Being a college student is tough. You are living out of a tiny dorm room, but you still want to eat healthily and minimize waste in your preparation of meals. Air fryer broccoli is a great and delicious way to reach that goal, so here is a guide to get you started making air fryer broccoli in the most efficient and tasty way!

1. Buying the Best Broccoli for Air Frying

When shopping for broccoli to air fry, try and get the freshest heads available. Look for heads that have a deep green hue and have not yet started to yellow. Make sure the florets are firm and there is no wilting or soft spots. If buying pre-cut florets, look for chunks no larger than 2 inches.

2. Preparing the Broccoli for Air Frying

Start by thoroughly washing the broccoli to get rid of any dirt or bacteria. Then cut the head in half lengthwise before breaking apart the florets. If you are using pre-cut florets, you can skip this step. Place the florets in a bowl and drizzle with a light coating of olive oil. Toss the florets to make sure all sides are evenly coated. Add any desired seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.) and toss well.

3. Air Frying the Broccoli

Fill your air fryer basket with the seasoned broccoli. Make sure that the florets are spread out in an even layer so that they cook evenly. Set the temperature to 375°F and cook the broccoli for 8-10 minutes or until the florets start to brown. Shake the basket every 3-4 minutes for even cooking and to prevent over-browning.

4. Improving the Nutritional Value of Air Fryer Broccoli

Adding additional ingredients can not only up the nutrition content of your air fryer broccoli, but also give the dish a tasty kick. Here are a few ideas for adding some extra flavor and nutrition to your air fried broccoli:

• Add lemon juice, garlic and a pinch of sea salt – This combination will give the broccoli an zesty, Italian style flavor.
• Sprinkle in some nutritional yeast – For a cheesy flavor, sprinkle some nutritional yeast, which is rich in B vitamins and protein.
• Include some seeds or nuts – For an extra crunch, top with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or almonds.
• Toss in some dried cranberries or diced apples – For a sweet contrast to the broccoli, try adding dried cranberries or diced apples to the mix.

5. Serving and Storing Air Fryer Broccoli

The best way to serve air fryer broccoli is hot and piping off the air fryer. Make sure to check it for doneness – if it’s still slightly crunchy, it will continue to cook when removed from the air fryer due to residual heat. If there are any leftovers, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Air fryer broccoli is an easy and delicious way to eat healthily, and we hope this guide was helpful for all those college students out there!