Can you Toast a Bagel in an Air Fryer?

There is nothing more delicious, or convenient than a perfectly toasted bagel for breakfast or brunch! Bagels are perfect for busy mornings and super customizable, too. 

Did you know that you can use your air fryer to toast a bagel? This toasting technique is great if you ditched the toaster or toaster oven for extra counter space.

Air fryers circulate hot air to cook food, which gives air fryer bagels a crispy, golden brown crust. Keep reading to discover the best way to use the air fryer to achieve a bagel that is toasted to perfection.

Interested in making your own bagels at home? Check out this recipe for Jerusalem Bagels, or these classic New York-style Bagels. Once you try homemade bagels, you'll never go back to store-bought! 

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How to toast a bagel in a basket-style air fryer

Air fryer recipes are very popular and it is easy to see why. Air fryers help make food crispy without having to turn on a conventional oven.

Using the air fryer to achieve the perfectly toasted bagel requires that you follow a few simple steps. First, you will want to slice your bagel in half using a sharp knife.

Next, place the bagel halves into the air fryer basket, with the sliced side or cut side facing upwards. The amount of time you leave your bagel in the air fryer will depend on how crispy you prefer it to be. Start by toasting it at 370 degrees F for 3-4 minutes. 

This time will vary depending on whether your bagels were stored on the counter or fridge. Be sure to check on the bagel as it toasts.

Continue toasting for a minute or two longer if you prefer. Once the bagel is finished toasting, use tongs to remove it from the air fryer. Served with your favorite bagel toppings like butter, mixed berry jam, cream cheese or peach jam!

Tip: the same method can be used for English Muffins!

Toasting bagels in an oven style air fryer

Air-fryers come in a variety of designs, including basket-style and oven-style. If you have an oven-style air fryer, the process to achieve a perfectly toasted air fry bagel will be similar to the basket-style. Simply preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Place both sides of the bagel on the same shelf to ensure an even toasting. Toast bagels for around 3 minutes, depending on your preferred level of darkness, and remove using tongs.

Can you defrost frozen bagels in the air fryer?

No one likes stale bagels! Freezing is an easy way to keep your bagels fresh for a long time. Air frying is also a great way to defrost a frozen bagel. This works best if the bagel was pre-sliced before being frozen. 

Simply follow the steps outlined above, but toast the frozen sliced bagel for longer, about 5-6 minutes. Check on the bagel to see if it is toasted to your liking. If not, put the bagel slices back in for another minute or two. 

FAQs

Can you toast multiple bagels in an air fryer at once?

The number of bagels that you can toast in an air fryer at once will depend on the size of your air fryer. Smaller air fryers will likely only be able to fit one bagel at a time. 

But if you have a larger one, you may be about to toast two at once. You will likely need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time if you toast more than one bagel for the best result. 

What to serve on bagels? 

Some great options for savory toppings include avocados, a fried egg, or salmon. These are delicious when paired with savory bagels like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or onion bagels. 

Sweet toppings like Mixed Berry Jam, peanut butter or almond butter, Peach Jam or cinnamon sugar pair well with blueberry, cinnamon raisin, or plain bagels. 

Pro tips

• Unlike a toaster, an air fryer allows you to add toppings without making a mess. This makes the air fryer a great option if you'd like to add a thin layer of butter to each half of the bagel before toasting. Try making these delicious air fryer pizza bagels! 
• Place a single layer of parchment paper or aluminum foil on the bottom of your air fryer basket as a simple hack to avoid making a mess. This can be helpful when toasting everything bagels, which can be a bit messy, or if you're heating a bagel with toppings
• Apply this same method for toasting english muffins in the air fryer

Homemade bagels recipe

Now that you know how simple it is to toast your bagels in the air fryer, why not try making your own at home so that you always have fresh bagels on hand? Check out some great recipes for homemade bagels below!