Roasted Tomatoes in the Air Fryer
Tomatoes on a full English breakfast should be soft, sweet and lightly browned, not watery or split. Roasted tomatoes in the air fryer take about 10 minutes at 180 °C, and the hot air blisters the cut surface while keeping the juices inside. The same method makes intensely sweet roasted cherry tomatoes for pasta sauce, soup and salsa.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 15min
- Prep
- 5min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 50kcal
Why the air fryer works for roasted tomatoes
Roasted tomatoes in air fryer baskets cook faster than under a grill, and they are easier to control. The fan keeps the cut surface blistering and browning while the skin side steams the flesh, so the tomato softens and sweetens without collapsing. On a grill tray the outside often chars while the middle stays cool, but the moving air evens that out.
For a cooked breakfast, this is also a space saver. The tomatoes take about 10 minutes, so you can cook them in the first batch and keep them warm while the bacon or sausages go in. If you want to use them as the base for a sauce, the same method works on whole cherry tomatoes, where the heat concentrates the sugars into something close to sun-dried flavour.
How to roast tomatoes in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Cut Halve the tomatoes across the middle, through the equator, not through the stalk. Cut out any hard core with the tip of a knife.
- Season Brush the cut sides with the oil and sprinkle over the oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. If the tomatoes are very juicy, blot the cut sides with kitchen roll first so that the seasoning sticks.
- Preheat and load Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Place the tomatoes cut side up in a single layer in the basket with a small gap between them. Do not stack them.
- Cook Cook for without turning. Medium tomatoes are done in and large ones in 10. They should be soft, blistered and a little dark on top, but still hold their shape.
- Lift out gently Use a flat spatula to lift the halves out, as they are fragile. Serve while hot, spooning over any juices left in the basket.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Roasted Tomatoes | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato halves, largeCut side up | 180 °C | 8–10 min |
| Cherry tomatoes, wholeShake halfway | 180 °C | 6–8 min |
| Plum tomato halves | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Slow-roasted tomatoesSweet and shrivelled | 120 °C | 40–50 min |
| Parmesan-topped tomatoesAdd cheese for last 3 min (not vegan) | 180 °C | 8–10 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
- Choose firm, just-ripe tomatoes. Soft, very ripe tomatoes will slump and release too much juice. Vine tomatoes of medium size are ideal for the breakfast version.
- Cut cleanly across the middle. A flat, wide cut surface browns better than a stalk-to-base cut. Use a serrated knife for a clean slice.
- Save the juices. The liquid that collects in the bottom of the basket is full of flavour. Spoon it over toast or stir it into beans or a sauce.
Serving
Serve the tomatoes on a cooked breakfast with eggs, bacon and mushrooms, or on toast with a little feta and basil for brunch. Blended, the cherry tomato version makes a quick pasta sauce or a tomato soup with a pinch of sugar and a splash of stock. See our breakfast recipes for more morning ideas.
Storing and reheating
Roasted tomatoes keep for up to 3 days in a covered container in the fridge. Blitzed with garlic and oil, the roasted cherry tomatoes freeze well for up to 3 months. To reheat, put them in the air fryer at 160 °C for 3 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C). Roasted tomatoes in air fryer batches are also good cold, in salads or sandwiches.
Variations
- Balsamic and basil: Drizzle 1 tsp balsamic vinegar over each half before cooking and add torn basil afterwards for a sweeter, more Italian flavour.
- Breadcrumb topping: Mix 3 tbsp breadcrumbs with parsley, garlic and oil, then press onto the halves for the last 4 minutes. Not gluten-free.
- Parmesan tomatoes: Add a pinch of grated parmesan for the last 3 minutes. This version is not vegan.
Troubleshooting
- The tomatoes collapse into mush
- They are overripe or cooked too long. Choose firm, just-ripe tomatoes and take them out as soon as the skin starts to wrinkle, usually at 8 minutes for medium ones.
- The tops burn before the middle softens
- The tomatoes were too close to the heat. Lower the temperature to 160 °C and cook for 12 minutes, or put a sheet of foil lightly over the top for the first half.
- The tomatoes stick to the basket
- The sugars in the juice caramelise on the metal. Brush the basket lightly with oil, or cook the halves on a piece of perforated baking paper.
Frequently asked questions
How long do roasted tomatoes take in the air fryer?
Tomato halves take 8–10 minutes at 180 °C. Cherry tomatoes take 6–8 minutes and need shaking halfway.
How do you make roasted cherry tomatoes in the air fryer for sauce or soup?
Toss 400 g cherry tomatoes with 1 tbsp oil, salt and 2 garlic cloves, then cook at 180 °C for 8 minutes, shaking twice. The skins split and the juices thicken, ready to blend for sauce, soup or salsa.
Can you make grilled tomatoes in the air fryer?
Yes. In the UK, grilled tomatoes for a breakfast are the same dish as the roasted halves here. The air fryer gives the same blistered top as a grill, without turning the grill on.
Can you slow-roast tomatoes in an air fryer?
Yes, if your machine goes down to 120 °C. Halve plum tomatoes, season them and cook for 40–50 minutes, until shrivelled and sweet.
Can I cook the tomatoes with a full English?
Yes. Cook them in the same basket as mushrooms for 8–10 minutes, then use the hot air fryer for bacon or sausages while the tomatoes rest.
Rate this recipe
5.0 out of 5 · 89 ratings
