Air Fryer Frozen Mushrooms are rich and full of amazing umami flavor! You just need 4 ingredients to make this easy air fryer recipe. Perfect for topping soup, pasta, risotto, and more!
These Air Fryer Frozen Mushrooms were an interesting recipe to test. At first glance, the recipe seemed straightforward, but it took me several tries to get it just right. That's because frozen mushrooms give off a ton of water as they cook and I had to figure out the best way to deal with that.
On my first try, I used a basket liner and ended up with something more like mushroom soup! On my second try, I tried defrosting and squeezing the water out of the mushrooms, but it took a lot of time and was kind of gross.
In the end, I settled on the easiest method, simply going without a liner and letting the water collect below the basket. A few tweaks later, and I'd finally mastered the recipe.
In the end, you'll end up with a significantly smaller bulk than you started out with, but because these mushrooms are so concentrated, they have an amazingly rich flavor, that's perfect for adding a kick of umami to a variety of dishes.
Jump to:
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this recipe.
- frozen mushrooms -- I used cremini, any type of mushroom is fine.
- oil -- you can use olive oil or avocado oil. If you want to make it oil-free, try swapping with soy sauce or tamari (skip the salt if you do this).
- granulated garlic -- I don't recommend using fresh garlic here, as it would likely burn.
- salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here are step-by-step instructions with photos.
Add the frozen mushrooms directly to the air fryer and cook at 400F/200C for 15 minutes (no need to preheat!).
(Don't season the mushrooms yet.)
After fifteen minutes, stop the cooking and transfer the mushrooms to a bowl. Discard any water that has collected below the basket.
Mix the mushrooms with the oil and seasonings. Return to the air fryer.
Cook for another 5 minutes. Then serve right away!
Hint: I don't recommend using a basket liner for this recipe. I tested it once with one and so much water collected in the liner that I practically had mushroom soup!
Variations
Here are some ideas for switching things up.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes when you season the mushrooms.
- Mediterranean - add oregano and basil during the seasoning.
- Oil-free - Instead of oil and salt, season with soy sauce or tamari.
Equipment
For this recipe, you need an air fryer and a mixing bowl.
All of my favorite products and kitchen tools can be found in my Amazon shop.
How to serve
These air fryer frozen mushrooms really reduce during cooking! The amount you end up is more appropriate as a topping than a side dish. I recommend adding the mushrooms to soups, pastas, risotto dishes, or anywhere you want to add extra umami flavor!
They would be really nice alongside Air Fryer Broccoli and Carrots and Teriyaki Tofu.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Top tip
Tons of water is going to come off of the frozen mushrooms as they cook. For that reason, I don't recommend using a liner. Just let the excess water collect below the basket, then dump it out when you remove the mushrooms to season them.
FAQ
Although fresh mushrooms are great, there are some advantages to frozen mushrooms. Namely, they can be cheaper and they have a longer shelf life. But also something amazing happens they reduce and the flavor concentrates. I definitely recommend giving them a try!
I used frozen cremini mushrooms, but really any type of frozen mushrooms will work for this recipe.
Choose the air fryer that best meets your needs. Consider things like price, size, and functionality. I personally love my Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer, because it has a bigger capacity, which better suits my family of four.
For more info, see my post What Air Fryer Should I Buy? or check out Good Housekeeping's review of the Best Air Fryers of 2023.
Related
Looking for more air fryer recipes? Try these:
Air Fryer Frozen Mushrooms
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the frozen mushrooms directly to the air fryer and cook at 400F/200C for 15 minutes (no need to preheat!). (Don't season the mushrooms yet.)
- After fifteen minutes, stop the cooking and transfer the mushrooms to a bowl. Discard any water that has collected below the basket.
- Mix the mushrooms with the oil and seasonings. Return to the air fryer.
Nutrition
Air Fryer and food safety tips
Here are a few safety tips for cooking with an air fryer.
- Cook food to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always use oven mitts or some protective hand covering when shaking the basket or removing food from the air fryer.
- Hot air comes out the back of the air fryer. Try to keep the back of the air fryer at least a hands length away from the wall, other ingredients, or anything else that could be damaged by heat.
Leave a Reply