Grilled cheese sandwiches—a classic dish, of course, the taste of adults and kids alike. The cheap, delightful sandwich with a crunchy outer layer, soft inner part, and delicious taste is the true comfort food. However, the usual method of preparing grilled cheese is either through a panini press or on the stovetop. Have you ever tried making it in an air fryer? In recent years, air fryers have taken over the cooking world, as they offer a healthier method of deep frying with no loss of flavor or texture. Besides, the air fryer is perfect for grilled cheese making; it easily and quickly produces golden-brown sandwiches with little mess and no fuss. What you need to know to make the best air fryer grilled cheese will be explained in this article.
Air fryer grilled cheese ingredients:
- Bread: Thick-cut is great; however, you can always go for any sort of your liking.
- Cheese (all varieties are allowed: mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss).
- Margarine or butter.
- Optional: avocado, fried bacon, tomato slices, etc.
Steps for air fryer grilled cheese:
- Preheat your air fryer: Set the temperature to around 375°F (190°C). This will provide the perfect golden crust and even air fryer grilled cheese cooking.
- Assemble cheese and bread: Construct your sandwich while the air fryer is preheating. Take one of the two slices of bread and generously apply butter or margarine. This will be part of the crispy outer layer that we all love. After that, put the cheese of your choice between the two slices of bread. And what is more, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of cheese together; the combinations can be really great.
- Prepare the sandwich: Carefully place the sandwich that you have prepared in the wire basket of your preheated air fryer. You should also make sure that there is enough space around the sandwich so that the air can circulate. The total baking time for the sandwich will be 6 to 8 minutes, with half the rotation during the baking. Monitor it closely to prevent burning or overcooking; cooking times vary according to your air fryer’s brand and the thickness of your bread.
- Include optional components: If you are adventurous, this is the right time to jazz up your air fryer grilled cheese with anything else. You can make your sandwich more interesting by adding avocado, grilled bacon, or tomato slices. Just place them between the cheese slices and bake them too.
- Slice and savor: With care, extract the sandwich from the air fryer and allow it to cool for a bit after it has reached a golden-brown state and the cheese is melted. Then, cut it diagonally, as it is typically done for a grilled cheese, and serve it hot.
Tips for Best Results:
- The right bread: Thicker-sliced bread is the best choice for air-fryer grilled cheese, as it can withstand the heat and, during cooking, becomes covered with a nice, crispy crust.
- King cheese: A wonderful grilled cheese has a lot of cheese in it! Use a lot of cheese to get the most out of it.
- Add different flavors: You may include your favorite things and play with the different types of cheese while making grilled cheese.
- Very close attention: As air fryers are very fast cooks, it is very important to monitor your grilled cheese to avoid burning.
- Do not put too much in if it is too small: For the right amount of airflow and cooking all the way through, place the sandwich in the air fryer basket with empty space around it.
Conclusion
The richness of melted cheese and the crunchiness of air frying come together to make a very nice treat that is called air-fryer grilled cheese. With just a couple of basic ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can end up with the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The air fryer grilled cheese will not only be a solution for your snack craving but also a perfect choice for an easy and quick lunch. Set your air fryer to high heat, grab ingredients, and get ready to savor some seriously impressive, creamy cheese! The fast air circulation in the air fryer ensures that the cheese melts to a runny perfection and the bread gets flawlessly crispy. This rich delicacy is even more alluring because cleaning up is a breeze thanks to the air fryer’s ease.
Also Read: Smoked Macaroni and Cheese: Your Go-To Comfort Food
