Wash green beans in a colander, then blot dry with a clean kitchen towel. Remove stems and set aside.

Set up a breading station with a medium-sized shallow bowl for batter, one plate for cornstarch, one plate for seasoned panko, and a final plate for the breaded green beans.

On one dinner plate, place the cornstarch.

In the bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, pinch of salt, and 6 Tablespoons of water. Slowly add 1 or 2 more Tablespoons of water as needed until the batter has the thickness of waffle batter, with no lumps.

On another dinner plate, combine 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper. (Keep remaining panko and seasonings separate for later batches.)

One at a time, toss each green bean in cornstarch, tapping off excess. Dip into the batter to fully coat, tapping off excess. Then dredge in the panko breadcrumb mixture until fully covered. Place breaded green beans on the separate final plate. When you run out of seasoned panko, add the remaining panko breadcrumbs and seasonings to the mixture and continue breading.

Place breaded green beans in a single shallow layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd (work in batches). Lightly spritz with oil. Air fry at 360°F for 6 minutes, flipping at 4 minutes. Spray any white parts with oil and continue air frying until brown all over. Air fryer cooking times may vary.

Remove from air fryer, finish with another pinch of salt, and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.