No, the air fryer isn't just for frying things. It does a wonderful job "baking" tomatoes. In fact my husband prefers the air fryer version of "baked tomatoes" to the one I prepare in the "real oven." The air fried "baked tomatoes" are quicker, and the taste is incredible. The tomatoes turn out sweet and intensely flavored, probably because their juices are concentrated through the convection cooking of the air fryer. The topping is nicely browned and crunchy. I use small baking dishes for the tomatoes, but you could also put them into a 6-inch round cake pan or ramekins, if you prefer. The tomatoes make a great side dish for roasted meats, but you may be tempted just to eat them alone--they're that good!
Air Fryer Baked Tomatoes -- Serves 2
4 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons of seasoned dried breadcrumbs
Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees for 2-3 minutes and coat a 4-inch square (or other) dish with non-stick cooking spray. Layer 1/3 of the tomatoes and 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese in the dish. Add another 1/3 of the tomatoes, 1/3 of the cheese, and then sprinkle on the Italian seasoning. Follow up with the last of the tomatoes, the last of the cheese, and then the seasoned dried breadcrumbs. With your hand, press down on the tomatoes and their toppings gently to settle everything in the dish. Spritz the top of the breadcrumbs with a little non-stick cooking spray. Put the dish of tomatoes into the air fryer and cook the tomatoes for about 10 minutes. Check to see if the tomatoes are done and the topping has browned to your liking. If not, add an additional 2-3 minutes of cooking time. Remove the dish from the air fryer and let the tomatoes cool a few minutes before serving them.
