Breaded Mushrooms in the Air Fryer
Pub-style breaded mushrooms are usually deep-fried, which makes them heavy and greasy. Breaded mushrooms in air fryer baskets finish in about 10 minutes with a thin, crunchy coating and a juicy mushroom inside. This page covers the homemade version with a flour, egg and breadcrumb coating, and how to cook frozen ones.
- Temperature
- 190°C
- Total time
- 25min
- Prep
- 15min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 265kcal
Why the air fryer works for breaded mushrooms
Breaded mushrooms are a pub-menu classic, and the air fryer is a good way to make them at home. A mushroom is mostly water, so in a hot pan the coating can go soggy. The dry, circulating air works quickly, setting the breadcrumb crust before the moisture in the mushroom can soften it, and the mushroom itself stays juicy in the middle. You get a crisp bite with only a tablespoon of oil.
Air fryer breaded mushrooms are a different dish from the filled kind in a cap, which have a soft cheesy topping rather than a crumb shell. Here the whole mushroom is coated, so button mushrooms of 3–4 cm work best. The method is the same for shop-bought frozen ones, although they cook faster.
How to make breaded mushrooms in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Prepare the mushrooms Wipe the mushrooms clean with kitchen roll and trim the stalks flush with the cap. Do not rinse them, as wet mushrooms make the crumb slide off.
- Set up the coating Mix the flour with the garlic granules, paprika, salt and pepper on a plate. Put the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl and the panko on a third plate, mixed with the oil.
- Coat Roll each mushroom in the flour, dip in the egg, then press firmly into the breadcrumbs. Repeat for a thicker crust if you like.
- Cook Preheat the air fryer to 190 °C for . Place the mushrooms in a single layer, leaving a small gap between each. Cook for , shaking the basket after , until golden and crisp.
- Make the dip Stir the mayonnaise, garlic and lemon juice together. Serve the mushrooms straight away with the dip.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Breaded Mushrooms | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade breaded button mushroomsShake halfway | 190 °C | 10–12 min |
| Halved larger mushrooms | 190 °C | 12–14 min |
| Frozen breaded mushroomsCook from frozen | 200 °C | 8–10 min |
| Breaded garlic mushroomsAdd garlic butter to the crumb | 190 °C | 10–12 min |
| Reheating cooked mushrooms | 180 °C | 4–5 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
You may also like: Baking paper and foil in an air fryer
Tips
- Use small, firm mushrooms. Button mushrooms of about 3 cm are ideal. Larger ones release more water and need longer.
- Dry-hand, wet-hand. Use one hand for the dry flour and crumbs and the other for the egg, so your fingers do not get clogged with batter.
- Coat just before cooking. Mushrooms left coated for a long time weep, and the crust turns patchy.
Serving
Serve breaded mushrooms with garlic mayonnaise, tartare sauce or a sweet chilli dip as a starter, or as part of a pub-style night in with chips and a salad. They also go well with roasted onions on a sharing platter. For other times and temperatures, see the air fryer cooking times chart. Breaded mushrooms in air fryer batches are best eaten within a few minutes of cooking.
Storing and reheating
Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 180 °C for 4–5 minutes, until crisp and steaming hot all the way through (75 °C). Uncooked breaded mushrooms can be frozen on a tray, then bagged, and cooked from frozen at 200 °C for 10–12 minutes.
Variations
- Garlic and parsley: Mix 1 tsp garlic granules and 1 tbsp chopped parsley into the breadcrumbs.
- Vegan: Replace the eggs with 100 ml oat milk mixed with 1 tbsp cornflour, and use plant-based mayonnaise for the dip.
- Cheddar crumb: Mix 30 g finely grated mature cheddar into the panko for a richer, cheesy crust.
Troubleshooting
- The crumb falls off
- The mushrooms were damp or the coating was loose. Wipe them dry, press the crumbs firmly on and do not move the mushrooms during the first 5 minutes of cooking.
- The coating is pale
- Panko needs a little fat to brown. Mix 1 tbsp oil into the crumbs or spray lightly, and always preheat the basket.
- The mushrooms are watery
- Mushrooms hold a lot of water. Do not wash them, use smaller ones, and serve straight away rather than letting them sit.
Frequently asked questions
How long do breaded mushrooms take in an air fryer?
Homemade breaded button mushrooms take 10–12 minutes at 190 °C, shaken halfway. Larger mushrooms or halves take 12–14 minutes.
Can you cook frozen breaded mushrooms in the air fryer?
Yes, from frozen at 200 °C for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway. The filling must be steaming hot all the way through (75 °C). Always follow the packet if it differs.
Can you make breaded mushrooms without egg?
Yes. Dip the floured mushrooms in plant milk mixed with a little cornflour or in a thin flour-and-water batter instead of egg, then roll in crumbs.
How do you reheat breaded mushrooms in the air fryer?
Heat at 180 °C for 4–5 minutes, until crisp and steaming hot (75 °C). The microwave makes the coating soft.
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