Reheat Your Green Beans In The Air Fryer For A Delectable Crunch

Green beans are undergoing a silent renaissance. A longtime humble side dish, lately they're garnering the attention they always deserved, even as a walkabout city snack, as with Miznon's green beans in a bag. Often, people who dislike or are indifferent to a vegetable can have a change of heart if the veggie is cooked and presented differently. And while blanching and stir-frying have been the common ways to wow folks with string beans, with the advent of new tech, one can save time and energy for the same succulent results. 

To revitalize those tender innards and crunchy tips, the air fryer will beat the heck out of a reheat by pan frying or using the microwave. Leftover beans that are already blanched or sauteed don't need to be seasoned further, but you can give them a quick Panko breadcrumb coating for snacking heaven. If you're using fresh green beans, skip the blanching and air fry them directly. These versatile crispy string beans can accompany anything from steak to boxed mac and cheese to Chinese barbecue pork, so you don't really have an excuse not to try them.

If you've got leftover green beans, they're already par-cooked and seasoned, so all you need to do is place them in the air fryer. Preheating the air fryer is crucial since you need quick, high heat to get some good brown, crispy bits on those beans. It's also a good idea to air fry them in small batches for the same reason. If the beans don't get enough heat or are heated too gradually, they could get overcooked — still tender and delicious but not crispy.

Depending on the thickness of the beans, you will have to adjust how long you air fry them; thicker beans may take a few minutes longer. However, the process usually won't take more than 10 minutes. Since we need high heat, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also just put it on the maximum heat setting since most air fryers only go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit anyway.

While this technique will crisp relatively dry leftover green beans, they may need some extra help getting that delicious crunch if they're coated in oil or sauce. In that case, make a quick dredging station of flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Alternatively, a batter made with tapioca starch and rice flour also works. Use a fork to dip the beans into the bowls to keep things neat, and you'll be munching on crispy air-fried green beans in no time.

Air-frying green beans is one of the easiest ways to enjoy them. Fresh, thin string beans with a snappy texture work best; you'll have to pat them dry thoroughly after washing and trimming them. Less moisture means more crunch, so they shouldn't be blanched either.

Now, toss your prepped raw beans with a bit of olive oil, salt, chopped garlic, and grated parmesan. Using a small amount of oil is key; too much can result in soggy beans. Olive oil spray is a good option since all you want is a thin but even coating of oil and seasoning on the beans. Air fry for 5 minutes, then give the beans a quick toss and fry for another 5 minutes. When cooked, the beans will have blistered skin, brown edges, and bits of crispy parmesan on them.

You can season air-fried green beans depending on what you're eating them with. Adding chopped garlic to the beans before air-frying is a great option, as the bits of fried garlic add to the crunchy texture. Alternatively, you can top air-fried beans with roasted sesame seeds or even a few dollops of garlic or lemon aioli.