Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance in recent years. Their ability to make “fried” foods like french fries and chicken tenders with little to no oil has made them a favorite for those looking to eat healthier versions of their favorite foods. Given their popularity, many people are curious if you can use an air fryer to cook other fried items like White Castle sliders.
Can Air Fryers Actually “Fry” Food?
While air fryers are marketed as being able to “fry” foods, they don’t actually fry anything. True frying involves fully submerging food in hot oil. Air fryers work by circulating extremely hot air around the food at high speeds to create a crispy, fried-like finish.
The rapid air circulation allows the food to cook very quickly while giving it a light, crispy exterior. So while air fryer food isn’t truly fried, it does come out crispy on the outside just like deep fried foods.
Benefits of Cooking in an Air Fryer
There are a few key benefits to using an air fryer rather than a deep fryer:
- Uses 70-80% less oil than traditional frying – Air fryers only require a small amount of oil to coat the food.
- Produces less greasy, fried results – The rapid air flow removes excess grease and oil from the food’s exterior.
- Quick cooking times – Food cooks rapidly under the high-heat airflow.
- Easy to use – Most air fryers have simple controls and settings.
- Dishwasher safe – All parts of most air fryers are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
- More customizable cooking – The airflow allows you to easily shake or flip food during cooking.
For those looking to enjoy fried flavors without all the excess grease and oil, an air fryer can provide a healthier but still crispy and delicious cooking method.
Can You Cook White Castle Sliders in an Air Fryer?
The simple answer is yes, you can absolutely cook White Castle sliders in an air fryer. The small square patties and bun size of the sliders make them the perfect candidate for air frying.
Of course, as with any air fryer recipe, there are some tips and tricks to getting the best possible results:
Tips for Cooking White Castle Sliders in an Air Fryer
- Use precooked frozen sliders – This allows the patties to heat through without overcooking.
- Brush slider tops lightly with oil – This helps them get crispy in the air flow.
- Cook at 400°F for 6-8 minutes – Adjust time as needed based on your air fryer model.
- Optional – Brush inside of buns lightly with butter or oil before toasting.
- Toast buns in air fryer before or after cooking patties.
- Use cooking spray on air fryer basket – This prevents sticking.
- Don’t overload – Cook sliders in batches if needed to allow airflow around each.
Following these tips will give you the quintessential White Castle slider experience straight from your air fryer. The hot air will toast the buns and make the patties crispy on the outside while keeping the insides moist and juicy.
Air Fryer White Castle Slider Recipe
If you want to make homemade air fried White Castle slider copycats, here is a simple recipe to follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tbsp butter, melted
- 8 small slider buns
- Desired slider toppings
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined. Divide meat evenly into 8 small patties about 2 ounces each. Use your fingers to press patties flat and thin, around 1/4 inch thick.
- Brush tops of patties lightly with melted butter. Place patties in air fryer basket lightly greased with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, flipping patties halfway during cooking, until patties are cooked through.
- While patties cook, brush insides of buns lightly with remaining melted butter. Toast buns in air fryer at 350°F for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned.
- Build sliders by placing patties on bun bottoms. Top with desired condiments and bun tops.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Making your own copycat White Castle sliders is easy and delicious with an air fryer. The hot crispy patties and toasted buns are perfect. Add pickle chips, rehydrated onions, and a slider sauce for the full experience.
Are Air Fried White Castle Sliders as Good as the Original?
Opinions vary on whether air fried White Castle sliders live up to the original fast food version. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Convenient and easy to make fresh at home
- Crispier buns when toasted in the air fryer
- Less greasy than deep fried
- Fully customizable with preferred toppings
- Much cheaper than buying premade frozen sliders
Cons
- Nearly impossible to truly replicate the unique steaming process used in White Castle restaurants
- Patties won’t have quite the same soft, steamed texture
- Lacks the nostalgia factor of eating at a White Castle location
While air fried sliders aren’t exactly the same as getting them from White Castle, they can still be an extremely satisfying alternative. You get a very similar flavor and experience, just made quickly and easily from the comfort of home.
Tips for the Best Air Fried White Castle Sliders
Here are some extra tips and advice for cooking up the best possible batch of White Castle copycat sliders in your air fryer:
Use Pre-Formed Frozen Patties
Look for thinner, flat frozen burger patties rather than large thick patties. These will mimic the thin, flat shape of a slider patty much better.
Season the Patties Well
Be generous with seasoning the patties before cooking. A good amount of salt, pepper, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce gives great flavor.
Butter Those Buns
Brushing the insides of the buns with butter before toasting gives such delicious flavor as the butter seeps in. Mayo would work too.
Get The Right Buns
Look for smaller dinner rolls or slider buns rather than full size hamburger buns. This keeps the proper slider proportions.
Double Toast the Buns
Toasting the buns before AND after adding the patties makes them extra crispy.
Use a Slider Sauce
Drizzle on a sauce like dill pickle mayo sauce for more authentic slider flavor.
Add Pickle Chips
Topping the patties with tangy pickle chips adds the acidic component missing from an all-meat slider.
Keep Batches Small
Only cook 2-4 sliders at a time so the air fryer airflow can properly circulate around each one.
Common Questions
How long do you cook White Castle sliders in an air fryer?
Cook frozen premade sliders at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway. For homemade sliders, cook patties at 400°F for 5-7 minutes. Adjust times as needed based on your air fryer model.
Do you have to flip White Castle sliders in the air fryer?
Yes, flipping the sliders halfway during cooking is recommended to ensure both sides get evenly crisped by the hot air.
Can you put slider buns in the air fryer?
Yes, slider buns can absolutely be toasted in an air fryer! Brush buns lightly with butter or oil first, then toast at 325°F for 1-3 minutes until browned.
Do you have to preheat an air fryer for White Castle sliders?
It’s not strictly necessary, but it’s recommended. Preheating helps the air fryer recover temperature faster for optimal crisping. Preheat at 400°F for 3-5 minutes before adding sliders.
How can you keep slider buns from getting soggy?
Toasting buns in the air fryer helps them stay crispy longer. You can also assemble sliders right before eating and avoid overloading with wet toppings to prevent sogginess.
Conclusion
Air fryers can make exceptionally delicious copycat White Castle sliders with crispy patties and toasted buns. While not exactly the same as getting them from a restaurant, they are much easier to make at home. With the right techniques and a quality air fryer, you can enjoy tasty White Castle-style sliders any time.