How long to cook zucchini in an air fryer

At-a-glance cooking parameters

Temperature

400 °F

204 °C

Total time

10 min

per single layer

Shake at

5 min

shake once

Internal temp

—

use visual cue

Zucchini coins crisp in 10 minutes at 400 °F (204 °C) with one shake. The pre-salt rest is critical — zucchini fails to brown only because of its high water content, and ten minutes with salt fixes that.

Zucchini in popular air fryer brands

Adjusted for how each brand actually heats. Tap a brand name to see every food we calibrate for it.

How to tell it’s done

Edges are golden-brown and crisp; centres are tender but still have a slight bite (not mushy).

Step-by-step method

1. 1

   Prep

   Bring ingredients close to room temperature. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil — zucchini is 95% water and needs oil to crisp.

2. 2

   Season

   Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian herbs, parmesan (after cooking).

3. 3

   Load

   Arrange 2 medium zucchini, sliced into ½-inch coins (about 4 cups) for best convection airflow.

4. 4

   Cook

   Set the air fryer to 400 °F (204 °C) and cook for 10 minutes total, shaking once at 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Check & rest

   Check the visual doneness cue and serve immediately for best texture.

6. 6

   Store

   Best eaten fresh — refrigerated zucchini turns to mush.

Watch out for

• !Salt the slices and rest 10 minutes before cooking, then pat dry — this draws out the surface water that prevents crisping.
• !½-inch coins are the sweet spot. Thinner slices burn; thicker stays soggy in the centre.
• !Single layer only. Stacked zucchini steams itself.

FAQ about zucchini in an air fryer

What temperature should I cook zucchini at in an air fryer?

Cook zucchini at 400 °F (204 °C). The convection air at this temperature browns the exterior quickly without drying the centre.

How long does zucchini take in an air fryer?

Zucchini takes 10 minutes total at 400 °F (204 °C). Shake the basket once at 5 minutes so both sides cook evenly.

Do you need to shake zucchini in an air fryer?

Yes — shake the basket once at 5 minutes. Loose pieces (zucchini) settle into the basket and the bottom layer stays pale unless you redistribute them halfway through.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer for zucchini?

Preheating is optional for zucchini — most modern air fryers reach temperature in under 2 minutes and the food's total cook time already accounts for the ramp-up. If you do preheat, reduce the total time by 1–2 minutes and check earlier than usual.