Why You Should Make French Toast In Your Air Fryer
Air fryers are quickly becoming one of the most popular new appliances, popping up in kitchens across the country at increasing speeds. In fact, according to data from The NPD Group, sales of air fryers increased 76% over the course of 2020 and 2021, and air fryer use at home increased by more than 60% in that time.
With the increased popularity of this kitchen appliance, there is of course no shortage of air fryer cooking hacks. Perhaps the only thing more popular than air fryers is recipes to make in them. There have been many new recipes created just for use of the air fryer, like our recipe for crispy air fryer pretzel chicken fries, while some food bloggers and recipe developers are coming up with remixes on classic dishes updated for the modern equipment. People are air-frying ravioli to make a crispy, cheesy appetizer, and making quick air-fried cookies instead of baking them in a standard oven.
There are countless unique, creative, and surprising dishes you can cook up in the air fryer, including one breakfast classic: French toast. While an air fryer might not be the expected method for cooking up this brunch fave, you might be presently surprised with the results.
The benefits of air-fried French toast
According to Food & Wine, French toast is a dish that dates all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire. With such a history, people have been making French toast every which way over the years. It's only natural that an air fryer recipe for French toast would pop up sooner or later, and there might actually be some benefits to using this appliance over a conventional pan and stovetop method.
A big part of the air fryer's popularity came from the common claim that they were a healthier option for preparing fried foods, as they require less oil, which cuts down on dietary fat and excess calories (via Healthline). Since Fitday notes that French toast is among the fattier and more calorie-dense breakfast meals, air frying could be a good option to make your breakfast a little more health-conscious.
But apart from the health aspect, how does air-fried French toast stack up in terms of taste? When using an air fryer there can be a slight difference in taste due to the smaller amount of oil used when cooking, but the air fryer's main selling point is that they achieve the same level of crispiness without actually frying (per Kitchen Snitches). But since you'll often choose a more neutral-flavored oil for French toast, according to Healthfully, omitting the oil could allow the cinnamony sweet flavor of the egg batter to shine through more. And with that crispy-on-the-outside texture intact, your air fryer French toast will be a hit.