Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely put Aldi donut sticks in an air fryer! Air frying is a great way to make donut sticks come out crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The air fryer’s hot circulating air will crisp up the outside of the donut sticks nicely. Just be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, and flip the donut sticks halfway during cooking. Air frying donut sticks takes only around 5 minutes, making it a quick and easy way to enjoy this sweet treat.
Instructions for Air Frying Aldi Donut Sticks
Air frying Aldi donut sticks is very straightforward. Here are step-by-step instructions:
1. Pre-heat your air fryer to 370°F.
2. Cut the donut sticks into smaller pieces if desired. The standard donut sticks may be quite long, so cutting them in half or into thirds makes them easier to fit in the air fryer basket.
3. Place the donut sticks into the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd them. Leave some space between each one.
4. Air fry the donut sticks for 2-3 minutes, then gently flip them over and air fry for 2-3 minutes more, until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
5. Check on them occasionally and flip as needed to ensure even browning. The total air fry time is generally around 5 minutes.
6. Serve the warm, crispy air fried donut sticks right away with your favorite dipping sauce or topping! Strawberry or chocolate sauce, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, and caramel sauce all make great pairings.
Tips for Air Frying Aldi Donut Sticks
– Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. This can lead to uneven cooking.
– Flip the donut sticks halfway during cooking. This ensures they crisp up nicely on all sides.
– Brush the donut sticks lightly with oil or melted butter before air frying. This helps them get extra crispy.
– Cut standard-size donut sticks in half or thirds so they fit better in the air fryer.
– Track cooking times the first few times to get the timing right. Thicker donut sticks may need a minute or two longer.
– Serve warm right out of the air fryer for maximum crispness.
– Top with cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, caramel, fruit, or other fun drizzles and toppings.
Benefits of Air Frying Donut Sticks
Air frying brings some great benefits to cooking donut sticks:
– It’s faster than baking – donut sticks are done in just 5 minutes.
– You don’t need to heat up a pot of oil, making it safer and easier.
– The donut sticks come out crispy on the outside, not greasy.
– It allows you to cook a smaller batch rather than a whole tray.
– Minimal clean-up since you don’t deal with messy frying oil.
– Can customize flavors easily with different drizzles, sugars, etc.
So if you want quick access to warm, crispy donut sticks, an air fryer is the way to go!
Choosing an Air Fryer for Donut Sticks
Not all air fryers are created equal when it comes to getting perfect donut sticks. Here are some things to look for when selecting an air fryer:
– Enough basket capacity so you’re not overcrowding. A 5-quart or larger basket is ideal.
– Adjustable temperature settings up to 400°F. You want to be able to set it to 370°F for donut sticks.
– A non-stick basket. This prevents donut sticks from sticking as they cook.
– Easy-to-use digital controls and settings. This allows you to easily program the time and temperature.
– Good airflow – look for designs with maximum air circulation. This is key for even crisping.
Popular quality air fryer brands that meet the above criteria include Cosori, Ninja, Instant Pot, Philips, and NuWave. Investing in a good air fryer is worth it for all the yummy donut sticks in your future!
Can You Air Fry Frozen Donut Sticks?
Freezing donut sticks allows you to enjoy this sweet treat anytime. And yes, you can absolutely air fry frozen donut sticks with delicious results!
Here are some tips for air frying frozen donut sticks:
– No need to thaw first – you can air fry directly from frozen.
– Add 1-2 extra minutes to the cook time to account for them being frozen.
– Preheat the air fryer and make sure the basket is well-greased or lined.
– Flip halfway and move them around for even cooking.
– Brush frozen donut sticks with oil or butter to help crisp and brown.
– Watch closely near the end to avoid overbrowning.
– Let cool briefly before adding any drizzles or toppings.
Air frying frozen donut sticks makes it easy to enjoy a hot, homemade treat in minutes anytime the craving strikes!
Troubleshooting Air Fryer Donut Sticks
Air frying donut sticks is usually a very straightforward process, but occasionally you may run into an issue. Here’s some troubleshooting for common donut stick air frying problems:
Donut sticks are not getting crispy:
– Increase air fryer temperature to 380°F
– Brush donut sticks with oil before cooking
– Avoid overcrowding the basket
– Flip halfway through and move sticks around
Donut sticks are browning unevenly:
– Cut into smaller, uniform pieces
– Flip more frequently while cooking
– Ensure you’re not overcrowding the air fryer basket
Donut sticks are overbrowning:
– Reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes
– Lower air fryer temperature to 360°F
– Watch closely near end of cooking time
Donut sticks are sticking to the basket:
– Use non-stick cooking spray on the basket
– Allow air fryer to fully preheat before adding sticks
– Avoid overcrowding
With a few minor adjustments, you’ll get perfectly crisp, golden donut sticks every time you air fry them!
Cleaning Your Air Fryer After Donut Sticks
It’s important to properly clean your air fryer after cooking something sweet and sticky like donut sticks. Here are some tips:
– Unplug and allow the air fryer to cool completely before cleaning.
– Remove the basket and wash it in hot soapy water, using a sponge or brush to scrub off any stuck on bits.
– Clean the inside of the air fryer with a damp cloth, being careful not to get the interior too wet.
– For really sticky messes, fill the basket with hot water and dish soap and let it soak before scrubbing clean.
– Avoid abrasive scouring pads, as these can damage the non-stick coating.
– Dry all parts thoroughly before returning them to the air fryer.
– Run the air fryer empty on high heat for 5 minutes to burn off any lingering grease or food debris.
Regular cleaning keeps your air fryer in top shape and prevents donut stick remnants from ruining the next batch. Follow these simple tips and your air fryer will provide perfect, crispy donut sticks for a long time!