Explore air fryer toast: methods, benefits and delicious journey

In the current era, the air fryer has become a ubiquitous kitchen appliance. Given the numerous inquiries about using an air fryer to make toast, we embarked on a personal testing journey. We experimented with three distinct methods: applying butter to both sides of the bread and using a hot pan setting, spreading butter on one side and breadcrumbs on the other with a hot pan, and finally, coating the bread entirely with breadcrumbs and using a hot pan. The outcome was affirmative – it is indeed possible to make toast in an air fryer. Now, let's delve into the details of our findings.

 What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a revolutionary kitchen gadget that utilizes hot air circulation to cook a wide variety of foods. Unlike traditional cooking methods that often rely on copious amounts of oil, the air fryer stands out for its oil-free or minimal-oil cooking approach. This makes it an ideal choice for those aiming to reduce their oil intake or completely avoid using cooking oils. By leveraging the power of hot air, it can achieve that desirable crispy and browned texture on foods without the need for added fats, thereby enabling the preparation of diverse dishes ranging from appetizers and main courses to even desserts.

What are the Benefits of an Air Fryer?

The air fryer is truly a remarkable addition to any kitchen. Firstly, it offers a healthier alternative to frying or baking. You can effortlessly whip up favorites like french fries, chicken wings, pork chops, and even rib-eye steaks with significantly less oil. The absence of the need to add oil simplifies the process of creating healthy and delicious meals, eliminating concerns about the negative health impacts of excessive oil consumption. Secondly, one of its most prominent advantages is the ease of cleanup. After cooking, there is no messy oil residue to clean up on your countertops or stovetop. The oil, if any, remains contained within the machine, and cleaning the air fryer typically takes only a matter of minutes, leaving your kitchen surfaces pristine and spotless.

How to Make Toast in an Air Fryer?

Option One: Butter on Both Sides with a Hot Pan

This is the most straightforward approach. Begin by placing the bread into the preheated air fryer and allowing it to sit for three minutes. Subsequently, evenly spread butter on both sides of the bread and continue cooking for an additional two to three minutes. Another variation of this method is to take two slices of white bread, apply butter to one side of each, set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook for two minutes. As the air fryer heats, it causes the butter to melt slightly, ensuring that when the toast is flipped, the second side also gets coated with butter, resulting in an exquisitely crispy piece of toast. Alternatively, you can first melt the butter on both sides of the bread and then place it in the air fryer for just one minute. This particular technique yields a perfectly browned toast with crispy edges and a soft, tender center, and remarkably, it takes five minutes less than using a traditional oven.

 Option Two: Butter on One Side and Breadcrumbs on the Other with a Hot Pan

This method is a bit more time-consuming but rewards with an interesting texture. Place the bread in the air fryer and let it cook for three minutes. Then, spread butter on one side of the bread and sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top. Return it to the air fryer and cook for another two minutes before flipping it over to cook for an additional two minutes on the other side. While the breadcrumbs do add a pleasant crunch to the toast, we observed that the cooking was not entirely consistent. Despite the air fryer's hot pan functionality, it did not generate sufficient heat to achieve the same level of crispness on all surfaces of the bread as a regular toaster.

Option Three: Breadcrumb Coated Bread with a Hot Pan

This is the most elaborate yet potentially the tastiest option. Put the bread in the air fryer and cover it with breadcrumbs (we opted for panko). Cook for four minutes, then flip the bread, coat it with more crumbs, and cook for another four minutes. However, this technique was the most labor-intensive and time-consuming among the three. The breadcrumbs had a tendency not to adhere well to the bread, necessitating the use of a spatula to spread them evenly. Moreover, this method produced the most smoke compared to the other two. Additionally, the toast took approximately four minutes to cook, which is five minutes longer than it would take in a traditional oven. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the air fryer is an outstanding kitchen appliance. It combines ease of use with a multitude of benefits. While it may not be a substitute for a conventional oven in all aspects, it has proven to be an excellent option for making toast, offering various techniques to suit different preferences and culinary adventures.