How Long do you Cook Mozzarella Sticks in an Air Fryer?
How Long do you Cook Mozzarella Sticks in an Air Fryer?
Mozzarella sticks can be a good party snack or appetizer. They take less time to prepare but taste delicious. Especially when you air fry them. Kids love them the most.
It is easy to cook frozen mozzarella sticks in an air fryer with less time. Just put them in the air fryer basket without defrosting and allow them to cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Get yummy, crunchy, and super delicious mozzarella sticks within minutes.
However, there are specific tips to keep in mind while air frying them as neglection can explode sticks.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a user-friendly electronic machine. It has many benefits like you don’t need too much oil to fry mozzarella sticks. It’s more like a convection oven like you can bake and roast in it as well.
Air fryers are perfect for your health, especially for people who consume less oil. You can get the same deep-fried experience with just one spray of cooking oil in an air fryer.
How does the Air Fryer work?
The Air fryer is a kind of magic. You can call it a convection oven as well. It’s small and occupies less space.
An Air Fryer will heat up pretty fast than your oven. Not only will this, but it cook more quickly than an oven as well. You need to do prep work carefully for mozzarella sticks to avoid a hot mess. Otherwise, the sticks will soon explode and stick inside the fryer.
What is the Secret to great Mozzarella Sticks?
Well, behind every successful thing, there is a secret. So to have great mozzarella sticks, you must know the mystery as well.
Here are two secrets to be kept in mind:
- Always double coat the mozzarella stick:
We dip the mozzarella stick first in beaten egg and then in the bread crumbs later freeze them for a short time. To enjoy an excellent texture, dip the stick twice in eggs and crumbs; repeat the procedure twice. Put the sticks in the air fryer after the second coating of eggs and crumbs.
If you do not do coating twice, the cheese will stick once you put it in the fryer. Mozzarella sticks are messy; that’s why it is crucial to repeat the procedure.
- Double layer for extra crunch as well:
To enjoy more crunch, go for a double layer of eggs and crumb coating. Indeed air fryer will give you crunchy sticks but going for double coating will be additional support. Dipping egg in cheese is slippery, so you need to be cautious.
What are the Tips for Making Mozzarella Sticks?
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Always choose Cheese Sticks carefully:
Keep in mind that all cheese sticks are not the same. You need to select the stick carefully. Either use a regular one with total fat or go for low-fat sticks. It is entirely your choice.
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Freeze the Sticks before Frying:
It’s recommended to freeze the sticks before frying them. Otherwise, they are not going to fry evenly. Also, the coating will start to fall; that’s why sticks should be dry before putting them in an air fryer. If you don’t have much time, then at least allow them to be a tiny bit soggy in the freezer.
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Always use the Nonstick Spray:
Although the air fryer doesn’t need oil, if you want, then go for nonstick spray before putting the sticks in the air fryer basket. The oil will help them get brown, and they will not stick to the basket.
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Fry in Batches:
Another tip is to fry the sticks in batches. Even prepare them in sets as well. Go for eight sticks at one time or according to your comfort.
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Use Extra Rack:
To fry them in an air fryer, use an extra rack underneath the fry basket as it will not allow mozzarella cheese to melt on heating elements.
What can we do with Leftover Mozzarella Sticks?
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How to Freeze them?
The leftover mozzarella sticks can quickly be frozen for later use. After a second coating on the sticks as per the recipe, put them in the freezer. When the sticks are frozen, could you put them in a zip-top freezer bag? Use them within three months of the freezing date.
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How to Reheat them?
Suppose you want to reheat them, then set the temperature of an air fryer up to 360°F and cook the mozzarella sticks for 8-10 minutes. Make sure that the sticks are cooked well from both sides.
How to make Mozzarella Sticks in an Air Fryer?
Recipe:
- Serves: 8 people
- Cooking time: 8 minutes
- Preparation time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 13 minutes
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- Egg (1 large)
- Italian seasoning (1 tablespoon)
- Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Breadcrumbs (1 cup)
- Low-fat Mozzarella sticks (8 whole milk)
Method:
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Start the Preparation:
Beat the egg in a wide shallow bowl. Line up a baking sheet. In another shallow bowl, combine Italian seasoning, breadcrumbs, and salt.
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Coat and Freeze Sticks:
The next step is to coat the sticks. Next, dip a stick in an egg and cover it carefully. Then dip the same stick in breadcrumbs which is another bowl. Although it will be messy, it is ok.
Line them on the wax sheet carefully so they should not touch each other. Then, please put them in the freezer for a minimum of ½ hour and a maximum of 1 hour.
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Go for Second Coating:
Take the sticks out of the freezer after the allotted time. Go for a second coating, same as the first one. Dip them in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs mixture. Again let them freeze at the same time as mentioned earlier.
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Air Fry the Sticks:
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Set the temperature to 390°F.put the sticks in a basket with space and allow them to cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the exterior is golden brown.
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Serve it Hot:
Let them be cool enough to avoid burning your tongue and serve hot.
Bottom line:
Mozzarella sticks are easy to make and taste well. It only takes 5 to 8 minutes to cook them in the air fryer. However, it would help if you were very careful as cheese can melt on heating elements, and you end up having a lot of mess.