How to Air Fry Asparagus
There are so many amazing ways to use your air fryer to cook delicious and healthy meals. The next time you're looking for a quick and easy side dish, you have to try asparagus in the air fryer. It's a simple way to cook this healthy side in minutes, and the crispy, yet tender texture can't be beat. Keep reading to learn how to air fry asparagus for your dinner tonight.
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What Do I Need to Air Fry Asparagus?
It doesn't get much easier than this simple air fryer asparagus! That's because you only need four ingredients to make a healthy side dish for dinner. To air fry asparagus, you'll need:
- Asparagus spears
- Avocado Oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
How Do I Air Fry Asparagus?
Have a simple side dish ready for dinner in just three steps and in less than 10 minutes with this quick and easy recipe! Here's how to air fry asparagus:
Step One: Prepare the Asparagus Spears
Start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees for about five minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, trim the tough ends off each piece of asparagus spear to prepare it for cooking.
Step Two: Season the Asparagus
Place the trimmed asparagus spears in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Brush each piece evenly with avocado oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the pieces evenly in seasoning.
Step Three: Air Fry the Asparagus
Cook the asparagus in the air fryer for 5 to 8 minutes, removing the basket to toss the vegetables halfway through the cook time. Continue cooking until the spears are tender-crisp and slightly charred.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Asparagus in the Air Fryer?
Using your air fryer to prepare asparagus is a quick and easy method for cooking your favorite veggie! Once the air fryer is preheated, it takes between 5 and 8 minutes to fully cook the asparagus. Remember that the cook time will vary depending on the thickness of your asparagus and your air fryer. Thicker spears will take longer to cook than thinner pieces.
What Temperature to Air Fry Asparagus?
The key to getting that delicious tender-crisp texture you love in perfectly cooked asparagus is to air fry the spears at a high temperature for a short time. The best temperature for air frying asparagus is 400 degrees. This will ensure the pieces are fully cooked and have a crispy char on the outside.
How Do You Know When Asparagus is Done Frying?
There's nothing worse than asparagus that is under or over-cooked! Luckily, it's pretty simple to tell when your spears are finished cooking. You'll know your asparagus is ready to eat when it's tender in the center with a slight crunch on the outside. You'll also notice the color change from bright to dark green.
Undercooked asparagus will be difficult to pierce with a fork, so it must be cooked longer. But overcooked asparagus will turn mushy and limp.
How Do You Store Air-Fried Asparagus?
This asparagus recipe tastes best right after it's cooked. But if you have some extras during dinner, you can transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. Your cooked asparagus will stay good for up to four days before it starts to get soggy.
Your cooked asparagus can also be stored in the freezer. Transfer the spears to an airtight container or freezer bag, and they will stay good for up to three months. Make sure to allow the asparagus to thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating it.
To reheat the asparagus, you can warm it in the microwave or return it to the air fryer and cook it at 350 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes until heated through.
Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe Ideas
Now that you know the basics of air-frying asparagus, you can have fun customizing your side dish! Try these recipe ideas the next time you prepare asparagus to create a delicious veggie dish for every meal.
- Add more seasoning. Since this simple recipe use basic seasonings, like salt and pepper, it's easy to customize your side dish with more flavor. Try using simple herbs like thyme or rosemary for a fresh flavor. Or make things easier with a seasoning blend, like Italian or Cajun seasoning. You can even spice things up with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Top it with cheese. You can't go wrong by adding some cheese to your veggies! Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese over the top of the warm asparagus spears before serving.
- Toss it with bacon. Bacon and asparagus go great together, so adding some crumbled bacon just makes sense. After the asparagus has finished cooking, sprinkle some bacon pieces over the top and return the pan to the air fryer for one more minute to crisp the bacon pieces.
How to Air Fry Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus spears
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any high-smoke-point oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Trim the tough ends of the asparagus spears by snapping or cutting them off.
- Place the trimmed asparagus spears to the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Brush with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over the oiled asparagus spears, toss to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Cook the asparagus in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The asparagus should be tender-crisp and slightly charred.
- Once cooked, remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Notes
Feel free to add additional seasonings or herbs according to your taste preferences.
Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears and the model of your air fryer. Adjust accordingly.
