Let's discuss one of my favorite features of the air fryer—the roast function. If you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for ways to spice up your cooking and whip up mouthwatering meals with ease.
Mastering when and how to use the roast setting on an air fryer is a game-changer! Whether you're making perfectly roasted veggies, succulent meats, or crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside goodness, the roast function is a must-try on your air fryer! So, grab your apron, and let's dive into the wonderful world of air fryer roasting!
Roasting utilizes multiple culinary processes like the Maillard reaction, convection heating, and others. Don't let this intimidate you; it is a simple process with incredible results.
Jump to:
- What Is Roasting?
- When and How to use the Roast Function on an Air Fryer
- What’s The Difference Between Air Fry And Bake Setting?
- Air Fryer Vs. Oven
- Comparing Different Cooking Methods With Air Fry Roasting
- How To Make A Perfect Roast With Air Fryer Roasting
- Other Proteins That Can Be Roasted In An Air Fryer
- Vegetables for roasting
- Cleaning Your Air Fryer
- Conclusion
What is the Maillard reaction?
Simply put, that wonderful taste that you get from a perfectly cooked steak? That is the Maillard reaction.
Named for the scientist who discovered it, the Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugar. The reaction occurs at the right temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit, giving proteins, especially beef, their signature taste and texture.
What Is Roasting?
Roasting is similar to baking, but more heat is involved. Generally, the roasting pan is placed in the center of the oven so the hot air can circulate over the food.
The higher temperature gives the roast a crispy exterior while the inside stays moist. The good news is that you can achieve the same success with your air fryer!
Is roasting the same as baking in an Air Fryer?
No, roasting is not the same as baking. Though easily confused because the same steps are involved, the key difference is the temperature.
When and How to use the Roast Function on an Air Fryer
The best time to use the roast function on your air fryer is when you are short on time, do not want to heat the house with the oven, or need to cook multiple things at once.
Air fryers are a set-it-and-forget appliance. This is beneficial because you won't overcook the roast, and they free up valuable space in the oven.
To use your air fryer as a roaster, select the "roast" function. The temperature and cooking time are programmed, so you may have to adjust these to fit your needs.
What if your air fryer does not have a roast function?
No problem! The manufacturer instruction booklet will have instructions for cooking times and temperatures for different foods.
A good rule of thumb is to set the temperature 25℉ lower than you would in your oven. Air fryers cook faster than ovens due to the smaller cooking chamber, and this temperature change counterbalances that.
What’s The Difference Between Air Fry And Bake Setting?
Baking and roasting in an air fryer takes considerably less time than using these methods in a traditional oven because they are smaller and cook faster. The difference between the two methods is the temperature.
The best way to learn how an air fryer works is to know the difference between different cooking methods and when to use them. Roasting is a method for adding a deep and flavorful flavor to proteins and vegetables that locks in the juices.
Air Fryer Vs. Oven
Air fryers and ovens both use convection heating to cook foods. Convection cooking is when heat circulates around food using a moving heat source, such as a fan.
This air envelops the food and produces more even cooking. The key difference between an air fryer and an oven is the size of circulating air in the cooking chambers. Because of their smaller size, air fryers cook foods more evenly and produce a faster cooking time.
Comparing Different Cooking Methods With Air Fry Roasting
Most air fryers, like the Ninja air fryer, have various cooking options. There is a dehydrator option for drying foods like beef jerky. There is also a bake setting along with the actual air frying option.
All the settings use convection cooking but at different temperatures and time settings.
How To Make A Perfect Roast With Air Fryer Roasting
Pot roast is one of the more popular roasts and can be cooked in an air fryer with excellent results. Unless you want bread to go with it, pot roast is an entire meal in a single pot and is also great for batch cooking, which goes a long way in meal planning.
While seasoning the roast, preheat your air fryer for five minutes. Starting in a hot air fryer improves results, especially on the crust.
You want to cook the pot roast in your air fryer at 325℉ with no added vegetables or liquid for ten minutes. This way, the vegetables will not overcook and produce a wonderful crust that locks in the juices.
While cooking the protein, season your vegetables and place them in a pan with a liquid like red wine. Cake pans work the best. Add the roast to the top of the roasted vegetables and continue cooking.
Pot roast can be cooked anywhere from rare to well done. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the results. If the roast is cooked to your specifications and the potatoes are not soft, continue cooking the vegetables themselves while the roast rests.
Other Proteins That Can Be Roasted In An Air Fryer
I use top rounds when I prepare pot roast because of its heartiness and flavor. There are other options, of course, but they are prepared similarly. Pot roast is not the only protein that can be roasted.
Roast beef
Tender roast beef is cooked differently than a pot roast. A pot roast is cooked in a pot with various vegetables and starches, while roast beef is cooked without vegetables or liquid, which is a dry cooking method.
There are multiple benefits to making air fryer roast beef. It is delicious and tender, cooks in half the time as an oven, and uses very few ingredients. It can also be cooked in batches and frozen for future meals.
Beef isn't the only meat you can roat in your air fryer. Try roasting some chicken wings, you will thank me later!
Vegetables for roasting
Any hearty and thick vegetable can be used in a pot roast, though the usual suspects are carrots, potatoes, and onions. Vegetables can also be roasted on their own with incredible results. There are a ton of air fryer recipes online.
You can use the air fryer basket to roast small batches of vegetables. Just ensure you do not overcrowd the food, or it will cook unevenly, affecting the texture.
See these Air Fryer Recipes: Also The Crumbs Please Air Fryer Recipes
Broccoli
Fresh garlic, lemon, and parmesan cheese make a potent combination for air-fried roasted broccoli, which cooks in about ten minutes. The key is to shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking temperatures.
Roasting brings out broccoli's depth and sweetness more than steaming or blanching. A little of the Maillard effect also adds even more depth and flavor.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts are perfect for roasting in an air fryer. If you like crispy and delicious Brussels sprouts, this is the only way.
The Brussels Sprouts should be cooked at a lower temperature than broccoli because they crisp fast, and you risk not cooking the inside all the way.
Other foods for roasting
Meat and vegetables are not the only foods that are perfect for roasting. Hearty starches like potatoes hold up well to the high temperatures.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are another excellent choice for roasting in your air fryer. They are also a unique replacement for Russett potatoes in your pot roast. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness; when served with cinnamon butter, they cannot be beaten.
There are several varieties, but I use Garnet sweet potatoes. They are creamy and sweet and withstand the higher temperatures of roasting well.
Russet Potatoes
Roasted potatoes are a perfect companion for many meals at any time of the day. Roasting the potatoes provides a fluffy interior while the skin is golden brown and crispy.
Like smaller vegetables, you want to use the air fryer basket and flip the potatoes when they are halfway done. If the potatoes are touching, that part of it will not cook as thoroughly as the rest. Flipping exposes these sides to the heat for better results.
French fries
I eat a lot of potatoes and am always on the hunt for the perfect way to make the perfect batch. While I normally air fry french fries, I gave them a whirl using a manual temperature setting of 380℉ and cooked them for 14 minutes, flipping them when they had cooked for seven minutes.
Using the air fryer setting on an Instant Pot
I am a huge fan of my Instant Pot 6.5 quart With Ultimate Lid and use it as often as possible. Since it has an air fryer setting, I can also roast proteins or other foods. Using this method, I manually set the time and temperature just like you would on an air fryer without the roasting option.
The best part about air fryer roasting in my Instant Pot is that it is the biggest model on the market and the cooking chamber is big enough for a big roast. Since this model does not have an air fryer basket, I use a small cake pan for the best results.
Cleaning Your Air Fryer
Cleaning your air fryer is a breeze, which is another benefit to using it so often. Soak your cake pan or basket in soapy water during mealtime. Do not soak the base because of the electronic components.
Afterward, clean the parts and accessories with a sponge or cloth using dish detergent. Clean the exterior of the base in the same way.
Cleaning the interior of the base is important because it prevents unwanted food bits from lodging in the fan or heating element. Food bits in these areas are a potential fire hazard.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between roasting, broiling, and baking will make you a better cook. Roasting utilizes convection cooking like baking, just at a higher temperature. Air fryers are ideal for roasting because of their fast cooking times and smaller cooking chamber.
Since whatever you are roasting in an air fryer is closer to the heat source. the food cooks more evenly. Another benefit to roasting in an air fryer is that you avoid heating up the kitchen and the house with an oven.
When you are starting out, mind the temperature and time settings. Air fryers cook hotter than a traditional oven because of its size so you need to roast at a slightly lower temperature than an oven.
There you have it. This is all you need to start roasting in your air fryer. If your model does not have a roast function, open up the user's manual to learn how to manually set the time and temperatures.
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