multiple eggs at a time?
Yes, you can cook as many eggs as you can fit in the air fryer. These appliances are built in a way where they circulate air evenly all across the cooking chamber.
Most air fryers are designed to properly circulate heat so you may not even need to flip or move the food around while cooking too.
Can eggs explode in an air fryer?
Eggs can not explode inside air fryers. Even if there is a small crack on the shell of an egg, it will just ooze out and create a mess but it will not explode.
Heat is equally distributed within an air fryer so the chances of it cracking open while cooking are low, but for any explosions, the chances are next to impossible.
How long do eggs take to cook in an air fryer?
Eggs don’t require that much cooking time and will usually cook in around 10-12 minutes at 330-425°F. You may have to refer to your recipe of choice for more information on cooking times and temperatures.
Can you boil and poach an egg at the same time?
Yes, you can boil and poach an egg at the same time. This is a huge advantage of air fryers since they can cook the same food in multiple ways at the same time.
To boil an egg, just keep the egg inside the chamber. To poach the egg, put it in a mug that is half-full with water.
Simply turn on the air fryer and set the timer for 10 minutes and the temperature to 330-425°F and it should cook both eggs at the same time.
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