Air-Fryer Egg Rolls: Homemade, Healthy, And Delicious!

Yes, you can make homemade egg rolls in an air fryer! They are a delicious appetizer or snack and are simple, fast, and affordable to make. You can make them with a variety of fillings, including ground chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables, and they come out crispy and delicious. The best part? You only need a teaspoon of olive oil to make them – no deep frying required!

How to make the filling

The filling is the most important part of an egg roll. It's what gives it its flavour and texture, so it's important to get it just right. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make the perfect filling for your homemade egg rolls:

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need:

• Vegetable oil
• Minced garlic
• Fresh minced ginger
• Coleslaw mix (cabbage and carrots)
• Ground meat of your choice (chicken, pork, beef or tofu)
• Oyster sauce
• Soy sauce
• Toasted sesame oil
• Sriracha or another chilli sauce
• Green onions, thinly sliced

Cooking Instructions

• Heat some vegetable oil in a pan and add the garlic, ginger and celery. Stir-fry until fragrant.
• Add the coleslaw mix and cook until the cabbage is wilted.
• Add your choice of ground meat, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and chilli sauce. Stir-fry the mixture, breaking up the meat, for 3-4 minutes.
• Once the meat is cooked and there is no liquid left in the pan, stir in the green onions and remove from the heat.

Your filling is now ready to be wrapped in your egg roll wrappers! Remember to seal the edges of the wrappers with water or a beaten egg to prevent the filling from spilling out.

How to wrap the egg rolls

To wrap an egg roll, start by placing the wrapper on a flat surface, forming a diamond shape with one corner pointing towards you. This bottom corner will be referred to as corner 1, the left corner as corner 2, the right corner as corner 3, and the top corner as corner 4.

Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling in the middle of the wrapper, slightly below an imaginary line connecting corners 2 and 3. Use your finger or a brush to spread some of the egg mixture along the edges from corners 2 to 1, and then from 1 to 3.

Now, fold corner 4 towards corner 1, and use a rolling back action to firm up the mixture. Next, fold over corner 3, ensuring the egg mixture seals both corners. Then, fold over corner 2.

Starting from the bottom, continue rolling the wrapper tightly into a cigar shape until it is completely sealed. Place the finished egg roll sealed side down on a wooden cutting board or a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Repeat this process until you have assembled all your egg rolls.

To ensure your egg rolls hold together during frying, seal the edges with either water or an egg wash (a mixture of beaten egg and water or milk). You can also use cornstarch to prevent the egg rolls from sticking to the plate or each other if you are making a large batch.

How to cook the egg rolls in an air fryer

Preparing the filling:

First, prepare the filling by stir-frying garlic, ginger, and celery in heated vegetable oil until fragrant. Next, add and cook the coleslaw mix (cabbage and carrots) until the cabbage is wilted. Then, add ground meat of your choice (chicken, pork, beef, or tofu), oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha. Stir-fry the mixture, breaking up the meat, for 3-4 minutes. Once the meat is cooked and there is no liquid left, stir in the green onions and remove the filling from the stove.

Wrapping the egg rolls:

To wrap the egg rolls, place an egg roll wrapper with one corner facing you. Place a tablespoon of filling in the bottom half of the wrapper and wrap that corner over the filling. Fold both sides towards the center and continue rolling away from you until you reach the end. Seal the edges with water or a beaten egg. Repeat this process until all your wrappers are filled and rolled.

Cooking the egg rolls in the air fryer:

Spray the basket of your air fryer with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. Place the egg rolls in the basket, ensuring they don't touch each other. Lightly spray the tops of the egg rolls with olive oil. Set the air fryer temperature to between 360-400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the egg rolls for 6 minutes. Then, flip the egg rolls and cook for an additional 6-7 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tips for making and cooking egg rolls in an air fryer:

• Seal the egg rolls properly to prevent the filling from spilling out. Use water or an egg wash to dampen the edges so they stick together.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave space between the egg rolls to allow for even cooking. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Keep the egg roll wrappers moist by covering them with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out.
• You can freeze uncooked or cooked egg rolls for future use. Place them on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour before transferring to a freezer bag or container. Cook frozen egg rolls directly from frozen, adding 1-3 minutes per side to the cooking time.

How to store and reheat the egg rolls

Storing and reheating your homemade egg rolls is a simple process. If you have any leftover egg rolls, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

When you're ready to reheat your egg rolls, the air fryer is the best option to restore their crispy texture. Preheat your air fryer to 350–400°F. Then, place the egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Reheat for 1–8 minutes, depending on the size of your egg rolls. It's a good idea to flip them halfway through for even heating.

If your egg rolls are frozen, you can cook them straight from the freezer, but you'll need to increase the reheating time by a few minutes.

Other reheating methods include using an oven or a microwave, but these may result in soggier egg rolls.

Tips for the best results

Rolling the Egg Rolls

• Place the egg roll wrapper so that one corner is towards you.
• Place a tablespoon of filling in the bottom half (towards you) and wrap that corner over the filling.
• Turn both sides over the wrapper and then continue rolling away from you (like a burrito) until you reach the end.
• Seal the edges with some water or a beaten egg.
• Keep the egg roll wrappers covered with a damp cloth or wet paper towels so they do not dry out while assembling the rolls.
• Set up a "wrapping" station with your cooked filling, a plate, a small dish of water, and a pastry brush.
• Brush some water on the top point of the egg roll, and fold it down. You may need to brush a bit more water over the edges to "seal" the egg roll closed.
• Repeat until you have 4-5 egg rolls made.

Cooking the Egg Rolls

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Leave space between the egg rolls so that the air can circulate around them, cooking them evenly. Cook them in batches if you need to.
• Lightly brush or spray the basket of the air fryer with oil.
• Brush a small amount of oil on both sides of the egg rolls.
• Place the egg rolls seam-side down in the basket in a single layer so they are not touching.
• Flip and spray the other side of the egg rolls with oil if you think it needs it.
• Transfer the cooked egg rolls to newspaper or brown paper bags to drain off any excess oil.

Frequently asked questions