Power Fryer Egg Rolls: Homemade, Healthy, And Delicious!

Egg rolls are a popular Chinese appetiser and side dish that can be made at home and cooked in an air fryer. They are usually deep-fried, but baking them in an air fryer is a healthier alternative that still produces a crunchy exterior and tender filling.

To make homemade egg rolls, you will need the following ingredients: egg roll wrappers, oil, and a filling of your choice—popular options include ground pork or chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce.

The process of making egg rolls involves cooking the filling, assembling the rolls, and then cooking them in the air fryer. The exact cooking time and temperature may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, but generally, they are cooked at around 350-390 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-10 minutes, being sure to flip them halfway through.

Making egg rolls at home is a fun and easy way to enjoy this Chinese cuisine classic without having to resort to takeout.

How to make homemade egg rolls in a power fryer

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• Ground pork
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Chinese 5 Spice
• Coleslaw mix
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Egg roll wrappers
• Green onions (optional)
• Oyster sauce (optional)
• Sriracha (optional)
• Celery (optional)

Method

• Cook the pork in a skillet over medium-high heat. Use a spatula to break up the meat as it cooks.
• Add the aromatics (ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, and Chinese 5 spice) to the skillet and stir well. Cook for another minute until the garlic is aromatic.
• Add the coleslaw mix, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the cabbage is wilted. Remove from heat.
• Prepare the oil for frying by adding about 3 inches of oil to a deep pot and heating it to 350°F. Alternatively, if using an air fryer, lightly brush or spray the basket with oil.
• Assemble the egg rolls. Place an egg roll wrapper on your work surface with one corner pointing towards you, like a diamond. Place about 1-2 tbsp of the meat filling in the wrapper. Use a beaten egg or water to seal the edges of the wrapper. Fold the bottom corner up and over the filling, then fold in the two sides and roll tightly.
• Fry the egg rolls in the heated oil, 4 to 5 egg rolls at a time, until browned on all sides (about 3 to 5 minutes). Alternatively, place the egg rolls in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch, and cook at 360-400°F for 6-7 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 2-6 minutes.
• Transfer the fried egg rolls to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil and repeat with the remaining egg rolls.
• Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as sweet and sour sauce, sweet chili sauce, or hoisin sauce.

Tips

• Remove all excess moisture from the filling to prevent soggy egg rolls, which can easily tear.
• Taste the filling before wrapping to ensure it is seasoned to your liking.
• Fry the egg rolls within 30 minutes of wrapping to prevent the juice from seeping out and drying out the rolls.
• You can fill the egg rolls with any ingredients of your choosing, such as different proteins or spices. Just be careful not to overfill, or the egg rolls will tear or explode.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

What ingredients do you need to make homemade egg rolls?

Making homemade egg rolls is a fun and delicious endeavour. The ingredients you will need are:

• Ground pork (or ground chicken/beef if you prefer)
• Fresh ginger, minced or grated
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chinese 5 spice (or a mixture of cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and ground cloves)
• Coleslaw mix (cabbage, and carrots)
• Soy sauce (low sodium is recommended)
• Sesame oil (regular or toasted)
• Egg roll wrappers
• Vegetable oil for frying (canola oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, or grapeseed oil are also options)
• Beaten egg, to seal the wrappers

Some recipes also call for:

• Green onions
• Flour
• Sugar
• Oyster sauce
• Black pepper
• Bean sprouts
• Jalapeno pepper jelly
• Cilantro
• Mushrooms
• Shrimp
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

You can also serve your homemade egg rolls with a variety of dipping sauces, such as sweet and sour sauce, plum sauce, hoisin sauce, or duck sauce.

How to assemble and wrap the homemade egg rolls

Assembling and wrapping your homemade egg rolls is easy! Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare your filling

Before assembling your egg rolls, prepare your filling of choice. Some popular options include pork, chicken, cabbage, carrots, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. You can also add in some green onions and sesame oil for extra flavour.

Step 2: Set up your wrapping station

To assemble your egg rolls, set up a wrapping station with your cooked filling, a plate or cutting board, a small dish of water, and a pastry brush (if you're using egg to seal your wrappers).

Step 3: Place the wrapper

Place your egg roll wrapper on the plate or cutting board. It should be shaped like a diamond, with the bottom point facing towards you.

Step 4: Add the filling

Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling in the bottom third of the wrapper. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause your egg rolls to tear or explode during frying.

Step 5: Start rolling

Now, it's time to start rolling! Roll up the bottom point of the diamond so that it goes over the filling and reaches the centre of the wrapper.

Step 6: Fold in the sides

Next, fold in the left side of the wrapper to cover the centre. Then, fold in the right side, creating an envelope shape.

Step 7: Roll it up

Starting from the bottom, continue rolling the wrapper until only the top point is still exposed.

Step 8: Seal the egg roll

Brush some water or beaten egg on the top point of the egg roll and fold it down to seal. You may need to brush a little more water or egg on the edges to ensure the egg roll is securely closed.

Step 9: Repeat

Repeat these steps until you have assembled all your egg rolls. You can place a lightly damp cloth over the assembled egg rolls and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 12 hours before frying.

Now you're ready to fry your homemade egg rolls! Enjoy the delicious results of your hard work.

How long to cook homemade egg rolls in a power fryer

Yes, you can make homemade egg rolls in a power fryer!

Ingredients:

• Ground pork (not sausage)
• Chinese 5 Spice (optional)
• 3 cups of cabbage, shredded or finely chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 20 egg roll wrappers
• Vegetable oil for sealing wrappers
• 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil for brushing the basket and egg rolls

Method:

• In a non-stick skillet, cook the pork with the ginger and garlic on medium heat until lightly brown and no longer pink. Drain and return to the skillet.
• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, 5 spice, and salt. Pour over the prepared pork and stir.
• Add the cabbage, carrots, and green onions to the skillet. Toss and stir to combine well. Cook until the cabbage has wilted, which should take around 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool for a few minutes.
• Place the egg roll wrappers under a damp towel. To assemble, lay a wrapper in front of you so a corner points toward you like a diamond. With your finger or a brush, wet the edges of the wrapper with water.
• Brush the top corner of the wrapper with water, as this will be the sealing edge and will help keep the egg roll closed.
• Scoop 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixture into the centre of the wrapper.
• Fold the bottom corner of the wrapper up and over the filling. Then, bring the left and right corners to the centre, pressing gently and tucking in.
• Roll the egg roll away from you, folding it on itself, and place it seam side down on a lightly oiled non-stick surface.
• Repeat until all the wrappers and filling have been used.
• 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 prepared egg rolls seam side down in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• Set the temperature to 390°F and cook for 6 minutes. Then, turn the egg rolls carefully and cook for another 6 minutes until golden and crisp.
• Transfer the cooked egg rolls to newspaper or brown paper bags to drain off any excess oil.
• Continue to cook the remaining batches until all the egg rolls are done.

Tips:

• Keep the egg roll wrappers covered with a damp cloth or wet paper towels so they do not dry out while assembling the rolls.
• Take your time with the assembly until you get the hang of it. The key is to ensure the wrapper's edge is sealed so that the filling doesn't fall out.
• Don't skip adding a bit of oil to the egg rolls before cooking, as this helps the outside become golden and crispy. You can use an oil cooking spray instead.
• Make sure the egg rolls aren't touching, as you want the air to circulate properly for even cooking.
• There is no need to preheat the air fryer.
• If you need to reheat the egg rolls, you can do so in the air fryer. Many air fryers have a reheat setting, which is ideal for this.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve with your favourite dipping sauces, such as sweet and sour sauce, hot mustard, or soy sauce. Garnish with fresh, chopped green onions.

Alternative Proteins:

If you are not a fan of pork, you can replace it with cooked, chopped chicken or ground turkey.

Alternative Cooking Methods:

If you do not have an air fryer, you can bake the egg rolls in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush each egg roll with melted butter and bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

You can also pan-fry the egg rolls. Heat enough oil in a medium skillet to go about 1/2 inch up the side of the skillet. Fry the egg rolls at 350°F for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

Timings:

The total time for this recipe is estimated to be 2 hours, including preparation and cooking time. The cooking time is estimated to be around 12 minutes, with 6 minutes of cooking on each side.

If you are cooking in batches, the total cooking time will depend on how many batches you need to cook. For example, if you cook 5 batches of 4 egg rolls each, the total cooking time will be around 1 hour (5 batches x 12 minutes cooking time).

Freezing:

You can freeze the uncooked egg rolls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching. Freeze for about an hour, and then transfer them to a ziplock bag or airtight container. Label the bag or container with the type of meat used and the date. They will keep for up to 3 months but are best used within 4-6 weeks.

To cook the frozen egg rolls, brush them with oil and cook in the air fryer for 18 minutes in total (add 3 minutes to each side). Adjust the cooking time as needed, depending on how crispy or soft you want the egg rolls to be.

You can also freeze the cooked egg rolls. Wait until they have cooled, and then store them in a resealable bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 months.

To reheat the frozen cooked egg rolls, you can use the air fryer or oven. Reheating in the microwave will make them soggy.

Nutritional Information:

The nutritional information provided is for one egg roll, assuming the recipe makes 20 egg rolls in total.

Serving: 1 Egg Roll:

• Calories: 136kcal
• Carbohydrates: 9g
• Protein: 7g
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 25mg
• Sodium: 318mg
• Potassium: 148mg
• Fibre: 0g
• Sugar: 0g
• Vitamin A: 545IU
• Vitamin C: 4.8mg
• Calcium: 20mg
• Iron: 0.9mg

How to store and reheat homemade egg rolls

Storing and reheating homemade egg rolls is a simple process. If you have made a large batch, you can store them in the refrigerator for up-to 3-4 days.

Storing Homemade Egg Rolls:

Cool the leftover egg rolls and place them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Ensure that the container is not overcrowded to avoid the egg rolls turning soggy.

Reheating Homemade Egg Rolls:

There are several methods to reheat egg rolls. You can use an oven, an air fryer, or a microwave.

• Oven: Preheat the oven to 350-400°F. Place the egg rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they do not touch each other. Brush the egg rolls with oil for added crispness. Bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through and crispy, flipping them halfway.
• Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F. Place the egg rolls in the basket in a single layer without overcrowding. Brush with oil if desired. Cook for 2-6 minutes, flipping halfway.
• Microwave: Place the egg rolls on a microwave-safe plate lined with a paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through, flipping them halfway. Let the egg rolls rest for a minute before serving.

Always keep an eye on your egg rolls while reheating to avoid overcooking or drying them out. Now you can enjoy your homemade egg rolls crispy and delicious!

Frequently asked questions