Air Fryer Croutons
Croutons are a delicious topper for everything from salads to soups. But why buy premade croutons when it's so simple to make them yourself with the help of your air fryer? The next time you're craving some crunch on top of your salad, try this simple recipe for air fryer croutons! Once you make this homemade version, you'll never want to eat store-bought croutons again.
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What Do I Need to Make Air Fryer Croutons?
You won't believe how easy it is to make croutons at home! And when you use your air fryer, you can speed up the cook time and have fresh croutons for your salad in a matter of minutes. To make your own garlic croutons, you'll need:
- White bread
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Italian seasoning
Looking for a way to use these delicious homemade croutons? Give these reader favorite salad recipes a try!
Basil Cucumber Tomato Salad | Rainbow Salad with Yogurt Herb Dressing | Easy Broccoli Cauliflower Crunch Salad | Easy Seven Layer Salad Recipe
How Do I Make Air Fryer Croutons?
Since this easy recipe has just three steps, you can whip it up with just a few minutes of prep work. To make homemade croutons using your air fryer, just follow these easy instructions:
Step One: Prepare the Bread
To make croutons in the air fryer, start by preheating the air fryer to 375 degrees. After that, cut the bread into one-inch squares and transfer the pieces to a large mixing bowl.
Step Two: Season the Bread
Add the olive oil to the bowl and toss the bread until each piece is coated in oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning over the top of the bread pieces and toss to coat each piece in spices.
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Step Three: Air Fry the Croutons
Spread the bread pieces in an even layer in the air fryer basket or tray, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. Cook the croutons at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, until the croutons are crispy and golden.
Note: Air Fryer cook times can vary between make and model of appliance.
Can You Cook Croutons in the Air Fryer?
Making croutons in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to prepare them! That's because you can cook your homemade croutons in just 10 minutes using this handy appliance. And with these baking tips, you can be sure your croutons taste amazing every time you make them:
- Spread the bread evenly in the basket. The key to ensuring all your croutons are cooked evenly is to make sure they aren't touching in the air fryer basket. That means you'll probably need to cook your croutons in batches.
- Evenly coat the pieces in oil. The olive oil is essential to getting a crispy crouton, so you should be sure that every piece of bread is fully coated for a crunchy exterior. As you're tossing the bread pieces in oil, pay attention to each piece to make sure all the bread is fully coated on both sides.
How Do You Keep Homemade Croutons Crispy?
It will be difficult to keep yourself from eating all these delicious croutons in one sitting! But if you have leftovers, you'll want to make sure to store them properly to ensure they stay crispy. Follow these storage tips to ensure your croutons don't become stale:
- Let the croutons cool completely. Before storing your croutons, it's essential that you allow them to cool completely. If they're placed in a storage container while they're still warm, the steam from the croutons will cause the bread to soften immediately.
- Store them in an airtight container. After the croutons have cooled, place them in an airtight container, like a zip-top bag or plastic storage container. Make sure to remove as much air as possible from the container before sealing it.
- Keep the croutons in a cool, dry place. The last step to keeping your homemade croutons crispy is to make sure they placed in a cool, dry place. Humidity can cause the croutons to soften, so place the storage container in the pantry or a cabinet to help protect them from extra moisture in the air.
How Long Are Homemade Croutons Good For?
If you follow the storage instructions listed above, your homemade croutons will be good for up to one week. But they'll taste the best after the first couple of days. After that, they may start to soften. But you can always reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes to help them crisp up.
Homemade Crouton Flavors
These garlic croutons are perfect for adding some crunch to a variety of dishes. But it's not the only flavor combination you can use when making croutons in your air fryer! Try these other flavor ideas the next time you make this easy recipe:
- Fresh or dried herbs. Add some herb flavor to your croutons by mixing in some fresh or dried thyme, basil, oregano, or dill.
- Spicy croutons. Mix some spices into your croutons by adding some chipotle powder or spiced paprika to the bowl with the oil.
- Parmesan. Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese over the top of your garlic croutons right after they're finished baking.
- Garlic butter. Substitute melted butter for the olive oil in the recipe for a garlic butter flavor.
Air Fryer Croutons
Ingredients
- 5 slices white bread
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the bread into one-inch squares and transfer the pieces to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the olive oil to the bowl and toss the bread until each piece is coated in oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning over the top of the bread pieces and gently toss to coat each piece in spices.
- Spread the bread pieces in an even layer in the air fryer basket or tray, making sure not to overcrowd the basket.
- Cook the croutons at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until the croutons are crispy and golden.
