Pies in the Air Fryer
Shop-bought pies are quick, but the oven needs 30 minutes or more and the microwave leaves the pastry soft. Pies in air fryer baskets come out with a crisp, golden crust and a hot filling in 20–25 minutes from frozen, and leftover slices or pasties reheat in a few minutes. Here are the timings for steak pies, meat pies, Scotch pies and Cornish pasties.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 30min
- Prep
- 3min
- Servings
- 4
- Core temp
- 75°C
- Per serving
- 510kcal
Why the air fryer works for pies
Pies in air fryer baskets suit a food that is really pastry plus a hot filling. The oven takes a long time to heat up and often leaves the base pale. A microwave heats the filling but turns the pastry soft. The air fryer blows hot air across the whole surface, so the top turns crisp and golden, and the heat reaches the filling in 20–25 minutes from frozen, without preheating a full oven.
There are limits. The basket is small, so it works best with individual steak pies, meat pies, Scotch pies and Cornish pasties that fit the basket with 2–3 cm of space around them. Large family pies need a big air fryer, and are usually better in the oven. For the same idea with a baked pasta dish, see lasagne in the air fryer.
How to cook pies in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Check the packaging Look at the pack. Remove any cardboard or plastic. A foil case can stay on, but take off any loose foil lid and make sure the foil does not lift in the airflow. Pies in plastic or paper trays must come out of them.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Do not thaw the pies; frozen pastry holds its shape better.
- Cook from frozen Place the pies in the basket, leaving 2–3 cm between them. Cook for . At , brush the top with a little milk if the pastry looks dry, and turn the pies over only if the base is pale.
- Check the filling Slide a thermometer through the pastry into the centre. The Food Standards Agency says reheated and ready-to-heat food must be steaming hot all the way through, so look for 75 °C. If the top is brown but the middle is cool, cover with a piece of foil and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Rest Leave the pies for . The filling is very hot and the gravy inside will be loose straight from the air fryer.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Pies | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen individual piesDo not thaw | 180 °C | 20–25 min |
| Chilled individual pies | 180 °C | 12–15 min |
| Frozen Cornish pastyTurn halfway | 180 °C | 22–25 min |
| Chilled Scotch pie | 180 °C | 8–10 min |
| Reheating a cooked pie | 160 °C | 8–10 min |
| Reheating a slice or pasty | 160 °C | 5–6 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 75 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
You may also like: How to convert oven recipes to the air fryer
Tips
- Follow the pack first. Use the oven instructions as a starting point and take about 20% off the time or 20 °C off the temperature, then check the centre with a thermometer.
- Leave space around each pie. Air must circulate under and beside the pastry, so cook two or three at a time rather than packing the basket.
- Do not cook them hotter than 180 °C. The pastry browns long before a frozen filling thaws, and the middle stays cold.
Serving
Serve a pie with mashed potato, peas and gravy, or with chips and baked beans. Steak pie in air fryer baskets goes well with roasted carrots or green beans, which can cook in the same machine once the pies are out and resting. A Cornish pasty is a meal on its own with a simple salad.
Storing and reheating
Cooked pies keep for up to 2 days in the fridge, covered. Reheating pies in air fryer baskets is the best way to bring back crisp pastry. Put the pie in at 160 °C for 8–10 minutes (5–6 minutes for a slice or pasty) until it is steaming hot all the way through, with 75 °C in the centre. Only reheat the filling once.
Variations
- Chicken and mushroom or pot pies: Cook at 180 °C for the same time. Pot pies with only a pastry lid are done once the lid is golden and the filling bubbles.
- Party pies and mini pies: Cook them from frozen at 180 °C for 8–10 minutes in a single layer.
- Pie with a crisper top: Brush the top with milk or beaten egg for the last 5 minutes for extra shine and colour.
Troubleshooting
- The top is dark but the middle is still cold
- The heat was too high for a thick filling. Lower the temperature to 170 °C, cover the top loosely with foil and cook for 5–8 more minutes until the centre reaches 75 °C.
- The pastry base is soggy
- Moisture is trapped under the pie. Take it out of its foil tray for the last 5 minutes, or stand it on a perforated liner so air reaches the base.
- The pastry lid lifts off or blows around
- The lightweight pastry is moved by the fan. Weigh it down with a metal trivet, or spear it lightly with a cocktail stick, and keep the pie out of the way of the heating element.
Frequently asked questions
How long do frozen pies take in an air fryer?
Individual frozen pies take 20–25 minutes at 180 °C. Large family pies in a foil tin need 30–35 minutes at 160 °C and only fit a large air fryer.
Can you cook a pie in an air fryer?
Yes, as long as it fits the basket with some space around it. The air fryer crisps the pastry, but a pie bigger than about 18 cm is better in the oven.
How do you reheat a pie in an air fryer?
Put a cooked pie in at 160 °C for 8–10 minutes, or 5–6 minutes for a single slice or pasty, until it is steaming hot in the middle (75 °C).
How long do Scotch pies take in an air fryer?
Chilled Scotch pies need 8–10 minutes at 180 °C and frozen ones about 18–20 minutes. Check that the middle is steaming hot.
Do I need foil for pies in the air fryer?
Not usually. Use a small piece loosely over the top only if the pastry is browning too quickly, and never block the airflow underneath.
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