The Ultimate Guide for Perfectly Cooking Eggs in an Air Fryer

Having an air fryer in your kitchen opens up endless possibilities for your cooking skills. This compact appliance allows you to prepare a wide variety of dishes, such as fried chicken, pizza, steak, crispy vegetables, french fries, bacon, fried fish, chicken wings, grilled cheese, and even eggs. Yes, you heard it right. With the right technique, you can easily whip up delicious air fryer eggs in just a few minutes, saving you time and energy on busy mornings.

Now, let’s delve into what makes the air fryer so exciting. This handy tool uses hot air and a fan to circulate the air and cook the food inside. This creates a natural crisp on the outside while maintaining tenderness on the inside. In other words, you can “fry” your favorite foods without using excessive amounts of oil. It’s similar to a convection oven, but air fryers are smaller and more convenient for countertop use. Additionally, they heat up food faster due to the smaller space that needs to be filled with heat. Thanks to its ease, speed, and ability to produce crispy results, the air fryer has quickly become a beloved kitchen gadget.

While the list of foods you can cook in an air fryer seems almost limitless, there are a few exceptions. Shredded cheese, flaky fish, leafy greens, and meat with wet batter are best avoided in the air fryer, as the hot air and fan method can make things messy and prevent optimal cooking. However, when it comes to eggs, this versatile protein can always be cooked in the air fryer, as long as you know the right techniques.

To discover the secrets of cooking the best eggs in an air fryer, we consulted Chef Chris Nirschel, the owner of New York Catering Service. To ensure success, Nirschel recommends preheating the air fryer to 330 degrees before starting. “Always preheat your air fryer, or the timing will be off,” advises Nirschel.

Next, you need to determine the number of eggs you plan to cook. For a single egg, Nirschel suggests using a ramekin to hold the egg in the air fryer. If you’re cooking multiple eggs, opt for a soufflé cup to keep them in place. Without these dishes to hold the eggs, they will spill over and not cook properly.

Now it’s time to decide how you want your eggs cooked. According to Nirschel, the following cooking times are suitable when the fryer is set to 330 degrees:

• Over-easy eggs: Approximately 4-6 minutes
• Fully cooked eggs: Approximately 6-8 minutes

Nirschel also suggests whisking the ingredients for an omelet in a separate bowl before placing them in the air fryer.

But what about hard-boiled eggs? Can they be made in the air fryer too? Absolutely! If you enjoy snacking on hard-boiled eggs for a protein boost or adding them to salads, you’ll be pleased to know that the air fryer can handle this task as well.

For perfect hard-boiled eggs, preheat the air fryer to 270 degrees, place the eggs inside, and cook them for approximately 15-17 minutes.

Whether you’re making eggs for breakfast, toast toppings, or snack purposes, cooking eggs in the air fryer is a quick and easy method that yields delicious results. “Cooking eggs in the air fryer may require some practice, but if done correctly, you will get perfect eggs every time,” assures Nirschel.