How to Cook Frozen Vegetables In An Air Fryer

As part of our commitment to make healthy eating easier, we at Tommy’s want to help you find plenty of options for preparing our veggies. In the past, we’ve talked about sauteeing, roasting, grilling, and even cooking them on a campfire! And today, we’re sharing another option with you: how to cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer.

What Is An Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a bit like a countertop convection oven. It works sort of like a deep fryer, but instead of using heavy amounts of oil, an air fryer uses hot air and a small amount of oil. The top of the fryer has a fan and heating mechanism. The food is placed in a typical fryer-style basket, and then hot air moves down and around it. The quick circulation of the hot air crisps the food, just like a deep fryer.

How Can I Cook Frozen Vegetables In An Air Fryer?

When it comes to preparing frozen food, air fryers are a great alternative to roasting and sauteeing. Using an air fryer for frozen vegetables requires less oil and fewer dishes, which can save you time in the kitchen! Here’s how we recommend you cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer:

1. Preheat your air fryer. We recommend heating your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place your vegetables in the fryer basket. Depending on which veggies you’re using, you may need to spread them out or keep them grouped together. We recommend that veggies with higher moisture content and lower density (Broccoli and Green Chickpeas, Veggie Medley, Cauliflower and Green Beans, and Asian Fusion) should be kept in a mound in the center of the basket. Veggies that are super dense with lower moisture content (Brussels Sprouts, Root Fusion, and Cauliflower & Purple Sweet Potatoes) should be spread out in the basket. 
3. Spray your vegetables for 1-2 seconds with some olive oil. If you don’t have a sprayer, you can drizzle the veggies lightly with olive oil for 1-2 seconds instead.
4. The cook time will depend on which Tommy’s product you are using. For Broccoli & Green Chickpeas, Veggie Medley, Cauliflower and Green Beans, and Asian Fusion, we recommend 6-8 minutes. For Brussels Sprouts, Root Fusion, and Cauliflower & Purple Sweet Potatoes, we recommend 8-10 minutes.

The results of the air fryer are similar to roasting Tommy’s in a hot oven, but it takes even less time! Just remember, leaving the vegetables in the fryer too long can dehydrate/shrink them (see the photo below ?), so using higher temperatures with shorter cook times is important for the perfect veggie.

We know, those are some scary looking veggies! But don’t worry, if you follow our instructions you can have beautiful air-fried veggies just like these:

If you want to know more about preparing your favorite frozen vegetable blends, check out our previous cooking tips!

Healthy Eating Options

No matter which of these blends you’re using, cooking frozen vegetables in an air fryer will provide you with crunchy, flavorful vegetables in a matter of minutes. And we save you even more time with pre-washed, pre-cut, and pre-seasoned products! So, what are you waiting for? Get frying!

Have you used an air fryer to cook frozen vegetables? Leave us a comment and let us know how you did it! Or, tag us in your air fryer success photos on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!