For Restaurant-Worthy Garlic Bread, Change How To Cook It

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There are lots of reasons why your homemade garlic bread doesn't taste as good as a restaurant's. But if yours turns out floppy or soggy, it could be the cooking method that is at fault. According to presenter and author Clare Andrews, the air fryer produces far better results than traditional oven-baking. "Making garlic bread in the air fryer is quick, delicious, and can give you that perfect crispy outside with a soft, buttery center," Andrews, who is the U.K.'s number one air fryer expert, told us.

It's easy to underbake garlic bread in the oven, which can result in "the crust never getting golden, and the inside [staying] soft and doughy," said Andrews. If you usually wrap your garlic bread in foil to bake it, you may find that it steams rather than turning crispy. The air fryer, on the other hand, "uses a powerful fan to surround food with hot air, which cooks food evenly and much more quickly than traditional ovens, which rely more on radiant heat," Andrews explained. 

Air-fried garlic bread is simple to make and can be on the table in under 10 minutes — though you may need to prepare it in batches if your model is on the smaller side. All you need to do is preheat the air fryer to 374 degrees Fahrenheit, then cook the bread for around five or six minutes. There are just a few other handy tips worth following for the best results every time — and this starts with using the right ingredients.

The most important component of any air fryer garlic bread is the bread itself — you ideally need something large and sturdy. "Baguettes, ciabatta, sourdough, or thick-cut crusty breads are ideal," explained Clare Andrews, author of "The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One Basket Meals." While you can use regular soft sandwich bread, you won't get the same kind of crispy result — plus choosing bread that's too lightweight is a common air fryer mistake to avoid.

Once you've selected the bread, it's important not to add too much butter as Andrews warned this can make it soggy. And although she loves a flavorful filling combo of classic garlic, parsley, and seasoning — perhaps with some dried chilis, parmesan, or herbs — it's vital that you "don't overload the bread with too many fillings." You might still want to add some mayo for creamier garlic bread, however.

While you can elevate garlic bread with some great cheeses such as mozzarella, fontina, or provolone, it's important to be a bit more cautious when using the air fryer to melt it. Add the cheese for the final minute or two rather than at the start, so it stays nicely gooey and doesn't burn. Or, if you're worried about shredded cheese flying off thanks to the powerful air fryer fan, simply mix it with a little melted butter, then spread the mixture onto the bread to help it stay securely in place.