Air Fryer Sourdough Bread

Air Fryer Sourdough Bread is amazing! If you have been wondering if you can make sourdough loaf in your air fryer, the answer is yes!

It’s amazing, and the air fryer gives the loaf a crispy crust, and soft middle, everything you want to have in sourdough bread!

If you love making homemade bread in the air fryer, try my recipe for Air Fryer Popovers, Air Fryer Cloud Bread, or even Jiffy Cornbread In The Air Fryer.

Baking Sourdough Bread In Air Fryer

I grew up baking bread with my mother, and grandmother, and I was lucky enough to get their recipes.

Most of my bread recipes, have been passed down for generations, and my Air Fryer Sourdough Bread Recipe is no different. This is a foolproof recipes, so if you have been looking for a foolproof Air Fryer Sourdough Recipe, this is the recipe for you!

So, if you have been wondering if you can bake sourdough bread in your air fryer, the answer is YES! It is not only easy, it’s absolutely delish!

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Sourdough Bread

Below, are the simple ingredients, and a brief description of each ingredient, that you will need for making sourdough bread in air fryer:

Remember the step-by-step directions, full recipe, and detailed ingredient list are below, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, as well as the nutritional information.

• Sourdough Starter: You can buy on Amazon, or start yourself. Either is fine.
• Warm Water: Warm water is essential.
• All-Purpose Flour: This will give the meat to the bread. You can also use gluten-free all-purpose flour, as well. Substitute the same amount.
• Kosher Salt: Adds flavor.
• Olive Oil: Provides a crispy crust to the sourdough bread.

How To Make Air Fryer Sourdough Bread

Here are the step-by-step directions and pictures for making sourdough bread in your air fryer:

Note: I know it is easier to use cups instead of grams, and I could try to get this recipe into cups, but the sourdough starter changes volume based on where it is in its feeding/activity.  So measuring it this way would be very inaccurate and would most likely yield different results daily.

Prepare the Sourdough Starter: In a glass cup or small mason jar, add the sourdough starter, then add the lukewarm water.  Use a spoon to mix the starter so it is a homogenous mixture. Add the all purpose flour and continue mixing to a homogenous paste.  Place an elastic around the outside of the jar approximately at the top height of the paste.

Loosely cover with the lid or saran wrap and allow it to sit in a warm place to become active (about 5-12 hours).  As the yeast eats the flour it will produce gas and you will see bubbles forming on the sides of the jar. 

When the sourdough starter is ready to use it will have doubled in size (check to see where the top of the starter is compared to where it started -as marked by the elastic band).  If the starter has begun to deflate then the activity has reached it’s peak and is now decreasing.  You can still use it, but your bread may not rise as much.  The sourdough starter should have a window of a few hours where it has reached its peak and is still very active.

Make the Bread Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour and salt. Add lukewarm water, the prepared active sourdough starter, and olive oil (if using). Mix until a dough forms.

Knead the Dough: If using a mixer and dough hook, continue mixing with the dough hook for about 8-10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

If kneading by hand Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10-15 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Sourdough dough is very sticky and you want to add the least amount of flour to it as possible while you are kneading.  You may need to add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.

Let the Dough Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a clean and lightly greased (olive oil) mixing bowl and cover it loosely with saran wrap the dough dried out when I used a kitchen towel. Allow it to rise at room temperature for 4-8 hours, or until it has doubled in size.  This can take even 12 hours depending on temperature and the activity of your sourdough starter.  Best to look for doubling of size as your indicator and not to worry if it takes a long time.

After the dough has risen, gently place dough onto a lightly floured surface or a silicone mat.  You don’t want to press out too much of the air you created in your first rise.  If you find the dough too sticky to work with you can add a little water to your hands and it prevents the dough from sticking to you. 

Once you have the shape of the loaf, invert the loaf onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet or pan so the “good side” is facing up.  Cover loosely with saran wrap and allow it rise in a warm place for another 2-8 hours (it may not quite double in size, but it should get bigger)

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F (190°C) for a few minutes, for 3-5 minutes.

You can shape the dough into a round, oval, or baguette shaped loaf.  I’ve shown how to do an oval loaf.  Press loaf gently into a square shape, then starting at the top pull the left and right side away from the loaf to create tension and then fold those edges into the middle.  Grab the left and right edges a little further down the loaf and again pull outwards to create tension on the loaf and bring the edges into the middle.  Continue doing this as you go down the loaf of the bread.  Because the dough is quite sticky it should be easy to incorporate the folds back into the main loaf (may require you to pinch the dough together).  If you are having trouble you can add a little water to your fingers to help the dough stick together.

Air Fry Sourdough Bread: Carefully place the parchment paper with the shaped sourdough bread into the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry the bread at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes then flip upside down and continue air frying for another 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Air Fryer Sourdough Bread Recipe Pro Tips and Faqs

Can I use a cold dough straight from the fridge in the air fryer? Yes, you can bake dough straight from the fridge. However, it might take a bit longer to bake, and you may not achieve as much oven spring compared to room temperature dough.

How do I prevent my bread from burning in the air fryer? Check the temperature settings and reduce if necessary. You can also cover the bread with foil during the last part of baking if it’s browning too quickly. Make sure that the foil is tightly wrapped around the bread, to prevent it from hitting the heating element.

What temperature should I set my air fryer to for baking sourdough bread? Sourdough is best cooked at 375 degrees F (190°C). The cooking time time for sourdough bread will depend on the model that you are using, so for best results, check on your bread frequently during the cooking process.

Can I use whole wheat flour in my sourdough bread? Yes, whole wheat flour can be used, but it will result in a denser bread.

How do I store leftover sourdough bread? Store leftover bread in a paper bag or wrapped in a tea towel to maintain the crust.

Reheating sourdough bread in air fryer: Place the bread into the air fryer and set the air fryer temperature to 320 degrees F, and heat until the bread is warm.

My bread didn’t rise properly. What went wrong? Most of the time the problem lies with your starter.

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