how to cook frozen red lobster biscuits in the air fryer

The Secret to Perfectly Cooked Red Lobster Biscuits Using an Air Fryer

Red Lobster’s cheddar bay biscuits are iconic – with their soft, flaky interior and crispy top, they are the perfect accompaniment to any seafood meal. But did you know you can easily replicate these restaurant-quality biscuits right at home using an air fryer? With just a few simple steps, you can have a batch of piping hot biscuits ready in minutes using frozen dough.

In this comprehensive guide we will walk you through everything you need to know to cook frozen Red Lobster biscuits in an air fryer to crispy golden brown perfection. From why an air fryer is the ideal appliance to tips for ensuring evenly cooked biscuits every time, we’ve got you covered. So keep reading to learn the secrets to making these fan-favorite biscuits in the convenience of your own kitchen.

Why Use an Air Fryer for Biscuits?

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. This versatile kitchen appliance uses rapid hot air circulation to produce deliciously crispy results without all the extra oil and fat of traditional frying. Air frying is an excellent technique for achieving the perfect balance of tender interior and crunchy exterior on biscuits using just the convection process. Here are some of the benefits of using an air fryer for frozen biscuits:

• Super quick cooking time – Air fryers preheat and cook food very rapidly meaning you can have freshly baked biscuits in only 10-15 minutes. No need for lengthy oven preheating.

• Crispy exterior – The high velocity hot air in an air fryer circulates around the biscuits, browning the tops and sides for an evenly crispy texture without flipping.

• Moist interior – The inside of the biscuits steams and rises as they cook, staying pillowy soft. Much better than dried out oven baking.

• Versatile – Air fryers can handle everything from veggies to meat and baked goods. You can cook many types of frozen foods with great results.

• Energy efficient – Air fryers use less electricity than a traditional oven, saving you energy costs.

• Compact size – These appliances take up minimal counter space with their small footprint. Easy to store as well.

With an air fryer, you don’t have to sacrifice that signature crunch of Red Lobster biscuits – just optimizing cooking time and temperature is the trick for biscuit perfection.

Step-By-Step Guide to Air Frying Frozen Biscuits

Cooking frozen biscuits in an air fryer is simple, but there are a few key steps to follow:

1. Preparation – Take the frozen biscuits out of the packaging. Let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to take the chill off before cooking.

2. Preheat – Preheating is a must for air frying. Set your air fryer temp to 370°F which gives you the best interior and exterior biscuit texture.

3. Arrange biscuits – Place biscuits in a single layer in the air fryer basket, evenly spaced apart. Don’t overcrowd.

4. Cook time – Start checking biscuits at 6 minutes. Optimal total cook time is roughly 8-12 minutes depending on the size until golden brown.

5. Flip biscuits – About midway through cooking, flip the biscuits over using tongs. This ensures even browning on both sides.

6. Finish cooking – Cook a minute or two more until biscuits are cooked through and crispy on the outside.

7. Check doneness – Insert a toothpick into the center of one. If it comes out clean, they are done. If not, cook for 1-2 more minutes.

8. Remove and serve piping hot! Enjoy your freshly cooked biscuits slathered in butter.

Tips and Tricks

Follow these tips for flawless air fried frozen biscuits:

• Do not overcrowd the basket. Leave 1-2 inches between biscuits for proper air circulation.

• Brush biscuits with melted butter before cooking for extra richness.

• If reheating leftover biscuits, reduce air fryer temp to 300°F for ~5 minutes.

• Add desired seasonings to the biscuits before air frying – garlic powder, rosemary, cheese, etc.

• Check frequently near end of cook time to avoid over-browning.

By following this straightforward process using the right time and temperature settings, you can achieve bakery-level biscuits with tender interiors and crispy, golden tops. Adjust cook times as needed based on your particular air fryer model and size of biscuits. In no time, you can be enjoying these addicting cheddar bay biscuits straight from your air fryer.

Flavor Variations to Try

One of the best aspects of making your own Red Lobster-style biscuits at home is that you can customize them in endless ways. So take your air fried biscuits to the next level by stirring in any of these tasty mix-ins or toppings:

• Fresh herbs – Finely chop rosemary, thyme, chives, or parsley and knead into the dough before cooking for savory herbed biscuits.

• Shredded cheeses – Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Italian cheese blends all melt beautifully into biscuits.

• Crumbled cooked bacon – For a sweet and salty flavor, add crispy cooked bacon bits into the biscuit dough.

• Jalapeños or chili flakes – Spice it up with minced jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick.

• Everything bagel seasoning – This blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic and onion makes biscuits extra savory.

• Cinnamon-sugar – For a sweet breakfast treat, coat the tops of biscuits with a cinnamon-sugar mixture before air frying.

With an air fryer, it’s simple to whip up batch after batch of biscuits in new flavors. Get creative with mix-ins to invent your own signature cheddar bay biscuits at home.

Best Practices for Air Frying Frozen Biscuits

Now that you know how quick and easy it is to air fry frozen biscuits, follow these best practices for the best results:

• Use evenly sized biscuits – Varied biscuit sizes will lead to uneven cooking. Purchase uniform frozen biscuits or portion dough before freezing.

• Let biscuits thaw slightly before cooking – 5 minutes sitting out softens them for better rising. Don’t air fry completely frozen.

• Preheat the air fryer properly – Heating it before adding biscuits is imperative.

• Flip biscuits midway through – This prevents just one side from over-browning. tongs make it easy.

• Don’t peek too frequently – Opening the air fryer often causes temperature fluctuations and uneven cooking.

• Use parchment paper – Lining the air fryer basket with parchment prevents sticking.

By keeping these air frying tips in mind and following the instructions properly, you’ll be guaranteed tender, flaky biscuits with golden crusty tops and bottoms every time.

Cleaning and Maintenance

One of the advantages of air fryers is that they are very easy to clean and maintain. Here are some tips for keeping your air fryer in tip-top shape:

• Wipe down – After each use, unplug and simply wipe away any oil residues or crumbs with a damp cloth. Avoid immersing the appliance in water.

• Remove basket – The detachable basket and crisping tray can be removed and cleaned with hot soapy water. Dry thoroughly before replacing in the fryer.

• Check filter – Periodically check and clean the rear filter that traps grease and dirt from circulating in the fryer.

• Descale – Every 3-6 months, mix a baking soda paste and water solution and rub gently over the interior to remove mineral deposits and residue. Rinse thoroughly.

• No harsh chemicals – Do not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads which can damage the nonstick surfaces.

By giving your air fryer a quick clean after each use and occasional deep cleaning, it will stay in excellent shape for crisping up many batches of flaky biscuits.

Storing Leftover Biscuits

One of the challenges with homemade biscuits is that they tend to go stale quickly. Fortunately, there are solutions for keeping leftover uneaten biscuits fresh:

• Let cool completely before storing – Allowing biscuits to cool down prevents condensation buildup, which makes them soggy.

• Store in airtight container – Place completely cooled biscuits in a sealed plastic container or zip top bag, squeezing out excess air.

• Use next 1-2 days – For optimal texture and flavor, try to eat leftover biscuits within a day or two. The quicker you enjoy them, the better.

• Refresh in oven – If biscuits are slightly stale, recrisp them up by baking at 300°F for a few minutes right before eating.

• Freeze extras – For longer term storage, place cooled biscuits in a freezer bag or wrap tightly in foil and freeze. Thaw at room