Air Fryer Cauliflower 氣炸鍋菜花

How Do You Make Cauliflower Not Mushy?

Air Frying broccoli is fantastic! It is fun to switch up your cauliflower routine and guarantees 100% turnout. While the saute and steam method is excellent, sometimes we add just a little too much water, and the cauliflower becomes too mushy and soft. 

I think cooking cauliflower in the oven is great, just not in the summer. I do not want to turn on my oven when it is 40 degrees outside! Sometimes, when you add a little too much oil, the oven roasted cauliflowers gets mushy!

Cooking cauliflower in the air fryer seriously yields the best cauliflower side dish! It is an excellent cooking method without using a lot of oil to get the job done right. Take this Garlicky Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts recipe a try!

You can use the same method with other Cruciferous vegetables like broccolli and broccolini. Cauliflower and broccoli belong to the same Brassicaceae mustard family of vegetables. 

Cauliflower and Cruciferous Vegetable Benefits

The cruciferous vegetable is those with edible flower buds and stalks. The list includes arugula, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, horseradish, turnips, radish, watercress, collard greens, etc. 

• Rich sources of fibre; vitamins C, E, and K, sulphur, carotenoids, folate, glucosinolates and minerals. 
• Cruciferous vegetables may help prevent clogged arteries, reduce artery thickness and improve cardiovascular heart health.

What Do Broccoli and Broccolini Taste Like?

Cauliflower - Mild and nutty with sweet undertones.  

Chinese (Taiwanese) Cauliflower - Greener, more vibrant and sweeter than the regular Western cauliflowers. 

What is Chinese Cauliflower?

Karifurore Cauliflower resembles a bouquet of baby's breath, and their looseheads consist of branching or slender stocks that are smooth, crisp, firm and vibrantly green.

Taiwanese cauliflower is an excellent vitamin C antioxidant and rich in dietary fibre, vitamin K, and potassium.

Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Cooking Tips

Air Fryer Cauliflower is one of the simplest ways to indulge in roasted vegetables at a fraction of the time! This nutrient-rich vegetable dish is mess-free and will not heat up the house!

What You Will Need To Make Air Fryer Cauliflower

Cauliflower - Use Cauliflower florets or tender young Karifurore cauliflower stalks with fluffy tiny florets at the top to absorb flavours and seasonings.

Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil -  Use one or two tablespoon of olive oil is enough to toss and evenly coat your vegetables.

Seasoning - The essential salt and pepper is a delicious start. Adding some garlic powder or paprika is a nice boost of flavour.

Water: Add two tablespoons of water to the air fryer. The extra water will help the air fryer not smoke and steam the cauliflower tenderly.

Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower?

Absolutely! Do not hesitate to cook frozen cauliflower in air fryer. The excess water will work to help tenderize and steam the vegetable.

Air Frying Cauliflower 101

How to cook corn on the cauliflower in an air fryer? Here are some valuable tips for you to nail that perfect char.

1. Remove the florets from your head of cauliflower. Approximately 2-inch florets.
2. Evenly coat the cauliflower with olive oil. Cooking spray oil works too.
3. Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, garlic powder and chilli powder if you prefer. Gently coat all sides.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
5. Next, arrange the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. You are better off repeating this process if you can't fit in all the cauliflower.
6. How long to cook cauliflower in the air fryer? Air Fry for 10 minutes (I use the Ninja Foodi, and I love it!). Flipping halfway and checking at the 5-minute mark.
7. Carefully remove from the air fryer, serve and enjoy.

Enjoy your perfectly charred, roasted, healthy cauliflower recipe with your favourite protein!

BEST AIR FRYER TIPS

If you've never cooked with an air fryer before, this small kitchen appliance can be a little intimidating. However, I swear by its convenience and versatility and its use of rapidly circulating hot air to cook crispy food without using too much oil!

Here are a few tips for anyone who has (or is planning on getting) an air fryer!

1. What is the best temperate to air fry cauliflower?

It is best to air fry cauliflower at 400F to mimic the high heat temperature of an oven. Don't worry! Your cauliflower will still be tender with just the right about of char.

2. How long should I air fry cauliflower for?

Depending on the size and how much cauliflower you put into the air fryer, 10 minutes should cook it thoroughly with a slight char. This also depends on the model of your air fryer, so you may want to reduce or increase the air frying time by one to two minutes.

3. Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

Based on experience, you should always preheat the air fryer before filling it with food. By doing this, the air fryer's temperature is more consistent, and your food will cook more evenly. Simply preheat your air fryer for two to three minutes before cooking.

4. How to choose the right air fryer?

Choosing the right air fryer for your kitchen depends on your lifestyle, available counter space, and if you intend to cook small or big batch meals. For us, we like the supersized XXL units that are big enough to cook a small chicken or 2 lbs chicken wings inside like THIS air fryer!