Use block mozzarella, not balls in brine
Mozzarella balls in brine contain a lot of water and cannot be evenly cut into firm sticks. Firm block mozzarella is much better suited to this recipe.
Everyday cooking Recipe
Air fryer mozzarella sticks
For these cheese sticks, firm block mozzarella is cut into sticks. A seamless double egg and breadcrumb coating and a thorough freezing stage are more important than a particularly long baking time.
Total time
2 hr 35 min
Calories
267 kcal
Servings
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Why this recipe works
The freezing period is firmly part of the recipe
The sticks cannot be baked directly after breading with the same result. At least two hours in the freezer stabilise the cheese and its coating. This waiting period is included in the preparation period. The basic amount is eight small sticks or four snack portions. A flat, slightly oiled baking mould approved by the equipment manufacturer catches possible cheese drops.
Air Fryer Recipes
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Cheese
Recipe
Air fryer mozzarella sticks
Firm block mozzarella gets a double breadcrumb coating and is frozen for two hours before baking, so that it does not immediately leak out.
Ingredients
4 servings
Method
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1
Cut and bread the cheese
Cut mozzarella into eight sticks about the same size. Mix crumbs with peppers and salt. Turn each stick into flour, then into egg and crumbs. Then turn completely in egg and bread, also at both ends. Don't let loose non-sticky breading leftovers with you.
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2
Freeze for two hours
Place sticks separately on a plate and freeze for at least 120 minutes. This freezing phase is included in the 145 minutes preparation time; raw eggs or flour residues are not tasted.
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3
Cook from frozen
Spread a flat suitable metal baking mould very thinly with a part of the oil. Preheat the device for 3 minutes to 190 °C if necessary. Place frozen sticks with space between them in the dish and wet on the outside thinly with the remaining oil.
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4
Bake briefly and watch closely
Bake for about 7 minutes at 190 °C, start checking after 5 minutes. As soon as the coating is baked and golden brown and the cheese becomes soft, remove. Don't wait for several sticks to burst. Bake in a small basket in several passes; this prolongs the total time.
Kitchen know-how
Tips for Air fryer mozzarella sticks
Seal the ends carefully
Small uncovered areas become outlet openings when melting. The second breadcrumb coating has to cover the ends in particular.
Variations
How to adapt this recipe
Add some finely dried Italian herbs to the crumbs. Do not use large loose pieces of leaf.
Once frozen, pack the sticks tightly and bake later without thawing. Longer storage can change time and result; continue to check that they are cooked through.
Nutrition per serving
267kcal
16.4 gCarbohydrates
14.6 gProtein
15.5 gFat
Values are estimates per serving and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Air fryer mozzarella sticks
Not for this process. Unfrozen cheese can melt and run out before the double breadcrumb coating forms a stable shell.
The two hours of freezing are explicitly included. The actual time in the air fryer is short, but the recipe is not a spontaneous ten-minute snack.
The estimate carefully sets the total amount provided. Non-sticking egg, flour and crumbs are actually not eaten completely; the estimate may be correspondingly higher.
Do not put freely in the airflow. Here a suitable shallow dish approved by the equipment manufacturer is used; the equipment instruction is decisive.
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