Mushrooms in the Air Fryer
Mushrooms are mostly water, so in a frying pan they either stew in their own liquid or soak up far too much butter. The air fryer drives off the moisture with hot air, which concentrates the flavour and leaves them golden, meaty and slightly crisp at the edges. Ten minutes and a spoonful of oil is all it takes.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 15min
- Prep
- 5min
- Servings
- 2
- Per serving
- 90kcal
Why the air fryer works for mushrooms
Putting mushrooms in air fryer baskets is one of the easiest ways to get the browned, roasted flavour that is hard to achieve in a crowded pan. Mushrooms release a lot of water as they heat, and in a pan that water pools around them. The air fryer's fan keeps the liquid moving and evaporating, so the surface browns and the flavour concentrates instead of turning stewed.
It also needs very little fat. A tablespoon of oil is enough for 250 g, compared with the knob of butter or more that a pan usually takes. Whether you want mushrooms in air fryer form as a side dish, on toast, or mixed into a pasta, the method is the same, and the timings below cover whole, sliced, large and stuffed mushrooms.
How to make mushrooms in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Clean the mushrooms Wipe them with damp kitchen roll or a soft brush rather than washing them, as wet mushrooms steam instead of browning. Trim the stalk ends, then leave small ones whole and halve or quarter large ones.
- Season Toss the mushrooms in a bowl with the olive oil, crushed garlic, thyme, salt and pepper until every piece has a thin coat of oil. Add the salt just before cooking so it does not draw out too much liquid.
- Preheat Heat the air fryer to 180 °C for .
- Cook Tip the mushrooms into the basket in a single layer, with a little space between pieces. Cook for at 180 °C, shaking the basket after . Whole button mushrooms take and large flat mushrooms .
- Finish The mushrooms are ready when they are deep golden, shrunken by about a third and tender in the middle. Sprinkle over the parsley and serve hot.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Mushrooms | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sliced or halved mushroomsShake halfway | 180 °C | 10 min |
| Whole button mushrooms | 180 °C | 8 min |
| Large portobello capsGills up | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Stuffed mushroomsCream cheese, crumbs (not vegan/dairy-free) | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Breaded mushroomsNot gluten-free | 200 °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 mushrooms. Chestnut and button mushrooms hold their shape best. Older, softer ones shrink a lot, so buy slightly more than you think you need.
- Cut them evenly. Pieces of the same size finish at the same time, so quarter large ones and leave small ones whole.
- Season at the end for flavour. A splash of tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) or balsamic vinegar after cooking adds depth without making the mushrooms wet.
Serving
Spoon the mushrooms onto buttered toast with a poached egg, stir them into pasta, or serve them beside a steak or roast. They also suit a vegetarian breakfast with grilled tomatoes and scrambled eggs. If you are using mushrooms in air fryer meals alongside other vegetables, try them with onions or green beans.
Storing and reheating
Cooked mushrooms keep for up to 2 days in a sealed container in the fridge. Reheat them in the air fryer at 180 °C for 3 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C), rather than microwaving them, which makes them rubbery. Do not reheat mushrooms more than once.
Variations
- Stuffed mushrooms: Remove the stalks from 8 large chestnut mushrooms and fill the caps with 100 g soft garlic and herb cream cheese mixed with 2 tbsp breadcrumbs. Cook at 180 °C for 10–12 minutes. This version is not vegan, dairy-free or gluten-free.
- Breaded mushrooms: Coat whole button mushrooms in flour, beaten egg and panko, spray with oil and cook at 200 °C for 8–10 minutes. Serve with garlic mayonnaise. Not gluten-free.
- Garlic butter mushrooms: Replace the oil with 20 g melted butter, add an extra clove of garlic for the last 3 minutes and finish with chopped parsley (not vegan or dairy-free).
Troubleshooting
- The mushrooms are soggy and pale
- They were washed or the basket was overfilled. Wipe rather than rinse, cook in a single layer and shake the basket halfway so the moisture can escape.
- The mushrooms are dry and shrivelled
- They cooked for too long or were cut too thin. Keep slices at least 5 mm thick, and take them out as soon as they are golden.
- The garlic tastes bitter
- Small pieces of garlic burn at a high temperature. Use a crushed clove mixed into the oil, or add it for the last 3 minutes only.
Frequently asked questions
How long do mushrooms take in the air fryer?
Halved or sliced mushrooms take 8–10 minutes at 180 °C, shaken halfway. Whole button mushrooms need about 8 minutes and large portobello caps 10–12 minutes.
Can you cook mushrooms in an air fryer without oil?
Yes. Mushrooms will cook without oil, but they dry out and look dull. A teaspoon per 250 g is enough to give colour and help the seasoning stick.
Can you cook mushrooms whole in an air fryer?
Yes. Small whole mushrooms take 8 minutes at 180 °C. Trim the stalks if they are very long, and shake the basket once so they brown evenly.
Do you need to wash mushrooms before air frying?
No. Wiping them with damp kitchen roll is enough, and keeps them dry so they roast rather than steam.
How long do stuffed mushrooms take in the air fryer?
Stuffed button or chestnut mushrooms take about 10–12 minutes at 180 °C, and large flat ones 12–14 minutes, until the filling is hot and golden.
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