Fried Eggs in the Air Fryer
Fried eggs in air fryer baskets cook without a frying pan, without spitting fat and with just a teaspoon of oil. The egg sits in a small dish in the basket, the hot air sets the white from above and below, and in 4–7 minutes you have lacy edges and a yolk as runny or as firm as you like. It is useful when the hob is full or you are making a fry-up for a crowd.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 7min
- Prep
- 2min
- Servings
- 2
- Per serving
- 95kcal
Why the air fryer works for fried eggs
Cooking fried eggs in air fryer baskets avoids the usual frying pan troubles of spitting oil, stuck whites and a runny top that never quite sets. The hot dish sets the base while moving air cooks the top, so the white sets evenly. The edges turn lacy and golden, and the yolk stays soft if you take the egg out in time.
It also frees the hob. If you are making a full breakfast, the eggs can cook in the air fryer while bacon and sausages cook on the hob or in a second batch. One honest limit is that the air fryer does not baste the egg, so you will not get the cooked-over yolk of a pan-fried egg. If you want a flipped egg, turn it once with a spatula.
The Food Standards Agency says eggs with the British Lion mark can be eaten runny, including by pregnant women, babies and older people. Eggs without the mark should be cooked until firm for those groups.
How to fry eggs in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Prepare the dish Choose a small metal dish, a foil tray or a piece of perforated baking paper cut to fit. Brush it with the oil so the egg does not stick. Ceramic ramekins also work, but put them in a cold basket (do not preheat them empty) so they do not crack, and allow longer.
- Preheat Set the air fryer to 180 °C and heat it for with the empty metal dish inside. If you use baking paper or a ceramic ramekin, preheat the empty basket only and add the dish with the egg. A hot dish starts to set the white straight away and gives you crisp, frilly edges.
- Add the eggs Carefully crack one egg into the hot dish, using oven gloves, or crack it into a small bowl first and slide it in. Cook one egg per dish, so each has room to spread.
- Cook Cook at 180 °C for for a runny yolk, or for a set yolk. The white should be completely opaque with no clear patches around the yolk.
- Serve Lift the dish out with tongs or oven gloves. Slide the egg onto toast, season with salt and pepper and serve straight away, before the yolk keeps cooking in the hot dish.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Fried Eggs | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Runny yolkSunny-side up | 180 °C | 4–5 min |
| Set yolkFor anyone avoiding runny eggs | 180 °C | 6–7 min |
| Over easyFlip once after 4 minutes | 180 °C | 5–6 min |
| In a silicone mouldStand it in a ramekin so it stays put | 180 °C | 5–6 min |
| On baking paperUse a small paper case or perforated sheet | 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.
Tips
- Use a dish with sides. A small metal dish, a foil tray or a silicone mould keeps the egg in place. A flat sheet of paper lets the white run and the fan push it around.
- Cook one egg per dish. If two eggs share a dish, the whites merge and the second yolk is often overcooked by the time the first one is set.
- Time it by the white. Look for a fully opaque white and a yolk that wobbles. Remember that the dish keeps cooking the egg for a minute after you lift it out.
Serving
Serve the eggs on buttered toast with roasted tomatoes and sausages, or on top of a burger or a bowl of rice. For other ways to cook eggs, see boiled eggs, scrambled eggs and an omelette. Fried eggs in air fryer timings are short, so make the toast first and keep it warm.
Storing and reheating
Fried eggs are best eaten fresh. If you have a spare, keep it covered in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat it in the air fryer at 160 °C for 2 minutes, until steaming hot. The yolk will set firm, so it suits a sandwich or a salad rather than a runny breakfast.
Variations
- Cheesy fried egg: Add a small pinch of grated cheddar to the white for the last minute so it melts but does not burn (not dairy-free).
- Egg in a hole: Cut a hole in a slice of bread, put it in the oiled dish and crack the egg into the middle. Cook at 180 °C for 5–6 minutes (not gluten-free).
- Spiced fried egg: Sprinkle a little smoked paprika or chilli flakes over the white before cooking for a gentle kick.
Troubleshooting
- The egg blows around the basket
- The fan can lift the white before it sets. Keep the egg in a dish with sides, and weigh down any baking paper with the dish or a little food so it cannot lift.
- The white is still clear on top
- Fried egg whites set from the bottom. Add 1 minute, or lay a small piece of foil loosely over the dish for the last minute to trap the heat.
- The edges are brown and tough
- The dish was too hot or the egg stayed in too long. Lower the temperature to 170 °C and cook for 1 minute longer, or take the egg out as soon as the white is set.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fry eggs in an air fryer?
Yes. Technically they are baked in a hot dish rather than fried in fat, but the result looks and tastes like a sunny-side-up fried egg, with set white and a runny or firm yolk.
How long do fried eggs take in an air fryer?
At 180 °C, 4–5 minutes gives a runny yolk and 6–7 minutes a set one. A small dish or foil tray cooks the base a little faster than a thick ceramic ramekin.
Do you need oil to fry eggs in an air fryer?
A little oil stops the egg sticking and helps the edges crisp, but a teaspoon is plenty. You can also use a nonstick silicone mould with a light brush of oil.
Can you cook fried eggs on baking paper in an air fryer?
Yes, use perforated baking paper or a small paper case. Weigh the paper down with the egg, and never preheat the air fryer with loose paper in the basket, because it can lift into the heating element.
Are runny fried eggs safe?
The Food Standards Agency says eggs with the British Lion mark can be eaten runny, including by pregnant women, babies and older people. If your eggs are not marked, cook them until the white and yolk are firm.
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