Easy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to heat up a blooming onion in the air fryer? ›

The Whole Process Is A Total Breeze

Simply preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees, cut the onion in half, and spray it with a small amount of cooking spray or oil to get a bit of extra crispiness. Put it in the air fryer for five minutes on each side, flipping it halfway through, and ... that's it.

A blooming onion, also called onion bloom, onion blossom, onion flower, bloomin' onion, or onion mum, is a dish consisting of one large onion, cut to resemble a flower (after it has expanded while soaking in ice water), battered, and deep-fried, often served with dipping sauce.

Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the onion on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and crispy. This method may take a bit longer than the others, but it will give you the closest result to the original bloomin onion.

"We recommend using a three-minute preheat for most models," says Shah. For larger and oven-style air fryers, preheat for five minutes. Once the preheat timer has elapsed, add the food in a single layer (handling the basket carefully since it will be hot) and cook according to the recipe.

A simple soak leaches some of that enzyme from the onion, leaving behind a mellower flavor and a much more palatable salad topper. (Cook's Illustrated has also had success with a bath of water and baking soda, but simple H20 will do the trick nicely.)

Onions - soaking in cold water to soften the flavor

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended.

Submerging them in cold water takes away that intense, sharp bite from the raw onion. The cold water helps the enzyme that causes onions to have their pungent flavor to leach out. Similarly, storing onions in the refrigerator will help mellow them out when you go to use them.

The blooming onion was probably invented in the mid 1980s in New Orleans, a city no stranger to ultra-rich fried foods, at Russell's Marina Grill, where it still goes by the name of “onion mum.” The founder of Outback Steakhouse worked at Russell's at the time.

Like most fried foods, Outback bloomin onion is best enjoyed fresh. That said, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. I recommend using your oven or air fryer to reheat it to avoid any sogginess. Heat at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.

1 order of bloomin' onion (Outback Steakhouse) contains 1946 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 24% carbs, 73% fat, and 4% protein. This is a good source of protein (32% of your Daily Value) and fiber (54% of your Daily Value).

How to get a free Bloomin Onion at Outback? ›

Visit dine-rewards.com for full program details. *Free Bloomin' Onion® reward up to $9.99 at participating locations. Points expire 6 months and rewards expire 90 days after the date on which they are earned.

Cost Breakdown of the Onion Blossom

When we made our own onion blossom, the total cost of ingredients needed for one dish was about $2.75. We checked that against the prices found on menus and discovered that it's sold for about $8 a plate.

The golden orb of seasoned fried onion, stuffed with cheesy bacon fries and served with both ranch and “bloom sauce,” is one of the more indulgent items you'll ever encounter.

TO REHEAT: Reheat roasted onions in a 350 degree F oven until warmed through, in a nonstick skillet set over medium-low heat, or in the microwave. TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag for up to 2 months.

What Is the Best Way to Reheat Bloomin Shrimp. Reheating room-temperature shrimp in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit air fryer for four to five minutes is best, but if you don't have an air fryer, you can use the oven: Place an aluminum foil-lined baking tray inside the oven and preheat it to 350°F.