Canned biscuits are a quick and easy way to make homemade biscuits without putting in all the work of mixing, kneading, and rolling out dough. Using an air fryer to cook canned biscuits can help produce biscuits that are fluffy on the inside with a nice crisp, golden exterior. With just a few simple steps, you can easily bake delicious air fryer canned biscuits for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
What Are Canned Biscuits?
Canned biscuits, also sometimes called refrigerator biscuits, are pre-made biscuits that come in a tube or can. Popular brands of canned biscuits include Pillsbury Grands, Ballpark, and Great Value. Inside the can are raw biscuit dough rounds layered between sheets of paper. The biscuit dough is pre-portioned into individual biscuits so you can simply pop open the can, separate the biscuits, and bake. Canned biscuit dough has a similar texture and flavor to homemade biscuits, but the convenience of being ready to bake at a moment’s notice.
Canned biscuit dough is formulated to have the right balance of ingredients to produce tender, fluffy biscuits. A typical ingredient list contains flour, shortening, leavening agents like baking powder and/or baking soda, salt, sugar, and milk. The dough comes refrigerated in the can so it is chilled and firm. The chilled dough helps the biscuits hold their shape better when baked. Canned biscuits are widely available at most grocery stores and can be kept refrigerated for several weeks until you are ready to bake them.
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer
Air fryers have grown in popularity in recent years as a quick and healthy cooking method. Air fryers work by circulating super hot air around food to produce a crispy, browned exterior similar to deep frying. But an air fryer only requires using a tablespoon or two of oil rather than being fully submerged in oil. This makes air frying a lower fat and lower calorie cooking method. Air fryers can reach temperatures between 300-400°F, which is hot enough to make breaded foods crispy and bake foods like biscuits properly.
Here are some of the benefits of using an air fryer to cook canned biscuits:
- Creates an evenly browned, crispy exterior – The hot circulating air in the air fryer surrounds the biscuits to make the tops and sides crispy.
- Cooks biscuits quickly – Air fryers preheat and cook food very rapidly, baking biscuits in under 10 minutes.
- Produces fluffy, tender insides – The biscuits stay moist on the inside while the air fryer makes the outsides crispy.
- Does not require oil – Canned biscuits contain enough fat in the dough that no additional oil is needed for air frying.
- Easy to use – Just preheat, add biscuits, set a timer, and biscuits are done.
- Versatile appliance – The air fryer can also cook things like fries, wings, fish, etc.
Using an air fryer gives you the familiar, comforting flavor of homemade biscuits along with a crispy, golden-brown texture that people love. The air fryer does all the work to make the biscuits perfectly crisped and ready to eat in record time.
How to Cook Canned Biscuits in an Air Fryer
Cooking canned biscuits in an air fryer takes just a few easy steps. Here is a simple process for how to bake canned biscuits using an air fryer:
- Preheat – Turn on the air fryer and preheat it to 375°F. This takes around 3-5 minutes. Air fryers cook very quickly once preheated so you want the air fryer fully preheated before adding the biscuits.
- Prepare the biscuits – Take the canned biscuits out of the refrigerator and open the can. Separate each pre-cut biscuit and place on a plate. Gently pat each biscuit with flour if needed to prevent sticking. Let sit at room temperature for a few minutes while the air fryer preheats. This helps them bake more evenly.
- Add to the air fryer – When the air fryer is fully preheated, place the biscuits in the air fryer basket. Make sure there is some space between each biscuit to allow the air flow. Air fryers work best when the food is not overcrowded. Work in batches for larger numbers of biscuits.
- Cook – Cook the biscuits at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. The exact cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size of your air fryer. Smaller air fryers may cook a little faster. Check frequently until the biscuits are puffed up and golden brown on top.
- Flip and cook more – After 6-8 minutes, open the air fryer basket and use tongs to flip each biscuit over. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to brown both sides evenly. The biscuits are done when they have an even golden color all over.
- Remove and serve – Use tongs to remove the fully cooked biscuits from the air fryer. Let cool for 1-2 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
For best results, keep a close eye on the biscuits as they cook and check them frequently. Air fryers can cook food very quickly and biscuits can overbrown if cooked too long. Adjust cooking times slightly as needed if your air fryer runs hot or cool.
Tips for Air Frying Canned Biscuits
Here are some helpful tips and tricks for successfully baking canned biscuits in an air fryer:
- Spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray before adding biscuits. This prevents sticking.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Leave space between biscuits for best results.
- Pat biscuits dry before cooking if very moist. Excess moisture can prevent browning.
- Adjust temperature down 25°F if biscuits are browning too quickly.
- Check frequently as air fryers cook very fast, especially for small items.
- Use tongs for flipping. A fork can deflate the biscuits.
- Add a pat of butter on top of each biscuit after cooking if desired.
- Brush with melted butter before cooking for even more richness.
Experiment with different flavors by rolling the biscuits in cinnamon-sugar, minced garlic, or shredded cheese before cooking. Get creative with different add-ins!
Common Questions
Should canned biscuits be defrosted before air frying?
No, there is no need to defrost canned biscuits before cooking in an air fryer. Canned biscuits come refrigerated, not frozen. Simply open the can and start baking immediately.
How long do air fried canned biscuits last?
Freshly cooked air fried biscuits are best eaten right away. Any uneaten biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheating in the oven or toaster oven will restore some crispiness.
Can you put raw canned biscuits straight into a hot air fryer?
It’s best to let canned biscuits sit out for 5-10 minutes before cooking. This allows them to warm up slightly for more even baking. Putting chilled biscuits straight into a hot air fryer may result in uneven cooking.
Do you need to flip canned biscuits during air frying?
Yes, flipping the biscuits halfway through is recommended. This allows both sides to cook evenly and get crispy browned. Use tongs to gently flip each biscuit over.
What temperature should you cook canned biscuits at in an air fryer?
375°F is the ideal air fryer temperature for canned biscuits. At 375°F, the biscuits will fully cook through and get crispy browned on the outside in 6-8 minutes per side.
Air Fryer Canned Biscuit Recipes
Canned biscuits straight from the air fryer are great on their own, but you can also get creative with recipes. Here are some tasty ideas for air fryer canned biscuits:
Breakfast Sandwiches
Cook canned biscuits in the air fryer, then use them in place of buns for breakfast sandwiches with fried eggs, cheese, bacon, and sausage.
Ham and Cheese Biscuits
Before cooking, top biscuits with sliced ham, shredded cheese, and mustard. Air fry until the cheese melts.
BBQ Chicken Biscuits
Top air fried canned biscuits with leftover BBQ chicken, creamy coleslaw, and pickles for a tasty twist.
Stuffed Sausage Biscuits
Roll out each uncooked biscuit into a flat round. Place cooked sausage in the center and fold up the edges to make a pocket. Air fry sealed side down first.
Cheddar Garlic Biscuits
Brush uncooked biscuits with melted butter and garlic powder. Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top before air frying.
Sweet Biscuits
For dessert, brush with butter and cinnamon-sugar before air frying. Or fill with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, or fruit.
Comparison of Oven Baked vs. Air Fried Canned Biscuits
While the standard instructions say to bake canned biscuits in the oven, using an air fryer produces some noticeable differences. Here is a comparison of the results between oven baked vs. air fried canned biscuits:
| Method | Oven Baked | Air Fried |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Time | 12-15 minutes at 375°F | 6-8 minutes at 375°F |
| Crust | Soft, pale yellow | Crisp, golden brown |
| Texture | Fluffy, tender | Fluffy, tender |
| Moisture | Soft, moist interior | Soft, moist interior |
| Flavors | Buttery, leavened biscuit flavor | Buttery biscuit flavor with toasted notes |
As the table shows, air frying produces biscuits in about half the time as a conventional oven. The circulating super hot air makes the exterior crispy and browned vs. the pale soft texture from oven baking. But the interiors stay equally tender and moist. The golden brown exterior adds more complex nutty, toasted flavors. So air frying gives you the best of both worlds – quick cooking time with crispy exteriors plus fluffy biscuit texture and flavor.
Conclusion
Air frying canned biscuits takes a beloved convenience food to the next level with crispy exteriors while maintaining a soft, fluffy interior texture. It is a quick and easy way to enjoy hot homemade biscuits any time of day without needing to make dough from scratch. In just 10 minutes or less, you can have perfectly cooked golden biscuits straight from the air fryer. The possibilities are also endless for creative flavored biscuits both sweet and savory. If you want to get more use out of your air fryer and take your biscuit making to the next level, air frying canned biscuits is definitely worth a try.
