Wondering how long your asparagus needs to remain in an air fryer? Let’s go over all you need to know!
Asparagus should cook in an air fryer for 7 to 8 minutes when placed in a single layer in an air fryer that is heated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In this article, we will go over not only how long to cook asparagus in an air fryer (all you need to know) but we’ll also cover some frequently asked questions on the topic!
Let’s get right into it so you can enjoy your asparagus.
How Long to Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer
How long you cook Asparagus in an air fryer is really a matter of how hot you preheat the air fryer to. For example, if you go with our recommendation of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you are likely to get the fastest cooking time at seven to eight minutes.
However, if you cook the asparagus at a temperature of 350, you’ll need to leave it in for closer to 10 minutes.
If you factor in how long it takes to prepare the asparagus (such as cutting off the parts of the plant that are too thick and stiff to eat or adding toppings) the whole process should take about ten to fifteen minutes before you’re ready to enjoy your veggies!
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What to Serve With Asparagus?
Asparagus is a great vegetable to eat along with a source of dairy. This is because the veggie itself can cling to savory and salty flavors for a fibrous, fresh taste!
Dairy products like butter, or even creamy sauces, can enhance this flavor. One of our favorites to sprinkle on top of a bed of asparagus is parmesan or asiago cheese!
However, asparagus also works as a great side for truffles, a popular choice to accompany this veggie.
Potatoes and a protein, like chicken or even bacon, are also crowd-pleasers when it comes to asparagus accompaniments.
How to Store Leftovers
Storing your asparagus well and safely is important not just so that your enjoyable vegetables do not have to be thrown away, but also to avoid food poisoning and a particularly unpleasant smell lingering in your home!
With that interest in mind, let’s take a look at all the best ways to store asparagus leftovers. First, you’ll need to find a container to place the asparagus in.
This should be airtight. The best options are shallow glass trays with a sealing lid. That being said, a plastic bag with a seal works just as well.
Freezer bags are also great for this goal. Finally, one of the easiest ways to protect asparagus from bacteria and preserve it after cooking it is to simply get some plastic wrap or high-quality aluminum foil and wrap the stalks in that.
Be sure to be thorough so that air cannot get through to the veggies!
When this is done, simply place the asparagus in the refrigerator, where it will last for about two or three days.
After this period of time, asparagus can go bad; generally, if asparagus isn’t eaten fresh, it loses flavor rapidly.
Ingredients
The ingredients that you need to cook asparagus are really just limited to the asparagus itself, especially if you are trying to maximize the plant’s health benefits.
However, there is very little harm in preparing the asparagus with one of the following ingredients:
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese
- Olive Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Chili Pepper
- Pepperjack Cheese
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
You may think that cooked asparagus is nothing but healthy for you, being a vegetable.
For the most part, this is true; however, it can be very helpful to learn the nutrition content per each serving of our recommended asparagus air fryer recipe, which is listed below:
| Nutrition Facts | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | 10 Grams |
| Calories | 120 |
| Protein | 8 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 2 grams |
| Fat | 7 Grams |
| Potassium | 478 Milligrams |
| Cholesterol | 5 Milligrams |
Vegetables like asparagus are very good for you.
According to the experts at Healthline.com, asparagus is already enough of a superfood to help with weight loss, fibrous enough to improve digestion, lower blood pressure, and even aid in healthier outcomes of pregnancy!
Not only these benefits, but once asparagus is cooked, it becomes rich in antioxidants.
There isn’t really a recommended amount of asparagus that is healthy for human beings to limit themselves to; however, if you include high amounts of oil, parmesan cheese, or butter, you may increase your risk of high cholesterol rather than lower it.
Outside of this though, asparagus is simply great for you!
Can You Air Fry Asparagus Without Oil?
Oil is often used to Sautee, roast, or even grill asparagus, so it is no wonder that someone using an air fryer on these veggies for the first time might be curious about whether or not it is okay to air fry your asparagus with oil.
You can absolutely air fry asparagus without using any oil. You only run the risk of having asparagus that is a little dryer or more consistent in flavor, and you also may find that any seasonings you tried to sprinkle onto the asparagus fell away in the air fryer.
However, this does not mean you cannot enjoy asparagus cooked in the air fryer without any oil! Some melted butter is an acceptable alternative, too.
Air Fryer Asparagus FAQs
Looking for more info on asparagus and how to cook it in an air fryer at the best temperature? We’ve got you covered in the frequently asked questions below!
What can I use instead of olive oil on asparagus?
You can technically use lots of different oily liquid bases for asparagus instead of olive oil.
Any kind of vegetable oil works as a great substitute, including avocado oil, which has excellent health benefits.
You can also try lemon juice for flavor or melted butter, though this is less healthy.
What is the healthiest way to eat asparagus?
The healthiest way to get the most out of eating asparagus is to actually combine cooked asparagus, which is rich in antioxidants, with some raw asparagus, which is richer in nutrients such as Vitamin C. Combining both versions of this veggie will give you the best of both worlds.
What temperature do you cook asparagus at?
When roasting asparagus stalks in the oven, it is often advised that you cook the veggies at 425 degrees to make them tender.
However, if you’re using the faster and oftentimes more efficient method of the air fryer, preheating it to 400 degrees and leaving the asparagus inside for at least 7 minutes will achieve excellent and tasty results!
How do you know when asparagus is done?
The best way to tell if your asparagus is really finished cooking and at its very best texture for eating is to check the tenderness of the stalks.
The optimal method for checking tenderness is using the very point or tip of a knife and pricking the thickest part of the asparagus spear.
If the point of the knife goes into this thick, and oftentimes toughest to cook, a section of the asparagus with no fuss, you’ll know that the veggie is tender and ready to be eaten!
If there is a little more persistence needed to pierce the asparagus, continue cooking it until it is tender.
Do you wash asparagus before cooking?
It is very important to thoroughly wash asparagus before trying to cook it.
This is because the head of the asparagus stalk can accumulate fine pieces of dirt, which are hard to spot with the eye but might be easy to taste!
Soaking and following that process with a thorough rinse is the best way to rid your asparagus of any grit.
We recommend using a bowl full of cold water and letting the stalks sit in this water for as many as 5 minutes before rinsing with gentle rubs.
Easy Seasoned Air Fryer Asparagus >> Check out the video below:
In Conclusion
In conclusion, asparagus should be cooked in the air fryer for 7 minutes at least, and 8 minutes at most, when the asparagus is being cooked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is possible to do this without the use of any cooking oil, and the asparagus should be ready as soon as the vegetable is easily pierced with the tip of a knife!
Some of the best things to serve with asparagus are dairy items like cheese or even butter. Many consider truffles to be the best companion to asparagus.
Either way, air frying this veggie is an enjoyable treat!