Air-Fried Bread Rolls: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Air fryers are a great way to cook bread rolls, and they can be ready in as little as 5 minutes! You can cook ready-made bread rolls or make your own dough from scratch. The dough can be made with a few simple ingredients, such as flour, sugar, yeast, salt, butter, and milk. Once the dough is kneaded and shaped, it can be placed in the air fryer to bake. The air fryer temperature and time may vary depending on the model and the size of the rolls, but generally, the rolls are cooked at around 320-410°F for 5-25 minutes. The rolls are done when they are golden brown and baked through. Air fryer bread rolls are a quick and easy way to enjoy freshly baked bread at home.

Air fryer bread rolls recipe

Air fryer bread rolls are super simple to prepare and take just minutes to cook. They come out of the fryer light, fluffy, and buttery. You can make them from scratch or cook part-baked rolls from the supermarket.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Salt
• Egg
• Water
• Butter
• Sesame seeds (optional)

Method

• Combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
• Whisk an egg and combine with water and softened butter.
• Combine all wet and dry ingredients.
• Knead the dough for around 5 minutes, until you have a smooth dough.
• Divide the dough into 8 rolls (or 12-16 if serving with soup or a meal).
• Add a greased liner to the air fryer basket and mist the basket sides with cooking spray.
• Place the rolls in the basket, spaced slightly apart.
• Cover with a clean towel and set aside for 45-60 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Brush the rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using).
• Air fry for 25-28 minutes at 325°F (160°C). Check the rolls after 10 minutes to ensure they are not browning too quickly.
• If the rolls are browning too much, drop the temperature by a few degrees.
• If the bottoms are looking pale, flip the rolls over towards the end of the cooking time.
• Cool the rolls slightly before serving.

Tips

• If you are using ready-made rolls, start with the temperature advised on the package and then half the cooking time recommended for the oven.
• Part-baked rolls can be cooked in the air fryer at 200°C for 5 minutes.
• Reheat rolls by splashing them with a little water and air frying for 1-2 minutes.

Air fryer temperature and time

The temperature and time for cooking bread rolls in an air fryer depend on the type of bread roll being cooked, the size of the air fryer, and the model of the air fryer.

For store-bought frozen dinner rolls, cook them in the air fryer for 10 minutes or less at 350°F. If you are cooking a full tray of rolls, start checking on them a few minutes early. If the rolls are warm to the touch, they may still be frozen in the center, so slice one open to check.

For store-bought part-baked bread rolls, cook them at 200°C for 5 minutes. If you are cooking larger baguettes, break them in half and cook for 6-7 minutes.

For homemade bread rolls, one recipe suggests setting the air fryer to bake at 320°F for 15 minutes. If your air fryer has a top and bottom burner, increase the temperature to 350°F and bake for 20-30 minutes. If the tops are golden brown, you can flip the rolls and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Another recipe for homemade bread rolls suggests preheating the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for five minutes. Then, place the bread rolls 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 25-30 minutes. Finally, remove the pan from the air fryer and place the bread rolls back in the air fryer to cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.

How to prepare the dough

Preparing the dough for bread rolls to be cooked in an air fryer is a simple process. To begin, add yeast to a bowl with warm water and let it sit for about 3 to 5 minutes. This step is important as it activates the yeast, which will help the dough rise and give the rolls a light and fluffy texture.

Once the yeast is activated, you can start adding the other dry ingredients. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a separate bowl and whisk to ensure everything is well mixed. If you have a stand mixer, you can use the dough hook attachment to mix the ingredients. However, hand kneading is also an option, especially for small batches of dough.

Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture. This includes the egg, which should be whisked beforehand, as well as softened butter and lukewarm milk. Combine all the ingredients together until you form a sticky dough ball. At this point, the dough will be quite sticky, and you may be tempted to add more flour, but it's important to resist that urge.

Continue kneading the dough for around 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You should be able to gently stretch the dough without it tearing. Form the dough into a ball and place it in a bowl with a light coating of olive or vegetable oil. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, which can take 45 minutes to an hour.

Once the dough has risen, you can shape it into individual rolls. Place them in the air fryer basket, spaced slightly apart, and let them rise again until they are puffy and touching each other. This second rise ensures that the rolls will be nice and fluffy after baking.

Reheating bread rolls

If you're looking for crispy bread rolls, you can try spritzing or sprinkling water on the rolls before placing them in the air fryer. This helps to rehydrate the bread and prevent the crust from burning. You can also try melting butter and brushing it on the rolls before heating them.

It's worth noting that air fryer models vary, so you may need to experiment with different temperatures and timings to find what works best for your machine. For example, some sources suggest baking the rolls for 25-30 minutes at 325°F (162.7°C) for a slower cook.

Additionally, if you're reheating part-baked bread rolls, you may only need to heat them for 5 minutes at 200°C. This method is perfect for saving and reheating shop-bought rolls, which can quickly become stale.

With these tips, you'll be able to enjoy warm and crispy bread rolls straight from your air fryer!

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve air-fried bread rolls. They can be eaten as a simple breakfast spread with butter and jam, peanut butter, or any other favourite spread. They can also be served with soup, or filled with ham, cheese, or chicken tikka.

For a more indulgent option, brush the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic and salt before air frying for an additional 1-2 minutes. These garlic bread rolls would be perfect for serving with slow cooker vegetarian lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, or chicken casserole.

Air fryer bread rolls are also great for serving alongside a main meal. They can be cooked in under 10 minutes, so you can easily put them in the fryer just before serving your meal. They are perfect for occasions when you need to save oven space, such as Thanksgiving.

If you are looking for a gluten-free option, try using an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.

Frequently asked questions