Air Fryer Bread Rolls: Baking Perfection?

Air fryers are a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used for much more than just frying. They can also be used for baking, including bread rolls. Air fryer bread rolls are quick and easy to make, and can be served with a variety of dishes. They are a perfect accompaniment to soups and casseroles, or can be used to make sandwiches or sliders. The rolls can be made from scratch or using a bread mix, and can be cooked from fresh or frozen. The cooking time is typically shorter than in a conventional oven, and the rolls are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

How to bake bread rolls in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Bread flour (all-purpose flour can also be used)
• Rapid-rise yeast (doesn't need to be activated first)
• Lukewarm water
• Melted butter or clarified butter (ghee)
• Salt
• Sugar

Method

• Measure the flour, sugar, salt and yeast into a mixing bowl. Stir to combine the dry ingredients.
• Pour in the water and melted butter. Mix together with a spoon or a dough hook until there are no dry streaks of flour and you have a shaggy, sticky dough.
• Cover with a clean towel and place in a warm spot to rise for an hour.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured worktop. Gently stretch the dough into a rectangular shape. Fold the top towards the middle, then the bottom over that, as you would fold a letter.
• Turn sideways and fold into a roll. Use your hands to shape the bread into a ball (also known as a "boule"), dusting with flour as needed.
• Place the shaped dough in a greased cake pan, loosely cover and leave to rise for half an hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for five minutes. Score the top of the bread with a knife and brush the sides with a little melted butter so it doesn't stick.
• Place the pan in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Lower the heat to 350°F (180°C) and continue to cook for 30 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the air fryer and take the bread out. Place the loaf back in the air fryer to cook for a further 5-10 minutes to allow the bottom of the bread to bake evenly.
• Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips

• Air fryers can vary in wattage and size, so you may need to adjust the time and temperature to suit your air fryer model.
• The bottom of the bread may be a bit doughy while the top looks perfectly baked. Flipping the bread over or cooking it directly in the air fryer basket for a few minutes can help with this issue.
• Tap on the bottom of the bread – if you hear a hollow sound, it should be cooked through. Alternatively, use an instant-read digital thermometer to check if the internal temperature at the core is about 200°F (over 95°C).

How to adapt the recipe for different air fryer models

Air fryers vary in wattage and size, which will affect how your bread rolls bake. Here are some tips on how to adapt the recipe for different air fryer models:

• If your air fryer has a proving function, use it to prove your dough.
• If your air fryer doesn't have a proving function, place your dough in a bowl and cover it with a damp tea towel.
• If your air fryer has a "Bake" mode, use it to cook your bread rolls. If not, use the \"Air Fry\" mode.
• Adjust the temperature and cooking time according to your air fryer's specifications. As a general rule of thumb, aim for about 75% of the cooking time specified in the recipe and check if your bread rolls are cooked. If not, put them back in at 1-2 minute intervals until they are done to your liking.
• If your air fryer has a smaller capacity, you may need to bake your bread rolls in batches.
• If your air fryer has a convection fan, be aware that it will magnify the effect of baking the outer crust of the bread roll first. To ensure even baking, use a smaller-diameter pan (e.g., a 6" round pan) to reduce the distance for the heat to travel.
• If your air fryer tends to brown your bread rolls too quickly, cover them with aluminium foil or an aluminium heat tamer/burner plate partway through the baking process.
• If the bottom of your bread rolls tends to be doughy while the top looks perfectly baked, try flipping the bread rolls over or cooking them directly in the air fryer basket for a few minutes.

How to make bread rolls from scratch

Making bread rolls from scratch in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Ingredients:

First, gather your ingredients. For a simple dough, you will need flour, yeast, salt, and water. You can also add sugar, butter, or oil for enhanced flavour and texture.

Mixing and Kneading:

Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then, pour in the water and any additional ingredients, such as melted butter. Mix until a sticky dough forms.

You can choose to knead the dough by hand or let it rest for about 15 minutes and perform a couple of "stretch and folds." To knead by hand, grease your hands with oil, then stretch and fold the dough over itself a few times, turning the bowl as you work.

First Rise:

Cover the dough with a clean towel and place it in a warm spot to rise for about an hour. You can use an oven or microwave (turned off) for this purpose.

Shaping:

After the dough has risen, gently stretch it into a rectangular shape. Then, fold it towards the middle, first from the top and then from the bottom, as if folding a letter. Turn the dough sideways and fold it into a roll. Finally, shape it into a ball, or "boule," dusting with flour as needed.

Second Rise:

Place the shaped dough into a greased cake pan (a 6" or 7" pan is ideal for most air fryers). Loosely cover the pan and let the dough rise for another 30 minutes.

Baking:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for five minutes. Score the top of the dough with a knife and brush the sides with melted butter to prevent sticking.

Place the pan in the air fryer and bake for 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Then, lower the temperature to 350°F (180°C) and continue baking for 25-30 minutes.

Remove the pan from the air fryer and take out the bread rolls. Place them back in the air fryer for an additional 5-10 minutes to ensure even baking and browning.

Cooling and Storage:

Allow the bread rolls to cool on a wire rack before slicing. You can tap the bottom of the rolls to check for doneness; they should sound hollow when fully baked.

For storage, slice the bread and freeze it. You can then toast the frozen slices as needed. Alternatively, store the bread in a bread bag or wrapped in a linen towel for up to three days.

Tips:

• Air fryer capacities vary, so you may need to adjust the number of rolls you bake at once.
• To prevent over-browning, cover the rolls with aluminium foil or a heat tamer/burner plate partway through baking.
• For even browning, flip the rolls over or bake them directly in the air fryer basket for the final few minutes.
• If your air fryer has a proving function, you can use it during the first and second rises.
• For golden, crispy bread rolls, brush them with an egg wash before baking.

Enjoy your freshly baked bread rolls!

How to make bread rolls using a bread maker

Bread rolls can be made using a bread maker. Here is a simple recipe for making bread rolls using a bread maker:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (.25-ounce) package of active dry yeast (this equals 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 1 cup milk (you can use whole milk or skim milk)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon table or sea salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, finely chopped

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients into the pan of your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Set the bread machine to the DOUGH cycle and press START.
• Once the cycle is complete, remove the dough from the machine and place it on a floured surface. Lightly deflate the dough using your hands.
• Divide the dough into 12-16 equal-sized pieces and roll them into round balls.
• Spray a 13x9 pan with non-stick spray and place the dough balls onto the pan, placing them directly next to each other.
• Cover the pan with a cloth towel and let the dough rise for about 60 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on top.
• Remove from the oven and let them cool down before serving.

You can also brush the tops of the rolls with butter or an egg wash before baking to give them a glossy finish.

How to adapt the recipe for different serving sizes

The size of your air fryer will determine the number of rolls you can bake at once. If you're baking rolls for two to four people, use a typical dinner roll recipe yielding about 16 medium rolls, and cut the recipe in half to bake in the air fryer. You can also make them into slider rolls for sandwiches.

If you're using a 6" pan, you'll need to bake the rolls in batches. You can supplement your supply with 6" round foil pans if you only have one 6" pan. Since the rolls bake quickly, you don't need to worry about the dough over-rising. However, it's recommended to store the second batch in a cool spot until it's time to bake.

For smaller rolls, you'll need to slow down the browning process by covering them partway through baking. Check the colour of your rolls after about five minutes, and cover them with an aluminium heat tamer or burner plate.

Experiment with the time and temperature to find what works best for your air fryer, as the baking time may vary depending on the model.

Frequently asked questions