Scotch Eggs in the Air Fryer
Deep-frying scotch eggs means a pan of hot oil and a lot of mess. Scotch eggs in air fryer baskets need only a light spray of oil, and the crumb turns crisp and golden in about 15 minutes. The sausage meat cooks through while the yolk stays soft and jammy, and you can make them ahead for a picnic or buffet.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 45min
- Prep
- 25min
- Servings
- 4
- Core temp
- 75°C
- Per serving
- 480kcal
Why the air fryer works for scotch eggs
Making scotch eggs in air fryer baskets avoids the main drawback of the classic recipe, a pan of oil heated to 170 °C with a ball of sausage meat that can burst. The air fryer cooks the coating with hot air, so the crumb dries and crisps while the meat cooks through and the egg stays tender. A light coat of spray oil does the rest.
The method is not quite the same as deep-frying, so a few details matter. The sausage meat must be pressed on firmly, the crumb needs oil on all sides, and you need to turn the eggs once so that they brown evenly. A basket of 4 litres holds four scotch eggs in one layer.
How to make scotch eggs in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Boil the eggs Lower 4 eggs into boiling water and cook for for a jammy yolk, or for a firm one. Cool them in iced water for , then peel carefully.
- Prepare the meat Mix the sausage meat with the mustard, sage, salt and pepper. Divide it into 4 equal pieces and flatten each on a sheet of cling film until it is about 12 cm across.
- Wrap Roll an egg in flour, then place it in the middle of a piece of sausage meat. Use the cling film to wrap the meat around the egg, pressing it smooth with no gaps. Chill for if you have time.
- Coat Beat the remaining egg. Roll each wrapped egg in flour, then egg, then panko. Spray or brush lightly with oil.
- Cook Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C. Cook the scotch eggs for , turning them after , until deep golden. The sausage meat must reach 75 °C in the centre, as the FSA advises for minced meat. Rest for before cutting.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Scotch Eggs | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade scotch eggsTurn halfway | 180 °C | 15 min |
| Mini scotch eggs (quail eggs) | 180 °C | 8–10 min |
| Chilled shop-bought scotch eggsCheck the packet | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Scotch eggs with black pudding | 180 °C | 15–16 min |
| Reheating scotch eggs | 160 °C | 6–8 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.
Tips
- Start with cold, peeled eggs. Warm eggs soften the meat as you wrap. Chill the wrapped eggs for 15 minutes before coating if the kitchen is warm.
- Choose a good sausage meat. A high-meat pork sausage meat, or 6 pork sausages with the skins removed, holds together better than cheap, watery meat.
- Use a thermometer. Cut the first one open to check, and use a probe in the sausage meat to confirm 75 °C. Never judge by colour alone.
Serving
Serve scotch eggs warm with piccalilli, mustard or brown sauce and a green salad, or cold in a picnic or ploughman's lunch. They sit well alongside sausage rolls and pickles on a buffet table. For a bigger plate, add new potatoes or roasted tomatoes. Cooking scotch eggs in air fryer batches is easy to repeat, so you can make a second round while the first rests.
Storing and reheating
Cooked scotch eggs keep for up to 2 days in the fridge in a covered container. Reheat them in the air fryer at 160 °C for 6–8 minutes, turning once, until they are steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the sausage meat). Cold, they are fine to eat straight from the fridge.
Variations
- Spiced: Add 1 tsp curry powder or smoked paprika to the sausage meat.
- With black pudding: Mix 80 g of crumbled black pudding into the sausage meat for a deeper flavour.
- Mini scotch eggs: Use peeled boiled quail eggs and 20 g of sausage meat each, and cook for 8–10 minutes.
Troubleshooting
- The sausage meat splits or comes away
- The egg was wet or the layer too thin. Dry the peeled eggs, dust them with flour so the meat grips, and press the sausage meat into an even layer about 1 cm thick.
- The crumb is pale or patchy
- Spray oil over every part of the crumb, including the underside, and use panko, which crisps better than fine breadcrumbs. Do not crowd the basket.
- The yolk is hard
- The egg was boiled too long or the scotch egg cooked for too long. A 6-minute egg and 15 minutes in the air fryer gives a jammy yolk with safely cooked sausage meat.
Frequently asked questions
How long do scotch eggs take in an air fryer?
About 15 minutes at 180 °C, turned halfway, for a scotch egg made with a boiled egg and sausage meat. Larger ones may need 18 minutes.
Can you cook scotch eggs in an air fryer?
Yes. They cook well in a basket air fryer, and use far less oil than deep-frying. A light spray of oil is all the crumb needs.
Can you cook scotch eggs from raw egg in an air fryer?
It is better to boil the eggs first. A raw egg inside would not be cooked by the time the sausage meat reaches 75 °C, and it can burst.
How do you reheat scotch eggs in an air fryer?
Cook shop-bought or homemade scotch eggs at 160 °C for 6–8 minutes, turning once, until steaming hot all the way through.
How do you make scotch eggs with a runny yolk?
Use eggs boiled for 5½–6 minutes. The yolk will stay soft. Use British Lion eggs, which the FSA says are safe to eat runny or lightly cooked.
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