Air Fryer Cauliflower
Temperature
375°F
190°C
Time
15 min
1 small head
Heat through to
Piping hot
cooked right through
Prep
8 min
Cook
15 min
Total
23 min
Cauliflower goes nutty and caramelized at the edges in the air fryer, which a crowded oven tray struggles to manage. It takes a coating well too, making it a good base for things like buffalo bites.
Ingredients
Quantities for 1 small head - the times on this page assume that much in the basket.
- 1 small head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- Salt
- A squeeze of lime, after cooking
How to air fry cauliflower
- Cut the head into even florets and toss with the oil, cumin, turmeric and salt. Keep the lime until after cooking - added early it steams the florets soft.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Add the fresh cauliflower to the basket. Don't crowd the basket.
- Cook for about 15 minutes, tossing it halfway through.
Pro tip
Add a splash of lime juice after cooking for a fresh finish.
How to tell when it's done
Done is golden-brown at the edges and tender through the stem. Toss it halfway and don't cram the basket, or it steams instead of crisping.
Converting from an oven recipe
If your recipe is written for a conventional oven, lower the temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and reduce the time by roughly 20% to land near 375°F for 15 minutes. Need a different starting point? Use the conversion calculator.
Air fryer cauliflower: FAQ
Why does my air fryer cauliflower look golden before it is cooked?
Usually because of what you tossed it in rather than what the heat has done. This recipe carries half a teaspoon of turmeric, and turmeric is a dye before it is a spice - the florets come out of the mixing bowl yellow, several minutes before anything has actually started to brown. Real browning looks different from a turmeric tint: it shows up as darker, toasted edges on the flat cut faces where the floret has been sitting against the basket, against a paler middle, rather than as an even golden wash over the whole piece. Judge it there, and settle it with the stem - it should give to the tip of a knife rather than crunch. If you would rather have the visual cue back, leave the turmeric out and the florets stay pale until they genuinely colour; the cumin is doing most of the flavour work anyway.
How long does it take to air fry cauliflower?
Air fry cauliflower at 375°F (190°C) for about 15 minutes, tossing it halfway through. That's for 1 small head in a single layer; adjust slightly for a fuller basket or a different model.
What temperature do you air fry cauliflower at?
Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). If you're converting an oven recipe, that's roughly 25°F (15°C) below the oven temperature, with the time cut by about 20%.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer for cauliflower?
A 2-3 minute preheat gives the most accurate timing and the best browning, but it isn't essential - if you skip it, add a minute or two to the cook time.