Proudly owning an air fryer has elevated my vegetable consumption by at the very least 60%. As a substitute of ready for a whole standard oven to preheat, or minding a scorching pan, I merely toss no matter plant half I need in some fats, season it, then toss it in my air fryer, which has often been heated someplace in between 375℉ and 400℉. It’s straightforward, however air frying mushrooms is even simpler, as a result of they don’t want any oil to get browned and crispy. In truth, they brown higher with out it.
If this sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of I’ve written about cooking mushrooms (in a pan) sans fats earlier than, however the identical rules nonetheless apply. The perpetrator behind soggy, pale mushrooms that won’t brown is sort of at all times moisture:
For one factor, butter is at the very least 15% water by quantity, and including it to the pan will increase the general moisture content material in that pan, which is what we’re making an attempt to keep away from. However even pure fat can create a form of oil slick on high of the moisture that comes out of the mushrooms, delaying its evaporation.
This isn’t to say that mushrooms which can be tossed with oil won’t ever brown, however they are going to brown quicker with out it, and it allows you to skip a step (and minimize down on fats, if you’re so inclined).
All it’s important to do is rinse, dry, and chop (or tear) your mushrooms, then place them in a single layer in an air fryer set to 400℉. Cook dinner for 10 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times, and also you’ll be rewarded with mushrooms with golden browned, crispy edges and stems, and tender, juicy caps. You can too cook dinner them for a little bit greater than 10 minutes, if you need a mushroom with darker, deeper, extra concentrated taste. Simply preserve an eye fixed out; too lengthy and your shrooms can grow to be shrunken and leathery.
As soon as your mushrooms are browned and crispy, you’ll be able to add a little bit fats, for taste. This might be a spritz of your favourite fancy ending oil, or you are able to do what I did and end them with a wholesome dousing of salted browned butter. Season nevertheless you need, and also you’re executed. I personally didn’t season additional after the salted browned butter. Salted butter is a seasoning in its personal proper.
