Cooking frozen baby carrots in an air fryer can be a bit tricky. Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200-205°C) and cook the carrots for the first 15 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350°F (180°C) and continue cooking for another 15 minutes.
The total cook time of about 30 minutes might make you wonder if it’s worth opting for an air fryer over a traditional pan. The clear advantage here is that you don’t need to constantly monitor, stir, or turn the carrots as you would in a pan.
Upon opening the air fryer tray, you might notice the carrots appear to have reduced significantly in volume. They might look a bit shriveled at first glance, but don’t be fooled—the taste is remarkably good! They turn out deliciously flavorful. To minimize shrinkage, try adding a bit of water to the tray.
Baby carrots are excellent as a side dish but are equally delightful on their own. We enjoy dipping them in a simple mix of mayonnaise and minced garlic.
3 Quick Lunch or Dinner Ideas to Pair with Air-Fried Baby Carrots
- Confit Duck Legs: Spend some time on the weekend preparing confit duck legs, and you’ll have a gourmet meal ready any day of the week. Baby carrots from the air fryer complement them beautifully.
- Hamburger Patties: If you’re in a hurry, pre-made hamburger patties cook in just eight minutes in the air fryer—perfect for a quick meal alongside your baby carrots.
- Duck Breast: If you’re craving duck but don’t have confit duck legs, a fresh duck breast cooks quickly and effortlessly in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Frozen Baby Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen baby carrots 450 g
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 pinch salt to tast
Instructions
- Set Up the Air Fryer: Add some water to the air fryer drawer to prevent the carrots from drying out too much.
- Prepare the Carrots: Start by placing the contents of a bag of frozen baby carrots into a bowl. Add a tablespoon of oil and season with salt to taste.
- First Cooking Phase: Place the carrots in the air fryer and set the temperature to 205°C (400°F). Cook for 15 minutes.
- Second Cooking Phase: After the first 15 minutes, reduce the temperature to 180°C (350°F) and continue cooking for another 15 minutes.
- Check the Results: The carrots should be tender yet slightly crisp in places. Expect the volume to reduce somewhat during cooking. A 1 pound bag of baby carrots typically serves one person.