Prepare the asparagus spears by washing them well and drying them with a kitchen towel. Then, if needed, trim the light woody ends (usually 1-2 inches) either with a knife or by snapping the end in your hands- it will snap off at the right place for you.The quickest way to trim the asparagus is to snap one, then grab a handful, line up the ends, and trim them all in one go. Repeat with all the remaining spears.
Toss the spears with the oil, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated, and spread them in a single layer across the bottom of your air fryer basket without overlapping.Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer. Otherwise, the asparagus will steam rather than become wonderfully caramelized/lightly crisp.
How Long To Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer?
Air fry asparagus at 400ºF/200ºC until they're tender-crisp and lightly golden brown on the edges. The exact air frying time will vary based on the thickness of the spears.• Thin: Cook for 3-5 minutes.• Medium: Cook for 6-9 minutes. I cooked mine for 7 minutes. • Thick: Cook for 10-15 minutes. When ready, the asparagus should be a vibrant green, have golden-brown crispy edges, and be bendy but still have a little "bite." If you prefer them to be more tender inside and crisp outside, air fry for a further minute or two.
Notes
Don't forget to trim the spears: Otherwise, you can end up chewing on tough, woody stems.
To save time: You could purchase fresh, pre-trimmed asparagus.
Using frozen asparagus: While it will technically work, it takes longer to cook and will be mushier, so I stick to fresh asparagus when air frying.
For very thick asparagus: Larger spears sometimes have thick, tough peels. Peel them (pre-cooking) if required.
Use even-sized spears: It's a good idea to use spears of similar thickness so they cook at the same rate.
Storage InstructionsStore: This is best enjoyed straight after cooking. However, if you have any leftovers, allow them to cool, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.Reheat: Pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes, and you’re good to go. Alternatively, you can reheat asparagus with a broiler OR on the stovetop with just a little oil/ butter.More Seasonings & Recipe Variations:
Flaky sea salt: For crunch and flavor.
Fresh herbs: You could toss the cooked asparagus with fresh parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, or mint when serving.
Lemon zest: To add when serving for extra zippy zing and brightness.
More seasonings: You can experiment with smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, chili powder, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, everything but the bagel seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc.
Butter: Optionally toss the asparagus with lightly salted butter or garlic butter when serving.
Balsamic: Adding 1-2 tsp balsamic vinegar with the oil will add tang.