Air Fryer Egg Toast (Egg-in-a-Hole) at 340°F, 7–10 Minutes

Air Fryer Egg Toast

What I like about this air fryer method is that it gives you better control over the toast and the egg than a lot of stovetop shortcut versions. I rely more on the visual cue than the clock here because air fryers vary, and the part I watch most closely is whether the whites are opaque and set before the bread gets too dark.

This version stays simple: bread, eggs, a little oil or butter, and salt and pepper. Cooking at 340°F (170°C) lets the bread turn golden while the egg cooks a little more gently, and a liner underneath helps catch any stray white.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Egg Toast

• 2 slices thick-sliced sandwich bread, such as Texas toast, brioche, or sourdough
• 2 large eggs
• About 1 teaspoon olive oil or cooking spray
• Pinch of fine sea salt per toast, about 1/8 teaspoon total
• Pinch of fine ground black pepper per toast

Ingredient note: For simple egg toast like this, the fine sea salt and fine ground black pepper from Selefina distribute evenly over the egg and bread instead of landing in a few sharp bites.

Optional add-ins: 1/4 cup shredded cheddar or Swiss, 1 to 2 teaspoons softened butter, 2 tablespoons cooked crumbled bacon, 1/2 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning, 1 tablespoon chopped chives or parsley, or hot sauce for serving.

Thicker bread works best because it holds the egg more cleanly and browns more evenly. If your bread is thin or very soft, pre-toast it in the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes before adding the egg.

How to Make Air Fryer Egg Toast

1. Preheat if you want a faster start: Preheat the air fryer to 340°F (170°C) for 2 to 3 minutes. It is optional, but it helps the whites start setting a little faster and can cut down on sogginess in the center. If you skip it, expect the cook time to run about 1 to 2 minutes longer.
2. Line the basket and cut the bread: Place perforated parchment or a silicone air fryer liner in the basket and lightly spray it. Do not put parchment in the air fryer during preheat unless food is holding it down. Cut a 2.5- to 3-inch hole in the center of each bread slice, then lightly brush or spray both sides with oil. You can use a thin layer of softened butter instead.
3. Arrange the bread in a single layer: Set the slices in the basket with a little space around each one. Add the cut-out bread rounds alongside if you want to toast them too. Do not overlap the slices; cook in batches if needed.
4. Add the eggs and season: Crack 1 egg into each hole, keeping the yolk as centered as you can. Season lightly with salt and black pepper. A little overflow is fine, but most of the white should stay inside the bread.
5. Air fry until the whites are set: Cook at 340°F (170°C) for 7 to 10 minutes, starting to check around 6 minutes. Do not flip. If your air fryer has hot spots, rotate the basket or tray once halfway through. The egg toast is ready when the whites are opaque and just set, the bread is golden around the edges, and the yolk has the amount of jiggle you want.
6. Add cheese at the end if using: Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Swiss over the toast during the last 30 to 60 seconds only, then cook just until melted.
7. Rest briefly and serve: Let the toast sit for 1 minute before lifting it out with a spatula. Carryover heat will finish setting the whites a bit more.

Air Fryer Time and Temperature for Egg Toast

Use 340°F (170°C) for this recipe. That temperature gives the bread time to brown without pushing the yolk too fast.

• Start checking around 6 minutes
• Most batches take 7 to 10 minutes
• Rotate halfway if your air fryer browns unevenly
• Do not flip

Air fryer models vary, so I treat the clock as a range. I usually look for whites with no wet shine left on top before I pull the toast.

How to Prevent Egg Leaks in the Air Fryer

This is where the texture can go wrong. If the center hole is too small or the bread sits directly on open basket grates, some of the white can leak out before it sets.

I find this works best with a perforated parchment sheet or silicone liner under the bread and a 2.5- to 3-inch hole for large eggs. Pressing an indent into the bread can work, but cutting out the center is more reliable in the air fryer.

If your bread is delicate or the hole is on the smaller side, a silicone egg ring can help keep the egg contained.

Yolk Doneness Guide

Use the clock as a guide, then confirm with the look of the whites and the jiggle of the yolk.

• 6 to 7 minutes: whites set, yolk still runny
• About 8 minutes: yolk turns jammy
• 9 to 10 minutes: yolk fully set

A slight jiggle usually means runny, less jiggle means jammy, and no jiggle means firm.

Troubleshooting Air Fryer Egg Toast

• The yolk overcooked: Start checking earlier, especially after 6 minutes. If your air fryer runs hot, lower the temperature slightly to 330 to 335°F (166 to 168°C) next time.
• The toast browned too fast: Use thicker bread and rotate halfway through so one side does not darken before the egg is done.
• Egg white leaked out: Use a liner and make sure the center hole is large enough for a large egg.
• The cheese burned: Add it only during the last 30 to 60 seconds.

Air Fryer Egg Toast Variations

Bacon Egg Toast

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cooked crumbled bacon over the egg during the final minute of cooking. You can add cheese at the same time. Use cooked bacon here, since raw bacon will not fully crisp in this short cook and can make the toast greasy.

Poached-Style Egg on Toast

If you do not want to cut a hole in the bread, cook a buttered ramekin with a cracked egg at 320 to 330°F (160 to 166°C) for about 6 to 9 minutes, until the whites are just set, and toast the bread alongside it. Then slide the egg onto the toast. The texture is closer to a soft baked egg than a true poached egg, but it works well in the air fryer.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Egg Toast

Serve it as is, or finish with chopped chives, parsley, everything bagel seasoning, or hot sauce. Sliced avocado or tomato on the side also works well.

For a bigger breakfast, pair it with fruit, breakfast sausage, or a small salad for brunch.

For a protein-forward breakfast, try our Air Fryer Cottage Cheese Protein Bagels.

If you like savory breakfasts, these Air Fryer Breakfast Taquitos with Eggs, Sausage & Cheese are great for meal prep. If you want something sweet instead, try our Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks.

How to Store and Reheat Air Fryer Egg Toast

Air fryer egg toast is best eaten fresh, especially if you want a runny yolk. If you know you will be saving leftovers, cook the yolk to medium or firm first.

• Refrigerator: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Do not freeze: The bread tends to turn soggy after thawing.
• To reheat in the air fryer: Reheat at 320°F (160°C) for 2 to 3 minutes, until warmed through. The yolk will firm more as it reheats.
• Microwave: Heat for 20 to 40 seconds if needed, but the toast will be softer.

For make-ahead prep, you can pre-toast the bread, then add the egg and finish cooking just before serving.

Nutrition

Nutrition is approximate and based on the core ingredients only, without optional cheese, butter, or bacon.

• Serving size: 1 egg toast
• Calories: about 170
• Protein: about 9g
• Fat: about 7g
• Carbohydrates: about 15g

Per 100g approximate: 225 calories, 12g protein, 9g fat, 20g carbohydrates.