Air Fryer Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan
Asparagus in the air fryer? Yes, asparagus can be cooked using an air fryer. This is an excellent alternative to traditional cooking methods because it doesn’t require much oil and heats up quickly.
In this blog post, we will teach you how to cook asparagus in your air fryer and include some tips for making these delicious vegetables taste even better!
How to Trim Air Fryer Asparagus
To prepare your asparagus, scrub any dirt off the stalks with a damp cloth. You will want to trim about an inch from the bottom of each stalk. You’ll do this to remove where they were connected at the farm or store. It will also give you more space for cooking and make them easier to manage later on!
If you are using thin spears, then break them into one-inch pieces to cook evenly.
A note on air fryers:
Some air fryers may require different instructions for optimal use–check your specific information before starting anything new if this is your first time trying it out. If your air fryer operates with an air fryer basket, be sure to use special air fryer parchment paper, so none of your vegetables stick.
To season, toss with olive oil, salt, and garlic powder.
Next, arrange asparagus in single layers inside the air fryer basket without overcrowding them too much (about one inch apart). The most common mistake people make when preparing food like this is undercooking or overcooking it–both of which can result in a less-than-appealing dish.
Place the seasoned asparagus in an air fryer basket; sprinkle with 1 tbsp of parmesan cheese. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees if necessary. Program the air fryer for 7 minutes at 400 degrees.
Once cooking time is complete, plate and top with lemon juice and remaining parmesan cheese (optional). Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Asparagus:
If you have a more significant amount of spears than what will fit into one basket, then use two different sizes/types (such as long ones for the bottom layer) so each type is evenly distributed across all levels. Put your air fryer basket in the air fryer to begin cooking. If you have an air fryer tray, use that instead.
Parmesan cheese and salt will be sprinkled onto the top level before popping them into the oven; this ensures that every spear has flavor throughout.
Asparagus is a great vegetable to cook in the air fryer because it has a short cooking time. It will only take about five minutes of total cooking.
There’s no need for using any butter or oil–the asparagus’ natural sugars caramelize beautifully in this way even without the added fats!
Tips on how to use an air fryer for cooking air fryer roasted asparagus
– Preheat the air fryer for about five to ten minutes before using.
– Choose your food and put it in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd it as mentioned above!
-If the bottom of your asparagus is burnt, take out those pieces and put them in another dish while leaving the rest to finish cooking (i.e., give some space between each component).
-Trick: Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of your air fryer asparagus after it’s done cooking. The parmesan acts like glue and helps keep everything together better. This will give it an extra crunchy texture!
I like this because typically, my breading falls off when I cook something in the air fryer, so it ends up being really soft, which is not ideal for eating any time soon(especially if you have other foods that need to be cooked).
Using an air fryer basket for air fryer asparagus:
When you use an air fryer for asparagus or anything else, be sure not to crowd them in the basket.
You’ll need about one inch between each piece so they can form their own crust during the process and get crispy without becoming soggy from being crowded together. One good way to evenly distribute items like this is using parchment paper-lined baking sheets, which will make removing everything at once much easier later on too!
And there you have it, a recipe for roasted air fryer asparagus with tips and tricks included!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Asparagus:
- asparagus
- olive oil to coat the air fryer basket and asparagus
- salt and pepper, or another seasoning of choice to taste (optional)
- Grated parmesan cheese for topping. This should be about a teaspoon per serving of asparagus.
- About half a teaspoon of garlic powder if desired.
- Lemon – the sidekick of the air fryer asparagus show
Frequently Asked Questions: Air Fryer Asparagus
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is an appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food. Unlike a traditional oven, the heat of your kitchen stove and other cooking methods doesn’t require oil to cook with!
Should you soak asparagus before cooking?
The only asparagus that is really thick should be soaked before cooking. You can tell if your asparagus needs soaking by trying to bend it: the thinner spears will snap in half easily, whereas thicker ones are a bit tougher and may not need soaking at all.
How do you cook asparagus without losing nutrients?
You can cook asparagus without losing nutrients by cooking them over high heat for a short amount of time. When you want to roast your asparagus, set the temperature before turning on the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then let it sit in there for about five minutes.
Can you cook asparagus too long?
Yes, asparagus can be cooked too long. Asparagus becomes tough and challenging to chew the longer it is in an air fryer because of its high water content. You should watch for signs that it is overcooked, such as color changes and wilted ends.
Where to Buy an Air Fryer
You can purchase an air fryer at most electronics stores like Best Buy or Amazon. Check out my favorite air fryer brands and the links to the products for easy shipping below:
Reviews of different brands of air fryers
The air fryer is excellent and easy to use. It cooks food in a shorter amount of time than traditional methods, so it saves me some time every day!
I can put my hands on the top side without burning myself as well. Which makes cooking even more accessible for me because then I don’t need an oven mitt (I only have one hand).
When looking at brands, you’re going to want something that’s not too expensive and has good reviews from other people who already own them.
You could end up with something more affordable or just spend way more money if you aren’t careful when making your purchase decision. Make sure to do research beforehand! Check out some helpful reviews and our favorite air fryers below:
- Philips Airfryer XXL Review
- Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Review
- Instant Vortex Air Fryer
- Best Air Fryers This Year
More help on air fryers and pressure cookers from Instant Mealtime
For more articles, reviews, and guides, check out our collection of everything you need to be the best at-home chef. Don’t forget to check out more recipes, too!
Healthy, Quick, and Easy Air Fryer Asparagus
Notes
Cooking times will vary depending on the make and model of your air fryer. See the detailed blog post for more information.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of asparagus
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- ¼ tsp of salt
- ¼ tsp of garlic powder
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated, divided into two
- ½ of a lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Trim the tough ends off the asparagus and toss olive oil, salt, and garlic powder.
- Place the seasoned asparagus in an air fryer basket; make sure all in one even row for even crisping.
- Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of parmesan cheese.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees if necessary.
- Program the air fryer for 7 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Once cooking time is complete, plate and top with lemon juice and remaining parmesan cheese (optional). Serve immediately or at room temperature.
