The quick response is “yes.” Surprisingly, there is a lot of national sentiment in the longer response.
Watch the room split when you ask this question in any Facebook group dedicated to British cooking. With the assurance of those who have obviously tested this more than once, half of the responses provide exact temperatures and timings. The other half are variations on the same frustrated theme: simply use the toaster. To put it bluntly, one commenter asked what was wrong with everyone. You can tell where this is going by the fact that he was outvoted.
The technique itself is surprisingly easy. After preheating the air fryer to 180°C, place the crumpets flat in a single layer with a small gap between them, and cook for four to six minutes. Those that are frozen require more like six or eight. It’s important to notice that what emerges differs from a toaster crumpet. The inside remains soft, but the base and skirt are crisped by the hot circulating air in a way that a toaster’s vertical slots can never quite accomplish.
Supporters of the toaster contend that the air fryer dries them out, and they are correct if you overshoot the timing. Eight minutes yielded what she described as solid crisp discs, while four minutes left the center on the verge of raw, according to a home tester who conducted three separate attempts. I was in the sweet spot after flipping halfway through six minutes.
Quick Facts: Air Fryer Crumpets
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recommended temperature | 180°C (350°F) |
| Cooking time (fresh) | 4 to 6 minutes |
| Cooking time (frozen) | 6 to 8 minutes |
| Preheat needed | 2 to 3 minutes, though some skip it |
| Capacity per batch | Up to 4 crumpets in a single layer |
| Popular add-on | Grated cheddar in the final 2 minutes |
| Texture result | Crispy exterior, soft and fluffy centre |
On the internet, that type of trial-and-error reporting has developed into a distinct genre. The air fryer seems to be making its way through the toaster’s final strongholds after absorbing chips, sausages, and the entire English language. There would always be disputes over crumpets. In British cuisine culture, they occupy a peculiar emotional space that lies between inheritance and comfort objects. The majority of people’s preparation routine hasn’t altered since childhood, and Warburtons alone sells hundreds of millions of them annually.
Beyond texture, the air fryer provides flexibility. Cheese cannot be melted in a toaster. The air fryer is capable of doing it effectively. You get something more akin to a cheese toastie with holes if you add grated mature cheddar at the four-minute mark and cook it for an additional two minutes.
This exact experiment was described as “innovation or heresy” in a Reddit thread that garnered hundreds of votes and a comment section full of people who quietly added cheddar to their shopping lists while vocally denouncing the idea. The sweet versions have made even more progress. Anyone who grew up eating crumpet churros by a coal fire would have been perplexed by the millions of views they received on TikTok after being cubed, tossed in butter, and then air-fried.
It’s difficult to ignore the fact that no one is genuinely defending poor crumpets in these debates. The same outcome is desired by both groups: butter pooling in the holes, crisp outside, and pillowy inside. They simply don’t agree about the machine. Without a doubt, the toaster is faster. However, as this develops in recipe blogs and comment sections, the air fryer community appears to be gaining ground as they continue to share images that support their position more persuasively than any argument could.
Your grandmother will likely decide whether this is considered heresy or progress. The crumpet makes it through either way. It always does.
