Air-Fryer Bread Rolls: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Air fryers are incredibly versatile, and you can use them to bake bread rolls. You can cook frozen or homemade rolls in the air fryer, and it is a great way to free up space in your oven. The air fryer cuts the cooking time in half, and you can have freshly baked bread rolls in under 10 minutes. You can also reheat rolls in the air fryer in just 2-3 minutes.

How to make bread rolls in an air fryer from scratch

Yes, you can cook bread rolls in an air fryer! Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make bread rolls in an air fryer from scratch.

Ingredients:

• Flour (bread flour or all-purpose flour)
• Yeast (rapid-rise yeast or dry active yeast)
• Milk (whole milk is best)
• Butter (unsalted is preferable)
• Sugar
• Salt
• Egg

Optional Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil
• Irish salted butter

Method:

Step 1:

In a mixer bowl, whisk together warm water (95-110°F), yeast, and a small amount of sugar. Let this mixture stand until it becomes foamy, which should take around 5 minutes. Then, add cold milk, the rest of the sugar, and an egg. Whisk to combine.

Step 2:

Attach the bowl to your mixer and fit it with a paddle attachment. Start mixing on low speed, gradually adding in flour and salt. Beat in butter, one tablespoon at a time. Keep adding flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl.

Step 3:

Switch out the paddle attachment for a dough hook. Continue kneading the dough on medium-low speed for about 5 minutes.

Step 4:

Transfer the dough to a medium bowl that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside in a warm spot in your kitchen. Let the dough rest until it has doubled in size, which should take around 40 minutes.

Step 5:

Weigh the dough and divide it into 9 or 12 equal portions, depending on your preference. Gently shape each portion into a smooth, round ball. This step is optional, but if you want to shape the dough, pull the sides of the dough to the bottom and pinch it together to create a smooth, round shape.

Step 6:

Place the shaped dough balls into a parchment-lined air fryer basket, leaving some space between each ball as they will expand during the next step. Cover the basket with plastic wrap.

Step 7:

Let the dough balls rise again in a warm place until they double in size, which should take about an hour.

Step 8:

Set your air fryer to 300°F and cook the dough balls for 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.

Step 9:

Brush the cooked rolls with melted butter for added colour and flavour.

Step 10:

Sprinkle the rolls with sea salt, such as Maldon salt, for an extra flavour boost and a crispy texture.

Tips:

• Make sure your yeast is not expired, and always use lukewarm water (not very hot water) to activate it.
• Never add salt directly to the yeast, as it can kill it.
• Kneading the dough for at least 5 minutes will develop the gluten needed for soft and fluffy rolls.
• Avoid adding too much flour, as this can result in dense and dry rolls.
• Always keep the dough covered with plastic wrap when rolling and shaping to prevent it from drying out.
• For pull-apart rolls, cook 12 rolls in the air fryer basket. If you don't want them to touch, cook 9 rolls at a time.
• If your rolls are undercooked, you may have too many in the air fryer basket.

Enjoy your freshly made bread rolls!

How to cook frozen bread rolls in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook frozen bread rolls in an air fryer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Defrosting the Bread Rolls

First, you will need to defrost your frozen bread rolls. Start by preheating your air fryer to around 300°F (150°C). This will create an optimal environment for defrosting the bread.

Take the frozen bread rolls out of their packaging and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave enough space between each roll to ensure even defrosting.

Set the timer for around 5 minutes as a general guideline and check the rolls periodically until they are soft and thawed. If they need more time, add a few extra minutes, but be careful not to overcook them.

To ensure even defrosting, gently flip the bread rolls halfway through the process. This will help prevent any parts from remaining frozen while other areas thaw.

Once the rolls are soft and thawed, use a fork or your fingers to check their doneness. They should feel slightly squishy and no longer frozen in the center.

Cooking the Bread Rolls

Now that your bread rolls are defrosted, it's time to cook them. You can either enjoy them as is or proceed to cook them further. If you want to bake or toast them, adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Place the rolls in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch each other or the edges of the basket. You may need to cook them in batches.

Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter for added flavor and color.

Air fry the rolls at 350°F (180°C) for 4-5 minutes or until they are warmed through and the tops are lightly browned. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the rolls, as well as the model of your air fryer.

Once the rolls are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and serve them warm.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use any brand of frozen dinner rolls or even homemade frozen rolls.
• If you are cooking a large number of rolls, you may need to work in batches or adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• For pull-apart dinner rolls, cook 12 rolls in the air fryer basket. Cook 9 rolls if you don't want them touching.
• If your rolls are undercooked, you may have too many rolls in the air fryer basket.
• You can also use the air fryer to cook other frozen foods like French fries, chicken nuggets, and burritos.

How to reheat bread rolls in an air fryer

Yes, you can reheat bread rolls in an air fryer! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer to 300°F or 350°F. Not all models have a preheat setting, but it is recommended to do so when baking bread. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, simply put the air fryer basket in and turn it on to the desired temperature.

Step 2: Prepare the Bread Rolls

While the air fryer is heating up, you can prepare the bread rolls. Brush each roll with melted butter and place them in the air fryer basket. You can cook multiple batches of rolls if your air fryer basket is large enough.

Step 3: Reheat the Bread Rolls

Once the air fryer has preheated, it's time to reheat your bread rolls. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook the rolls for 2-3 minutes at 300°F or 5-7 minutes at 350°F, or until they are warmed through and golden brown.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the bread rolls are warmed to your liking, take them out of the air fryer and serve them immediately. Enjoy your freshly reheated bread rolls!

Tips:

• You can reheat frozen or homemade bread rolls in the air fryer.
• The time required to reheat the rolls may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
• If you want to reheat a larger batch of rolls, you may need to do it in multiple batches to ensure even heating.

How to make garlic bread rolls in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook bread rolls in an air fryer! Here is a recipe for making garlic bread rolls using an air fryer.

Ingredients:

• Bread flour or all-purpose flour
• Rapid-rise yeast
• Milk
• Butter
• Garlic
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Red pepper flakes
• Mozzarella cheese

Method:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until foamy, for about 5 minutes.
• Add cold milk, the rest of the sugar, and an egg. Whisk to combine.
• Mix in flour and salt. Beat in butter, one tablespoon at a time. Keep adding flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl.
• Knead the dough on medium-low speed for 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, for about 40 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and shape them into balls.
• Place the dough balls into a parchment-lined air fryer basket and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise at room temperature for about 40 minutes.
• Preheat the air fryer to 300°F.
• In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese.
• Spread the garlic butter mixture onto the dough balls.
• Place the garlic bread rolls into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching.
• Air fry at 300°F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Brush the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with salt, if desired.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

How to make sweet bread rolls in an air fryer

Yes, you can make bread rolls in an air fryer! Here is a recipe for sweet bread rolls, adapted from a few sources.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of white bread flour (also called strong bread flour)
• 1 teaspoon of rapid-rise yeast
• 1/2 cup of lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• Sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning (optional)

Method:

• Combine the flour and water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until a paste forms and your whisk leaves trails on the surface of the roux.
• Add the milk to the flour paste and stir well to combine. Set aside until just barely warm.
• In a mixing bowl, stir together the bread flour, yeast, sugar, and milk powder (if using).
• Add the milk/roux and beaten egg to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Add the salt and butter and mix until a dough forms. You can do this with a spoon, a dough hook, or your hands.
• Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. You should be able to gently stretch the dough between your fingers without it tearing.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
• Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Flatten each piece and fold the edges towards the middle, then roll into a smooth ball.
• Place the rolls in the air fryer basket, spaced slightly apart. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Cover the rolls with a clean towel and let rise until doubled in size again (about 45-60 minutes).
• Brush the rolls with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning, if desired.
• Air fry at 325°F (160°C) for 25-28 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tips:

• If the tops of the rolls are browning too quickly, cover them with an aluminum heat tamer or aluminum foil.
• If the bottoms of the rolls are pale, flip them over and air fry for a few more minutes to brown them.
• If you are baking rolls for a larger group, you may want to use your oven instead of the air fryer to save time.

Enjoy your sweet bread rolls!

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