Air Fryer Wontons: Can You Skip Frying?

Wontons are a delicious snack, but frying them can be a messy and time-consuming process. Air fryers have emerged as a popular alternative to deep-frying, offering a healthier, quicker, and easier way to cook wontons with less oil and minimal cleanup. You can cook raw wontons in an air fryer, and in this article, we will explore the different methods, ingredients, and recipes to help you create crispy and tasty air-fried wontons at home. From preparing the filling to folding the wrappers, we will guide you through the process of making this addictive snack.

Cooking Raw Wontons in an Air Fryer

Air-frying temperature and time

The temperature and time for air-frying wontons depend on the type of wonton being cooked, the brand of air fryer being used, and the desired level of crispness.

For homemade wontons, some sources recommend air-frying at 370°F (190°C) for a total of 9 to 10 minutes, flipping the wontons halfway through. Other sources suggest cooking at 395°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, then at 320°F (160°C) for another 5 to 8 minutes. It is important to keep an eye on the wontons to prevent burning and ensure the desired level of crispness.

For frozen, store-bought wontons, it is recommended to air-fry at 400°F (204°C) for 8 to 10 minutes. It is not necessary to defrost the wontons before cooking. Halfway through the cooking process, the wontons should be tossed to ensure even cooking.

Reheating homemade wontons can be done in an air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 5 to 8 minutes or until crispy.

Wonton fillings

Wontons are a type of dumpling, and as such, they can be filled with a variety of sweet or savoury flavours. The key to a juicy wonton is to use fatty meat, which will help the filling stay juicy when cooked.

A classic combination is pork and shrimp or prawns. For the pork, fatty mince is a good choice, and for the shrimp or prawns, simply roughly chop raw, peeled, deveined prawns and mix with the pork. You can also add soy sauce for a salty, umami flavour, and ginger and garlic for a little kick.

For a vegetarian option, you could try a blend of chicken, cabbage, leeks, green onions, and tofu. Or, for a Mexican-inspired filling, you could use chicken and spices. If you're a fan of cheese, you could try a Philly cheesesteak filling, or a cheesy pork sausage filling. For a completely plant-based option, try OmniPork with cilantro, which will give the filling a fresh, herby taste.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could even try a fruity filling. Korean wontons (called mandoo) are filled with inexpensive vegetables and beef, and are very easy to prepare.

Wonton folding methods

Yes, you can cook raw wontons in an air fryer. They turn out crispy and delicious!

The simplest way to fold a wonton is to form a triangle. To do this, place a spoonful of filling in the centre of a square wonton wrapper. Then, fold the wrapper in half diagonally to form a triangle. Brush a little water on the edges with your fingertip to help seal it. Finally, bring the two bottom corners of the triangle together, and seal them with a little more water.

There are several other ways to fold a wonton, including:

• The Bonnet: This is the most common method, yielding a compact shape with tasty, chewy folds. Dab the four edges of a square wrapper with water. Place the filling in the middle and fold the wrapper in half to form a rectangle. Then, bring the bottom corners together and squeeze to seal.
• The Diamond: An alternative to the bonnet, yielding a slightly less compact wonton with pointed/flared ends.
• The Scrunch: This method is used only with very thin wrappers and small amounts of filling. It involves simply squeezing the wrapper around the filling.
• The Pyramid or Square Fold: This method creates a four-pointed star shape and can hold a slightly larger amount of filling. First, moisten the edges of the wrapper. Then, lift two opposite corners to meet above the filling, pinching just the tips together. Next, lift the remaining corners, sealing them with the already pinched tips to form a gathered top.
• The Little Boat: This shape is great for holding sauces.

Storing and reheating

Storing

If you have cooked too many wontons, it is best to eat them as soon as possible. However, if you have leftovers, you must remove them from the broth and place them on a flat surface to cool down for 15-20 minutes. Then, decide whether to store them in the fridge or freezer. For short-term storage, arrange the wontons in a single layer inside an airtight container, ensuring the wrappers do not touch, and place them in the fridge for up to a week.

For longer-term storage, freezing is the best way to store your wontons. First, wrap each wonton snugly in plastic wrap or parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. Then, place them in a single layer on a tray and freeze for 2-3 hours. Finally, transfer the wontons to an airtight container and return them to the freezer, where they will retain their quality for up to three months.

Reheating

There are several ways to reheat your wontons, including the stove, oven, microwave, steaming, and air fryer.

The stove is one of the best options for reheating wontons as it helps maintain their crunch and texture without compromising flavour.

The oven is another good option for reheating wontons. Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap the wontons in aluminium foil or line a baking sheet with foil. Heat for 7-10 minutes, opening the foil for the final 2 minutes to crisp the wontons.

Microwaving is the least recommended option for reheating wontons as they are more likely to become soggy. If you are short on time, microwave your wontons in one-minute batches, turning them at each interval and keeping a close eye on them to prevent them from exploding.

You can also steam your wontons for 5 minutes or add them to a soup. If you are reheating wonton soup, bring the broth to a boil on medium heat. Once it bubbles, add the wontons and allow everything to warm for 15-30 seconds before removing from the heat.

Finally, you can reheat your wontons in an air fryer. Place them in the air fryer basket and spray with oil. Reheat at 160C/320F for 5-8 minutes or until crispy.

Oil types and alternatives

When cooking wontons in an air fryer, it is recommended to spray or brush the wontons with oil before placing them in the air fryer. You can use an oil mister to spritz the wontons, or brush the oil on with a pastry brush. Alternatively, you can use a nonstick cooking spray, although it is important to note that the nonstick spray oil can cause the nonstick coating of your air fryer basket to deteriorate over time.

If you are frying wontons in oil, it is important to heat the oil to the correct temperature. If the oil is too hot, the wontons can burn, and if it is too cold, the wontons will absorb more grease and have a heavier texture. You should heat the oil until small bubbles start to appear, and test the heat by placing a small piece of the wonton wrapper in the oil – it should rapidly sizzle. You will need to add enough oil to completely submerge the wontons when frying.

There are many different types of oil that you can use for frying wontons. Some recipes suggest using sesame oil, while others recommend making your own chilli oil by toasting dried chillies and then steeping them in hot oil. You can also add other ingredients to the chilli oil, such as Sichuan peppercorns for a citrus-like aroma, or garlic for a more intense flavour.

If you are looking for an alternative to oil when cooking wontons, you can try boiling them. To do this, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 12 to 16 wontons, cooking until they are completely cooked through (about 4 to 7 minutes). You can also freeze wontons and boil them straight from frozen, which will take 6 to 7 minutes.

Frequently asked questions