How to cook eggs in the air fryer in minutes
I have talked about air fryers a lot. They’re great for preparing meals and various foods with little to no oil, including tasty roast chicken, crispy chips, brownies, and cupcakes. They can also completely change the way you cook eggs. Yes – you can create perfectly cooked eggs in your air fryer.
In this post, I’ll guide you through some different ways you can cook eggs in the air fryer. If you haven’t tried cooking eggs in the air fryer you will soon be doing it regularly!
Why Cook Eggs in the Air Fryer?
Time Efficiency – You can prepare eggs in a few minutes due to an air fryer’s ability to reduce cooking time, making them an ideal choice for busy mornings.
Versatility – An air fryer can handle various egg preparations, including scrambled, boiled, and fried eggs.
Healthier Option – Air frying uses significantly less oil, resulting in healthier egg dishes.
Even Cooking – The hot, circulating air in the fryer guarantees even cooking, lowering the possibility that your eggs will be overcooked or undercooked.
Less chance of burning – At breakfast when you are rushing around it is so easy to burn eggs on the stove, however in the air fryer once you have set the time you know you can leave them, with the exception of stirring scrambled eggs.
Ingredients you will need for air fryer eggs
- Eggs (however many you want)
- A cooking spray, such as fry light or a small amount of oil (optional)
- Seasonings such as salt, pepper, and/or herbs (if you want to use them)
- Any toppings you like, such as cheese, vegetables, bacon lardons, etc.
1. Fried Eggs
Fried eggs are one of the main items in a cooked breakfast. Whether you like a runny or a firm yolk, they’re super easy to make in the air fryer. It makes your whole family’s breakfast a lot easier too, as you have more space on the stove and can cook a number at once without worrying about them sticking!
- Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
- Lightly grease or add a little oil to a small bowl or air fryer dish
- Crack the eggs into the bowl or air fryer safe dish.
- Carefully slide the eggs into the preheated air fryer basket.
- Cook for about 5-6 minutes for a runny yolked egg or 7-8 minutes for eggs that have a firmer yolk
- Season with salt and pepper before eating, if desired
Air fryer fried eggs are perfect for cooked breakfast, shakshuka or perhaps just for egg butties!
2. Omelettes
Whether you like to have an omelette for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack, making them in an air fryer is easy, takes only a few minutes, and is relatively mess-free.
- Preheat your air fryer to 170°C.
- Whisk the eggs in a mug or small bowl.
- Pour the beaten mixture into a dish that is suitable for use in an air fryer and will fit in the basket
- Add your choice of toppings, such as cheese, diced vegetables, ham, etc, if you want them on top of the eggs.
- Place the dish in the air fryer basket (be careful; the basket will be very hot, so use oven gloves or silicone mitts)
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is slightly golden
- Carefully remove the dish and serve
3. Hard Boiled Eggs
Did you know you can also use your air fryer to make perfectly hard-boiled eggs? Well, you can, and no water is needed. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this one. The only difficulty you may have is if your air fryer does not offer temperatures as low as is needed.
- Preheat your air fryer to 120°C
- Put the desired number of eggs directly in the air fryer basket
- Cook for 10-17 minutes, depending on how you like your hard-boiled eggs. You may like to experiment a bit as this will depend a little on the size of your eggs, how you like them and the style air fryer you use.
- Transfer the eggs to a bowl of cold water once done for a few minutes – this helps make the peeling of the shells easier and avoids a grey yolk.
- Peel the shells off and then season with salt and pepper if desired, and enjoy.
4. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are so quick to make in the air fryer and in my opinion, much nicer than microwaved scrambled eggs too.
- Preheat your air fryer to 180°C
- Whisk the eggs and season with a little salt and pepper (if desired). I always prefer them seasoned but the choice is yours.
- Lightly grease a dish suitable for the air fryer basket with cooking spray or a little oil.
- Pour the beaten eggs into the dish.
- Place the dish in the basket and cook for 3-5 minutes, pausing to stir every minute, until the eggs are cooked to your satisfaction
- Serve immediately.
4. Poached Eggs
Poached eggs are a great alternative to a fried egg, and I absolutely love them on toast. I usually make them in a pan of boiling water, but they are also quick and easy to make in the air fryer, with much less fuss than on the stove.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water to lightly buttered dishes or ramekins. As an alternative to butter a few sprays of low-calorie cooking spray or Frylight will work just as well.
- Boil the water in an air fryer at 200°C for 4 minutes
- Crack an egg into each dish or ramekin and place it back in the air fryer at 180°C for 6 minutes
- Serve on toast or as part of your main meal
Cooking eggs in the air fryer will give you so many possibilities for delicious and easy breakfast and brunch dishes. Whether you prefer fried eggs, scrambled, or hard-boiled, the air fryer will cook them to perfection in a fraction of the time it would usually take and with less mess. Experiment with different seasonings and ingredients to create your own signature air-fried eggs.
