Roasted Garlic in the Air Fryer
Roasting garlic turns sharp, pungent cloves into a soft, sweet, spreadable paste. The oven takes 40 minutes or more, but the air fryer gets there in about 20 minutes with a drizzle of oil. You can squeeze the cloves onto bread, mash them into potatoes or stir them into sauces, soups and dressings.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 35min
- Prep
- 5min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 45kcal
Why the air fryer works for roasted garlic
Roasted garlic in air fryer baskets is quicker and uses less energy than the oven. The compact heating space gets hot fast, and because the garlic is wrapped in foil, it steams and caramelises at the same time. You end up with creamy, mild cloves that are nothing like raw garlic, and you do not need to heat a full oven for a single bulb.
The method is easy to scale. Roast garlic in air fryer form will cook two bulbs as easily as one, so it is worth doing a few at a time and keeping the extras for the week. You can also use roasted garlic air fryer cloves in all kinds of dishes: spread on toast, stirred into mashed potato, whisked into mayonnaise or blended into hummus.
How to roast garlic in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Trim the bulbs Keep the papery skin on, and slice about 1 cm off the top of each bulb so that the tops of all the cloves are exposed. Peel away only the loose outer layers.
- Oil and season Put each bulb on a square of foil, cut side up. Drizzle 1 tsp of oil over each, add a thyme sprig and a pinch of salt, then wrap the foil loosely around the bulb.
- Cook Heat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Place the wrapped bulbs in the basket and cook for at 180 °C. Large bulbs may need up to .
- Check Open the foil carefully, as steam escapes. The garlic is ready when the cloves are golden, soft and squash easily under a knife. If they are still firm, re-wrap and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Cool and squeeze Leave the bulbs to cool for , then squeeze the cloves from the base. They should pop out as a soft, sweet paste.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Roasted Garlic | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Whole garlic bulb in foilCut top off | 180 °C | 20 min |
| Large bulb | 180 °C | 25 min |
| Garlic bulb without foilIn a small dish | 180 °C | 22–25 min |
| Peeled garlic clovesShake halfway | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Slow roasted garlicExtra soft and sweet | 150 °C | 30–35 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: Christmas dinner in an air fryer
Tips
- Choose firm, heavy bulbs. Fresh garlic with tight skin roasts evenly. Sprouting or soft bulbs turn bitter and rubbery.
- Leave the skin on. The skin protects the cloves from burning and makes squeezing easier at the end.
- Cool before you squeeze. The cloves are very hot inside. Give them 10 minutes and use a spoon if your fingers are sensitive to the heat.
Serving
Spread the soft cloves on toasted sourdough, stir them into mashed potatoes or jacket potatoes, or mash them with butter for a quick garlic bread. They also suit roasted cauliflower and broccoli. Roasted garlic in air fryer batches also adds depth to soups and dressings, and a few cloves with olive oil make a simple dip.
Storing and reheating
Garlic is a low-acid vegetable, and when it is stored in oil without oxygen it can allow harmful bacteria, including those that cause botulism, to grow. For that reason, never keep roasted garlic in oil at room temperature. Put the squeezed cloves in a clean, sealed container, cover them with a little oil if you like, store them in the fridge and use them within 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the cloves flat on a tray and then pack them into a bag for up to 3 months. To reheat chilled cloves, put them in the air fryer at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C).
Variations
- Garlic and rosemary: Use a sprig of rosemary instead of thyme, and add a few drops of lemon juice to the finished paste.
- Chilli roasted garlic: Add a pinch of chilli flakes to the oil before wrapping the bulbs.
- Honey garlic: Drizzle ½ tsp of honey over each bulb for the final 5 minutes for a sweeter paste (not vegan).
Troubleshooting
- The garlic is burnt and bitter
- The cloves were exposed to direct heat. Keep them wrapped in foil, make sure they are covered in oil and reduce the temperature to 160 °C for another batch.
- The cloves are still hard in the middle
- The bulbs were large or the foil was wrapped too tightly. Cook for another 5 minutes, and check that the top of each clove has been cut open.
- The roasted garlic goes off quickly
- Garlic stored in oil can grow harmful bacteria at room temperature. Keep it in the fridge and use it within 3 days, or freeze it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does garlic take to roast in an air fryer?
A whole bulb takes about 20 minutes at 180 °C. Individual peeled cloves take 10–12 minutes at 180 °C, shaken halfway.
Can you roast garlic in the air fryer without foil?
Yes. Put the oiled bulb in a small ovenproof dish or silicone cup, or use a small piece of baking paper. Cook for 22–25 minutes and expect the exposed tops to be slightly darker.
Can you roast garlic in an air fryer without oil?
You can, but wrap the bulb in foil with 1 tbsp of water instead. The cloves will steam rather than roast and be a little less sweet.
How long can you keep roasted garlic?
Keep it in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. If it is covered in oil, the fridge is essential and the garlic should be used within a few days. You can also freeze the cloves for up to 3 months.
What temperature should you roast garlic at in an air fryer?
180 °C works well. It gives soft, sweet cloves without burning the papery skin or the exposed tops.
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