Do you ever get tired of frozen vegetables that turn mushy? That doesn’t have to be a problem; there are different ways to cook frozen veggies and not have mushy veggies. The air fryer has recently become more and more popular. There are a lot of great ways to put it to use.
While the air fryer might have some limitations cooking vegetables is not one. Can you cook vegetables in an air fryer?
You can cook frozen vegetables in Air Fryer. Before you pop those veggies in the air fryer, know that. There is a sweet spot to cook your vegetables in the air fryer. If you go too long, you will have burnt veggies. If you don’t cook them long enough, they will still be soggy or mushy.
In this guide, we will walk you through the process of cooking frozen vegetables in the air fryer. As long as you follow the tips, you will have delicious veggies, and no one has to know they were frozen. Let’s take a look!
How to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables?
Fresh frozen vegetables make adding veggies to your mil so much easier. However, they don’t always taste as good as fresh vegetables. That’s where your air fryer comes in. Cooking vegetables in the air fryer is pretty straightforward. But there are some tips to help your vegetables have the best flavor and texture.
What you should know is that when you cook vegetables in the air fryer, you will likely still have some that turn a little darker and crisper. It’s the same way with roasting them. You can stir them once or twice during cooking to help with this as well.
Also, don’t try to thaw out your veggies. They need the moisture from being frozen for the cooking process.
Now, you can follow these simple steps to air fry frozen vegetables.
- Remove vegetables from the freezer and open the packaging.
- You can prep the air fryer with a light spritz of olive oil spray. You don’t need much.
- Spread the frozen veggies out in your air fryer basket. Try to spread them out, but if some overlap, that’s ok too.
- We recommend another coat of olive oil over the tops of the veggies.
- Before you start, go ahead and lightly season the veggies to your liking. Salt, pepper, and garlic are always great but use whatever seasoning combination you prefer.
- Close your basket and set the air fryer. Plan for 400 degrees and up to 20 minutes.
- Check the veggies at 5-minute intervals. Stir them or shake them up at this time.
- Cook in the air fryer until well-roasted and crispy.
Air fryers are all made differently. This is a basic guide, but you might find that you need to tweak the time or even the temperature for your air fryer’s best results.
Can You Make Frozen Vegetables Crispy?
Mushy vegetables are one of the worst side effects of using frozen. No matter how carefully you try to cook them or mask that sogginess, it seems like it always happens. Of course, you can always roast your vegetables in the oven, but that could take up to an hour to do.
The good news is that you can also use the air fryer. These are the best ways to fight that sogginess that is a natural side effect of frozen vegetables. Don’t get us wrong. Roasting those vegetables is easy. It works well. But if you’re in a hurry, the air fryer is more convenient.
We recommend using either the air fryer or a roasting method for the best way to cook frozen vegetables. Your results will be so much better than microwaving or boiling them.
Can You Cook Fresh Vegetables in the Air Fryer Too?
One of the cool things about the air fryer is that it is versatile. Once you figure out a good process, you can cook just about anything you want in it.
The process for cooking fresh vegetables is very similar to the one above. However, it will likely only take about 5 minutes rather than 15-20 minutes. This is simply because the veggies aren’t frozen when you start.
Just like with frozen vegetables, you will find that this has a similar result to serving roasted vegetables and it is way faster overall.
What are the Best Veggies to Cook in the Air Fryer?
When you’re making frozen vegetables in the air fryer, we’re guessing you probably have that huge mag of mixed veggies. That’s the most common choice anyway. However, you don’t have to make mixed vegetables. You can cook a ton of different vegetables in the air fryer.
Here are a few great options to try
- Mixed vegetable packs
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Zucchini or squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Peppers
- Onions
- Carrots
You can cook more than just these, but this gives you some inspiration for tried and true veggies that work every time.
There are also some vegetables that won’t cook as well in the air fryer. Any type of leafy green might not end up great. This refers to things like spinach and broccoli. You might be able to use cabbage but only if you chop it into rounds. Some other things like eggplant, mushrooms, or roots won’t work as well either.
You want vegetables that have a bit of weight to them and won’t be watery when they cook.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have an air fryer yet, it’s time to get one! There are endless possibilities when it comes to what you can do in them. Cooking frozen vegetables is just one of the many traits you can depend on. And the best part about those veggies is you can be finished in less than 20 minutes.
More About Air Fryer: How to Get Rid of the Plastic Taste in the Air Fryer
