As a chef, I have been asked many times about how to cook onions in the air fryer. Well, it is simpler than it seems, as all you need to do is cut the onions, season them, and put them in the air fryer. Here is a complete step-by-step recipe for those looking for assistance.
Onions In Air Fryer
Equipment
- An air fryer
- Parchment paper or air fryer basket liner.
- Silicone-tipped tongs
Ingredients
- 2 Big onions You can use any variety
- Seasoning of your choice
- 1 tbsp Avocado oil You can use olive oil or any other neutral oil
- ¼ cups of water or broth
Instructions
- Start the recipe by preheating the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit or 3 to 5 minutes.
- Cut the top of the onion and peel the outer skin and layer. Slice the onions into wedges (between ½ and ¼ inches thick).
- Once they are cut, toss them in a mixing bowl and spray some oil on them.
- In the meantime, blend the seasoning ingredients (salt, ground black pepper, and kosher salt) in a food blender to make a fine powder. Next, transfer the oiled onions to a bowl with the prepared mixture. Toss everything together to make sure all the onions are coated with the seasoning.
- Transfer the onions to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Pour the water or broth on the onions.
- Cook the mixture in the air fryer for about 15 to 20 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the onions with a silicone spatula or tongs halfway through the cooking time (7 to 10 minutes).
- First, cook them for 15 minutes and see whether they are to your desired taste and caramelization. If not, cook for another 5 minutes for the right degree of crispiness.
- Once the time is over, remove them from the air fryer basket and enjoy.
Notes
- Always cook in batches and do not overcrowd the air fryer, especially if you have a smaller one. This is because too much content in the air fryer basket can make the cooking slow and uneven.
- Adjust the time down for the second batch, as the air fryer is already too hot. You do not need 10 minutes for the second or third batch.
- Though some air fryer models do not recommend preheating, I always preheat the appliance for 2 to 3 minutes. It helps you with a crispy exterior.
- To get crispy onions from the air fryer, it is always better to spray the onions with olive oil, avocado oil, or any neutral oil. It not only adds a brown color to the onion but also prevents the non-stick surface of your air fryer basket from getting damaged.
- For extra crispiness, you can cook the onions a few minutes longer. But be careful not to burn them. You also need to consider the efficiency of your specific air fryer model; mine just do this in the additional 5 minutes.
Nutritional Value of Air Fryer Onions
Well, you do not have to worry about the calorie count when it comes to air-fried onions. Still, if you want to know, a serving of these onions consists of 49 calories, 4.3g carbs, 0.5g protein, 3.5g fat, and 0.5g fiber.
Can I Cook Onion Rings in the Air Fryer?
Yes, of course; you can cook onion rings in the air fryer. All you need is an air fryer and 1 to 14 ounces of frozen, store-bought onion rings. Here is how you can get perfectly crispy onion rings in the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
- Layer the onion rings in the air fryer. Go in batches and do not stack them over each other.
- Cook them for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the air fryer. Repeat the step with other batches as well.
- Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Serve Caramelized Air Fryer Onions?
Air fryer caramelized or fried onions are a great way to enhance the taste of your meals. I usually add these onions to burgers, smash burgers, grilled beef, taco wraps, steaks, and even balsamic salads.
How Long Can You Store Crispy Fried Onions without a Fridge or Freezer?
You should not leave the air fryer onions at room temperature for more than 2 hours. This is because these onions do not go through a thorough moisture removal as the store-bought ones. Hence, if you leave them at room temperature, they will easily go bad, so it is better to store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Have You Tried It?
Use this fried onion recipe as your guide to make crispy and crunchy onions each time with an air fryer. Do not be afraid to season them however you want. Add them to your burgers and steaks, and enjoy enhanced flavors.
