Yorkshire puddings are the trickiest roast component to air fry — they need a fierce, stable heat and a hot tin to rise. It can be done, and frozen ones are foolproof, but it's worth being honest about where the air fryer struggles.
Key takeaways
Q: Can you make Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer?
A: Yes — preheat an oiled tin, add cold batter and cook at 200°C (400°F) for 10–12 minutes without opening. Frozen Yorkshires are easiest, taking 4–6 minutes.
Q: Do they rise as well as in the oven?
A: Sometimes, but results vary by model — air fryers can struggle with the tall, even rise a hot oven gives.
The best-rise method
- Rest the batter 30 minutes; keep it cold.
- Preheat the oiled tin at 200°C until the oil is smoking hot.
- Pour cold batter into the hot oil and shut immediately.
- Don't open for 10–12 minutes — opening collapses the rise.
The recipe
Air Fryer Yorkshire Puddings
Ingredients
- 70g plain flour
- 2 eggs
- 100ml milk
- Oil for the tin, salt
Method
- Whisk to a smooth batter; rest 30 min.
- Preheat an oiled tin at 200°C until smoking.
- Pour in cold batter and shut at once.
- Cook 10–12 min without opening.
Where it falls short
Air fryers vary a lot here. Models with a strong, even element do well; gentler ones give a shorter rise than a blazing oven. If Yorkshires matter most on the day, the oven is still the safer bet — and you can use the air fryer for the roast potatoes and parsnips instead. Frozen Yorkshire puddings, though, are genuinely foolproof: 4–6 minutes at 190°C.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook frozen Yorkshire puddings in an air fryer?
Yes, and they're the easiest option — 4–6 minutes at 190°C straight from frozen, crisp and risen every time.
Why didn't my Yorkshire puddings rise in the air fryer?
Usually the tin or oil wasn't hot enough, the batter wasn't cold, or the basket was opened mid-cook. All three kill the rise.
Are air fryer Yorkshire puddings as good as oven ones?
On a strong model they can be close, but a hot oven still gives the most reliable tall rise. Frozen Yorkshires in the air fryer are a foolproof shortcut.