Cooking Frozen Wontons: Air Fryer Magic

If you're craving crispy, crunchy, and juicy wontons, then look no further than your air fryer! Frozen wontons can be cooked in an air fryer in a matter of minutes, making them a quick, easy, and delicious snack or appetizer. You can use any brand or flavor of frozen mini wontons, and they can be cooked straight from the freezer with no need for defrosting. Simply place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spray with a little oil, and air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy. So, if you're looking for a tasty treat that's faster, cheaper, and tastier than takeout, then air fryer wontons are the perfect choice!

Cooking temperature and time

When cooking frozen wontons in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that they are cooked thoroughly and evenly. To achieve this, it is recommended to cook them in a single layer, without stacking or overcrowding the air fryer basket. This allows hot air to circulate around each wonton, ensuring even cooking.

The ideal cooking temperature for frozen wontons in an air fryer is between 350°F (176°C) and 380°F. At this temperature, cook the wontons for about 4 to 5 minutes, until golden. Then, flip the wontons over and air fry for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until they reach the desired level of golden brown crispiness.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size, thickness, and filling of the wontons, as well as the specific model and heat distribution of your air fryer. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a close eye on the wontons during the cooking process to prevent overcooking or burning.

Additionally, spraying the wontons with oil before and during cooking can help ensure a crispy texture. When spraying the wontons with oil, aim for a thorough but not excessive coating, as this will produce more evenly crispy results.

For best results, it is recommended to cook frozen wontons directly from the freezer without thawing them first. This helps maintain the texture and shape of the wonton wrappers.

Oil type and application

Oil Type:

• Neutral-tasting oils, such as rapeseed or avocado oil, are recommended to allow the flavours of the wonton filling to shine through. These oils have a higher smoke point, making them suitable for high-temperature cooking in an air fryer.
• Other neutral-tasting oils like vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are also suitable options.
• If you want to add a subtle nutty aroma to your wontons, consider using sesame oil. This oil has a distinct flavour that can enhance the taste of your dish.

Oil Application:

• Before placing the frozen wontons in the air fryer, lightly coat them with oil. You can use a cooking oil spray, an oil brush, or even dip your fingers in oil and gently rub it on the wontons.
• Ensure that the oil coverage is thorough but not excessive. The goal is to have an even coating of oil on the wontons to promote uniform crispiness.
• If using an oil spray, hold the spray can about 6 to 8 inches away from the wontons and spray in a steady back-and-forth motion until lightly coated.
• If using an oil brush, gently brush the oil onto the surface of each wonton, making sure to cover all sides and edges.
• If using your fingers, dip your fingertips in oil and gently rub it onto the wontons, ensuring all surfaces are coated.
• After applying the oil, place the wontons in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. This arrangement allows for even cooking and prevents them from sticking together.
• During the cooking process, you may need to flip the wontons halfway through and apply a light spray of oil or brush a small amount of oil onto the flipped side to ensure even crispiness.
• Depending on your air fryer model and the size of the wontons, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure optimal results.
• Once cooked, remove the wontons from the air fryer and place them on a cooling rack or paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
• Serve the wontons hot with your favourite dipping sauce, such as soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, or a sauce of your choice.

Wonton brand and flavour

When it comes to choosing a brand of frozen wontons to cook in your air fryer, there are several options available at most major grocery stores. Popular brands include Bibigo, which can be found at stores like Costco, Walmart, Target, H-E-B, and Trader Joe's. Other options include Fusia brand wontons from Aldi, or wontons from Costco and Walmart, which sell their own frozen wonton products. Wonton Food is another brand that emphasizes quality in their products.

The type of wonton flavour you choose is entirely up to your preference. There are various options available, including chicken and vegetable wontons, which can be found at Trader Joe's and are also offered by Bibigo. Pork wontons are another popular choice, with the fat content helping to keep the filling juicy. Bibigo offers Pork & Vegetable Mini Wontons with a blend of soy, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. For those who enjoy spicy food, the cilantro in the filling of the Bibigo wontons may add a fresh, herby taste. However, if cilantro tastes like soap to you, this particular flavour may not be the best option. Other wonton flavours include vegetable wontons and wontons that use ground shrimp or pork.

Serving suggestions

Wontons are a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, snack, or even a part of a main course. Here are some serving suggestions for air-fried frozen wontons:

As an Appetizer

Air-fried wontons can be served as a tasty and crispy appetizer for your next party or gathering. Impress your guests by serving them with a spicy dipping sauce. You can also serve them with a dumpling sauce or your favourite dipping sauce, such as sweet chilli sauce, spicy mayo, ponzu, or even a homemade sauce.

As a Snack

Air-fried wontons are an excellent quick and easy snack option. They can be easily prepared in the air fryer, straight from frozen, and paired with your favourite dipping sauce. This makes for a delicious and addictive treat that can be enjoyed at any time.

As Part of a Main Course

Wontons are commonly served in soups, but they can also be added to other dishes to enhance their flavour and texture. Try serving them on top of ramen noodles or incorporating them into a salad or lettuce wrap. They can also be a tasty side dish to complement your main course.

Dessert Option

While wontons are typically savoury, there are sweet variations that can be served as dessert. For example, you could try making wontons filled with a cheese-based filling and serving them with a sweet dipping sauce.

Storing and reheating

Storing

If you have cooked too many wontons, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To do this, first place them on a flat surface to cool for 15-20 minutes. Then, arrange them in a single layer inside the container, leaving some space between each wonton so that their wrappers don't touch and stick together.

Alternatively, you can freeze cooked wontons for up to three months. To do this, wrap each wonton snugly in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then place them in a single layer on a tray and freeze for two to three hours. Transfer them to an airtight container and return them to the freezer.

Reheating

There are several ways to reheat your wontons, including using an air fryer, pan-frying, the oven, or the microwave.

If you are using an air fryer, follow the same method as cooking them from frozen. Place the frozen wontons in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spray with a little oil, and cook at 380°F for 8 minutes, or until golden and crispy.

To reheat wontons through pan-frying, add some vegetable or peanut oil to a non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the wontons in a single layer and fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown and thoroughly heated.

For the oven, wrap the wontons in aluminium foil or line a baking sheet with aluminium foil. Heat at 375°F for 7 to 10 minutes, opening the foil during the last 2 minutes of cooking to allow the oven to crisp the wontons.

Microwaving is the least recommended option, but it can be done in a pinch. Microwave the wontons in one-minute batches, turning them at each interval and keeping a close eye on them to prevent them from exploding.

Frequently asked questions