master-cooks | The Right Way To Cook Frozen Vegetables In The Air Fryer

Cooking frozen vegetables in an air fryer is a quick and efficient way to enjoy a healthy side dish without sacrificing flavor or texture. Start by preheating your air fryer to around 375°F, as a hot air fryer ensures that the vegetables cook evenly and develop a nice crisp. Do not thaw the vegetables beforehand, as the air fryer is designed to handle frozen foods directly, maintaining their nutrients and flavor. Lightly coat the frozen vegetables with a thin layer of olive oil or your preferred cooking oil, which helps enhance the crispiness and adds a delightful flavor. Season the vegetables with your choice of spices or herbs, such as garlic powder, paprika, or dried thyme, to suit your taste preferences. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and optimal airflow. Depending on the type and size of the vegetables, cook them for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even browning. Once cooked, the vegetables should be tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Serve them immediately as a nutritious and delicious addition to any meal.

Simple prep for crisp, tasty air-fried veggies

Rachel Buck suggests that one effective way to achieve even cooking is to preheat your air fryer for about three minutes before placing your frozen vegetables inside. While preheating isn’t always necessary—like when reheating leftovers—it’s especially crucial for frozen foods, which require more time to heat. Whether you’re using the Ninja 4-in-1 Air Fryer Pro or Ninja’s dual-basket model, preheating generally leads to crispier results and helps prevent soggy vegetables.

Whether you’re using a pre-packaged bag of frozen veggies or ones you’ve chopped and frozen yourself, you can whip up delicious air-fried vegetables quickly by incorporating just a few ingredients. Buck recommends, “Lightly coat the vegetables with cooking spray or toss them in a small amount of oil, then season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other spices you prefer.”

Using oil or cooking spray will enhance the crispiness of your food in the air fryer, but you won’t need as much as you would for pan-frying. Just add a couple of teaspoons of oil to a bowl of frozen vegetables along with your chosen seasonings, and mix thoroughly before placing them in the air fryer. Avoid pouring oil directly into the air fryer, as this can lead to greasy food and may cause the appliance to smoke.

The Right Way To Cook Frozen Vegetables In The Air Fryer

Simple prep for crisp, tasty air-fried veggies

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