Asparagus makes for a delicious and healthy side dish and one of the healthiest ways to cook it is in an air fryer.
However, how do you cook asparagus in an air fryer? In this article, we will give you two recipes and some general hints and tips.
How To Cook Asparagus In An Air Fryer?
There are a few different ways that you can cook asparagus in an air fryer.
We will detail a couple of different recipes before giving you some general tips that you can implement into your cooking.
Simple Asparagus Recipe
Our first air fryer asparagus recipe is one of the most simple recipes you will find. In total, it should only take you 10 minutes to prepare and cook.
Step One
Begin by washing and trimming the ends of two cups of asparagus. You should remove around two inches from the ends.
Step Two
Spray your trimmed asparagus with around one tablespoon of olive oil, ensuring all of the stalks are coated.
This will prevent the asparagus from sticking to your air fryer basket.
Step Three
Season the asparagus with a sprinkle of salt and ground black pepper.
Step Four
Place your asparagus in your air fryer basket. Try to make sure that they are well-spaced out and aren’t gathered in piles.
You need to leave space between the stalks so that they can cook evenly and all have an equal chance of catching the air in the fryer as it moves around.
If possible, stick to just one layer of asparagus.
Step Five
Cook in the air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for around eight minutes.
The asparagus should be golden brown and if they aren’t, cook for another couple of minutes until they are cooked.
Asparagus And Mushrooms Recipe
If you want an asparagus recipe that is still simple but has a little extra, then this asparagus and mushroom air fryer recipe will fit the bill.
It makes a perfect side dish and is ideal for mushroom lovers.
Step One
Wash and trim your asparagus. You will need around two cups or 200 grams of fresh asparagus.
Step Two
Coat the asparagus with one tablespoon of olive oil, ensuring every stalk is covered. Season the asparagus with some salt and ground black pepper.
Step Three
Take two-thirds of a cup (around 50 grams) of mushrooms and slice them into quarters. Add them to your asparagus and season them as well.
Step Four
Put the asparagus and mushrooms into your air fryer. Top them with a teaspoon of chopped rosemary and some chopped almonds.
Make sure the almonds have been soaked in warm water for around 15 minutes at least before.
Try to spread out the asparagus and mushrooms so the air can circulate around them all equally.
Cook for around eight minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit or until the asparagus is golden brown.
Our Tips For Air Frying The Best Asparagus
Our detailed instructions on how to cook asparagus in an air fryer should be enough to ensure you get delicious asparagus every time.
However, here are some hints and tips that you should keep in mind whenever you air fry asparagus.
Choose The Right Asparagus
Whether you’re cooking asparagus or any other food, the first step to making a delicious dish is to get good quality ingredients.
If your ingredients are poor quality then no amount of good cooking can save them.
When it comes to picking asparagus, you should look for spears that are both plump and firm. They should have tightly closed tips and have a rich green color.
Avoid any asparagus that has a faded color or is a little mushy as these are probably older spears.
You should also avoid really thin spears of asparagus as these do not generally cook as well as in an air fryer and can become soggy and mushy as they cook.
Trim The Asparagus
You should always make sure to trim the ends of your asparagus spears.
The whitish bottoms of the spears are usually tough and woody and are not pleasant to eat, so the spears taste best when they have been removed.
Thankfully, removing the ends from your asparagus is a relatively easy task.
If you have a strong enough grip you might be able to snap them off with your hands, but if not, a knife or pair of kitchen scissors should be sufficient.
You should aim to cut around one to two inches from each spear.
Always Use Oil
Covering your asparagus spears in oil serves a couple of different purposes.
Firstly, it prevents the spears from sticking to your air fryer basket and reduces the need for the basket to be sprayed.
More importantly, it helps when actually cooking the asparagus, too.
A layer of oil will help your seasonings stick to each spear and will also aid the spears to crisp as they cook.
There are many different oils you can use for this, such as olive oil or avocado oil so choose whichever oil you prefer.
How To Store And Reheat Air Fryer Asparagus?
Although air fryer asparagus tastes best when it is fresh you can store it to be consumed later.
Leftover asparagus will be fine in the fridge for around three to five days. You should store it in an airtight container and try to eat it as soon as possible.
It will start to become soggy and lose its crispness after around five days.
If you do need to leave your asparagus for longer than five days, then you can freeze it instead.
The asparagus should be stored in either an airtight container that is freezer safe or a ziplock freezer bag. It will last for around six months when frozen.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we gave two methods for cooking asparagus in an air fryer. We also listed some general hints and tips to get the most out of your air fryer.
Since my sister introduced me to vegan cooking four years ago, I have discovered so many delicious alternatives to the traditional meaty meals I used to eat.
Today I enjoy trying and making my own vegan-friendly alternatives. If my sister can do it, then so can I (and you can, too). It is easier than you may think, promise!
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