How To Cook Bread In An Air Fryer

As a busy parent, I know that time is limited, so finding quick and simple recipes is key. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to cook perfect bread in an air fryer with just a few ingredients and minimal effort.

Whether you want to make bread from scratch or simply reheat refrigerated dough, your air fryer can handle it with crispy, evenly-cooked results every time. Just adjust cooking times based on size and thickness.

Bread is a staple in most households. While store-bought loaves can certainly do the job, there’s nothing quite like the taste and smell of freshly baked bread. An air fryer offers a quick and convenient way to bake bread at home, without heating up your entire oven.

Why Cook Bread in an Air Fryer?

There are a few reasons why an air fryer is a great tool for bread-making:

• It preheats quickly: Most air fryers only take 3-5 minutes to preheat, unlike a traditional oven which can take 15-20 minutes. This means you can prepare bread faster.
• Uses less energy: Air fryers require less electricity than large ovens to cook food. This makes them more energy-efficient for smaller tasks like baking a loaf of bread.
• Even cooking: The hot air circulates around the bread, cooking the dough evenly on all sides. No more unevenly cooked loaves!
• Versatility: An air fryer isn’t just for bread. It can also cook meat, veggies, and more. Consider it a multi-tasking kitchen tool.
• Compact size: Air fryers take up minimal counter space, making them perfect for small kitchens.

Air Fryer Bread Recipes

Ready to get baking? Try these fun and easy bread recipes in your air fryer:

Basic Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1⁄4 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, yeast and salt. Add water and oil and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel and let rise for 1 hour.
4. Punch down dough to release air bubbles. Form into a ball and place in air fryer basket lightly coated with oil.
5. Bake at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped.
6. Remove from basket and let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Makes 6 slices

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf French bread, halved lengthwise
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1⁄2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic and Italian seasoning.
2. Spread garlic butter evenly over cut sides of bread. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
3. Place bread halves side by side in air fryer basket.
4. Bake at 325°F for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted.
5. Slice and serve warm.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1⁄2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1⁄2 cup raisins

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, milk, water and melted butter.
3. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined. Fold in raisins.
4. Transfer batter to a lightly oiled loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
5. Bake in air fryer at 300°F for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let bread cool before removing from pan.

Tips for Baking Bread in an Air Fryer

Follow these tips for flawlessly baked bread every time:

• Use bread flour – Bread flour has more gluten than all-purpose flour which gives bread structure to rise tall and firm. The high protein content helps develop the gluten.
• Knead thoroughly – Spend 5-10 minutes kneading dough to activate the gluten. The dough should be smooth and elastic.
• Let it rise – Allow dough to proof until doubled in size before baking. This lightens the texture.
• Spray with oil – Lightly coat air fryer basket with oil before adding dough for even browning.
• Don’t overfill – Dough should only fill 2/3 of the air fryer basket. Overcrowding prevents proper rising.
• Control temperature – Bake bread around 300°F, adjusting as needed. Higher heat can cause excess browning on the outside before the inside cooks through.

Key Takeaways

• An air fryer can bake bread just as well as a traditional oven with less time and energy.
• Bread flour helps create the proper gluten structure for rises and texture.
• Let dough adequately proof and rise before baking.
• Control air fryer temperature (around 300°F) for even cooking without burning.
• Try fun add-ins like cheese and raisins to make flavored bread.