Recipe This | How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer (2024)

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How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer. Did you ever wonder the times? how easy it is? or if it is possible to cook all your favourite frozen food in the air fryer? Well it is, and this is my guide for learning how to cook frozen food in the Air Fryer.

Recipe This | How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer (1)

I am going to show you today how to cook frozen food in the air fryer. Learn the best frozen foods for the air fryer, the air fryer frozen food cook times, temperatures and much more.

But I have something even better than our air fryer frozen food for you to check out first.

It is our Learn Your Air Fryer online course and our free air fryer mini course. They are ideal for air fryer beginners. The free course runs for 5 days and is in the format of an email miniseries. While the learn your air fryer course runs every week with a new PDF and ecookbook for a whole year.

Or browse our site as we have 400+ air fryer recipes that are easy to recreate at home and we have been showing people how to use the air fryer since 2011.

Table of Contents

How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer?

OMG how did that happen? Back in the spring of 2018, I decided to grab some frozen food and run an experiment of how to cook frozen food in the air fryer.

Which frozen food would be good in the air fryer, what tasted horrible and if I would recommend it to my readers?

Since then, air fryer blog after air fryer blog has copied our ideas, when its clear they don’t understand the air fryer, on their attempt to make a quick buck off the Recipe This brand.

Though, on the plus side of this, it has turned air fryer frozen food into a trend for easy air fryer cooking.

Well I decided to come back and revisit this blog post and update it with what I think about air fryer frozen food today.

Back then in the summer of 2018, I had only cooked about 20 different air fryer frozen foods, and now I have done hundreds. So, let’s take a trip down air fryer frozen food memory lane to where it all began.

Can You Put Frozen Food In An Air Fryer?

Yes you can. Every frozen food that we have tried to cook in the air fryer has been a success. We love cooking frozen food in the air fryer and the results are amazing.

Think deep fried favourites but with the calories of baking them in the oven. Forget those boring soggy egg rolls, or the time your burrito turned to mush.

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Order The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook Now!

Frozen Food In Air Fryer

What we did was head out shopping and grab a selection of frozen food that our readers had personally asked us about. The frozen foods that they wanted the air fryer cook times the most.

The frozen food in air fryer we tried included:

  • Air Fryer Frozen Hamburgers
  • Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
  • Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Dippers
  • Air Fryer Frozen Sausage Rolls
  • Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
  • Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Though of course, this was our first time buying ingredients to test frozen food on Recipe This. So now we have all these frozen foods as separate recipes on Recipe This and you can click any of the links above to go to the recipe.

One by one, we loaded each of these frozen foods into the air fryer and tested the cooking time and temperature.

There was not a bad one either, all these air fryer frozen foods we tried were delicious. And of course, it started an obsession with us Milner’s teaching you to cook frozen food in the air fryer.

Top 10 Best Frozen Foods For Air Fryer

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Like I have mentioned above, we have cooked many frozen foods in the air fryer. I am sure you are wondering out of these 100+ foods what our favourites are and what are the best frozen foods that you should air fry.

  • Air Fryer Frozen French Fries – If you love fries then you must cook frozen fries in the air fryer. They come out crispy, perfectly cooked and are ideal for reheating the leftovers later.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Jalapeno Poppers – I found these once in Lidl and they were amazing. Sadly, I have not seen them since. But OMG I want to eat them forever and ever.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Calamari Rings – I currently live in Portugal and OMG calamari is everywhere. Cooked in the air fryer, they are a fantastic lower calorie version.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Kiev – I grew up on the chicken kiev and love that breaded chicken with the amazing garlic butter filling. Its so crispy in the air fryer.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Steak – See it doesn’t have to be the frozen junk food does it? A delicious sirloin steak cooks beautifully from frozen in the air fryer.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs – Another delicious treat that cooks perfectly from frozen. Throw into the air fryer your favourite frozen meatballs and then wait for the air fryer beep when they are done.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings – On today’s list of the first frozen foods that I air fried and so many choices. You can use a healthy or an unhealthy marinade and have them as crispy as you like.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Strips – The first thing we ever cooked in the air fryer and perfect for a quick air fryer snack. Just choose your dipping sauce.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Burritos – The beauty of air fryer frozen burritos is that you can choose your filling and meal prep them and freeze them for a quick breakfast.
  • Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables – Don’t underestimate how good frozen vegetables are cooked in the air fryer. We prefer broccoli or stir fry vegetables, but most will work.

How To Cook Frozen Food In Air Fryer

If you are wondering how to cook frozen food in air fryer, then it goes like this:

  1. Grab a bag of frozen food and remove the packaging and any excess crumbs.
  2. Load into the air fryer basket and don’t overcrowd.
  3. Air fry and enjoy.

You may want to spray with extra virgin olive oil if it is pastry or you want a crisp on it. Such as our air fryer frozen egg rolls, air fryer frozen chicken nuggets or our air fryer frozen potato wedges.

But apart from the spray, frozen air fryer food is that simple.

Air Fryer Frozen Food Resources

If you would like to cook frozen food in the air fryer, I have a few extra resources that will be perfect for you.

Air Fryer Frozen Cook Times – A printable air fryer cheat sheet just focused on air fryer frozen food. Print it out at home and place it on the inside of your kitchen cupboard, or on your fridge for easy reference.

Air Fryer Frozen Food Cookbook – We also have our air fryer frozen food cookbook that shares all our popular air fryer frozen recipes. You can download it in PDF and use it for a quick reference during mealtimes.

Plus, don’t forget to check out the links throughout this air fryer frozen foods blog post and best of luck with your air fryer.

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How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer?

How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer. Did you ever wonder the times? how easy it is? or if it is possible to cook all your favourite frozen food in the air fryer? Well it is, and this is my guide for learning how to cook frozen food in the Air Fryer.

Prep Time0 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time12 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Air Fryer

Servings: 12

Calories: 248kcal

Author: RecipeThis.com

Ingredients

  • 4 Frozen Hamburgers
  • 475 g Frozen Onion Rings
  • 1 kg Frozen Fish Sticks
  • 750 g Frozen Chicken Dippers
  • 4 Frozen Sausage Rolls
  • 500 g Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast
  • 850 g Frozen Chicken Wings
  • 750 g Frozen French Fries

Instructions

  • Place your frozen food into the air fryer basket.

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  • Cook for 6-12 minutes on a medium heat of 180c/360f. Serve Warm

    Recipe This | How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer (8)

Notes

Nutrition Information.The nutrition information above is used from our How to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer blog post.

Time & Temp. Do note that these time and temps will vary depending on what you are cooking. I recommend you click through to the recipes for specific cook times and temperatures.

Brand. We used our Philips Air Fryer XL for this recipe and here is ourPhilips Air Fryer XL Review.

Thanks for reading our how to air fry frozen food recipe ideas on Recipe This. We have many more air fryer recipes for you to check out next. Though if you love air fryer frozen food, do check out our air fryer frozen French fries.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.4g | Protein: 17.5g | Fat: 14.7g | Saturated Fat: 2.9g | Sugar: 0.3g

Nutrition InfoPlease Note: Nutrition values are our best estimate based on the software we use at Recipe This and are meant as a guide. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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We Are Making You Another Air Fryer Cookbook!You can also pre-order Air Fryer Easy Everyday which is just how it sounds. Easy everyday recipes for those that want to learn the air fryer and have easy meals rather than fancy food you would never cook. Pre-order your copy here.!

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Recipe This | How To Cook Frozen Food In The Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

Do you need oil with an air fryer for frozen food? ›

Only add oil to the ingredients and not directly in the pan of your Airfryer. Pre-fried food such as frozen French fries, chicken nuggets, spring rolls etc. do not need extra oil.

Can you cook frozen beef joint in air fryer? ›

Pop your beef joint in the air fryer at 200 degrees. From defrost, cook for 20 minutes. From frozen, cook for at least 27 minutes. When cooked to your preference, remove the beef joint and leave to rest for 10 minutes.

Is it better to cook frozen food in the oven or air fryer? ›

Because air fryers cook so fast and at high temps, foods like chicken wings, french fries and most frozen apps will get crispy on the outside without drying out on the inside the way they might when stuck in the large oven for 30 or 40 minutes. As mentioned, air fryers don't require any preheating time either.

What frozen foods work best in air fryer? ›

Frozen Foods: Air fryers are excellent for cooking frozen foods like french fries, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, and frozen vegetables. They can make these items crispy without the need for a deep fryer.

Do you need to preheat air fryer for frozen food? ›

Preheat for Perfection: Preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before adding your frozen goodies. This ensures they start cooking immediately and develop that coveted crispy exterior. Don't Overcrowd: Give your frozen items some space. Overcrowding can hinder proper air circulation and result in uneven cooking.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

And because they also use little to no oil compared to other traditional cooking methods, they're also seen as a healthy alternative. But now, shoppers have been ditching their air fryers in favour of a different gadget that's said to be even cheaper - and even healthier - when it comes to preparing meals.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Can you cook straight from frozen in air fryer? ›

When it comes to whipping up a quick meal, your plans can easily be put to a stop if you've forgotten to defrost your food beforehand. Luckily, you can cook almost all of your favourite foods in an air fryer – even if they're frozen!

What frozen meat can be cooked in air fryer? ›

Types Of Frozen Meat You Can Air-Fry

The kitchen device can cook a range of poultry, beef, pork chop, and seafood from frozen, so you should have plenty of options when it comes to dinner. For instance, you could cook up some frozen beef patties for delicious burgers without ever having to break out the grill.

How do you cook frozen beef burgers in an air fryer? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 370° F.
  2. Line the air fryer with a parchment paper liner.
  3. Spritz patties with water, so the salt will stick.
  4. Place patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. ...
  5. Cook for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through cook time, or until cooked to desired doneness.
Dec 20, 2023

Can you put microwave meals in air fryer? ›

Yes, you might need to make a few adjustments. Follow the package instructions for the ready meal as a starting point. However, you might want to slightly reduce the cooking time and temperature, as air fryers cook faster than ovens.

Can you cook frozen lasagna in an air fryer? ›

Air Fryer Frozen Lasagna - Fork To Spoon

And if you're looking for an easy recipe that doesn't require a lot of time in the kitchen, air fryer frozen lasagna is definitely the way to go. Air frying your lasagna gives it a crispy outer shell, while keeping the inside moist and cheesy.

Can you put frozen chicken in air fryer? ›

You can use the air fryer to cook frozen chicken breast, frozen breaded chicken, or even frozen seasoned chicken breast and have it on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Do you have to thaw frozen food before air frying? ›

You can air fry many proteins from frozen in about the same amount of time it would take to cook them thawed on the stove or in a traditional oven, which means no one can yell at you for forgetting to thaw the chicken overnight.

Do you thaw frozen food before air frying? ›

Skip the defrost function on your microwave and use the air fryer to speed up cooking dinner! An air fryer's ability to use heated air instead of heated oil to deliver crispy chicken wings, chicken nuggets and french fries is magical. Plus it can revive cold slices of pizza to just-out-of-the-pizza-oven perfection.

What cannot be cooked in air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Can I put microwavable plastic in air fryer? ›

Before you even consider putting any dish, plate, or bowl in your air fryer, verify the dish is oven-safe. This will either be marked on the bottom of the dish or on the original packaging for the dishes. Plastic and certain types of glass should never be placed in an air fryer.

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