Tiffany Haney
Spring rolls are a delicious snack, appetiser, or light lunch that can be cooked in an air fryer with minimal mess and preparation. The air fryer's ability to circulate heat around all sides of the spring rolls gives them a crunchy exterior without the need for deep frying. This article will cover the process of making spring rolls from scratch and cooking them in an air fryer, as well as how to cook frozen spring rolls in an air fryer.
Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Spring Rolls in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 380°F to 400°F (200°C) to 204°C |
| Time | 4 to 10 minutes |
| Oil | Vegetable, avocado, sesame, or any other type |
| Filling | Pork, turkey, chicken, veggies, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, spices |
| Wrapper | Wonton, spring roll, filo pastry, or egg roll |
| Dipping Sauce | Peanut sauce, avocado crema, sweet and spicy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce |
| Cookware | Air fryer basket, baking sheet, aluminium foil, tongs |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures your spring rolls cook evenly and helps to achieve that desirable crispy texture. Most sources recommend preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. However, one source suggests a temperature of 390°F (200°C) for the same amount of time, so you may want to experiment with what works best for your air fryer model.
When preheating, it is important to remember not to line your air fryer basket with aluminium foil. This can be a hazard as the foil needs to be weighed down by food for safety. Instead, you can line the basket with foil after preheating, if desired, or use a parchment paper liner.
While preheating your air fryer, you can prepare your spring rolls. Brush them with a thin layer of oil to enhance their crispiness. You can use a pastry brush or a cooking spray for this step. If you are using frozen spring rolls, there is no need to thaw them first. Simply take them straight out of the box and place them in the air fryer once it has been preheated.
Once your air fryer has been preheated, you are ready to cook your spring rolls. Place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not touching each other. This allows for even cooking and that sought-after crunch. If you are cooking a large batch of spring rolls, you may need to cook them in several batches to avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket.
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Prepare the filling
Preparing the filling for your spring rolls is simple and quick. First, toast some sesame seeds in a saucepan. You can skip this step if you don't want to include sesame seeds in your filling. Next, add your choice of meat—ground pork, turkey, chicken, or even diced air fryer pork belly—and cook, stirring, until the meat is browned. If you would prefer a vegetarian option, you can leave out the meat and double up on the vegetables.
Now, add your spices. You can include onion powder, black pepper, and ground ginger. You can also add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Chinese rice wine. For an extra kick, add some sriracha or toasted sesame seed oil. Once the juices have evaporated, add the vegetables. You can use a tricolour coleslaw mix, or chop your own cabbage, onions, carrots, green onions, and garlic. If you like, you can also add shiitake mushrooms and bean sprouts. Saute the vegetables until they are tender.
Finally, let the filling cool completely before assembling your spring rolls. The hot filling will break the spring roll wrappers. If you're in a hurry, you can spread the filling on a baking sheet and put it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
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Assemble the spring rolls
To assemble the spring rolls, start by placing a spring roll wrapper on a clean, flat work surface in a diamond shape. If you want to make your own wrappers, you can use wonton wrappers, filo pastry, egg roll wrappers, or spring roll wrappers from the supermarket.
Next, add the filling. A simple filling can be made by mixing ground pork (or ground turkey, chicken, or diced air fryer pork belly), green onions, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, ground ginger, soy sauce, and coleslaw mix. If you're short on time, you can use a pre-chopped coleslaw mix. You can also add toasted sesame seeds for extra flavour.
Place two to three spoonfuls of the filling in the centre of the wrapper, leaving some space on either side. Be careful not to overfill, as this will make rolling difficult. Then, roll the bottom corner of the wrapper over the filling, and gently press down on each side of the filling to flatten the wrapper. Fold over both the left and right sides of the wrapper towards the middle. Finally, wet your fingers with some water and gently brush it onto the opposite corner of the wrapper to seal it shut.
Repeat this process until all the filling is used up, ensuring that the spring rolls are neatly sealed to prevent any leakage during cooking. You can make these in advance and store them in the freezer.
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Cook in batches
If you want to cook a large batch of spring rolls, it is best to cook them in batches. Cooking in batches ensures that there is enough space between the spring rolls for the air to flow between them, so they cook evenly and get crispy on all sides. Cooking in batches also prevents overcrowding, which can lead to soggy spring rolls.
When cooking in batches, it is important to not overfill the air fryer basket. Place the spring rolls in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to cook around eight spring rolls at a time. If you are cooking more than this, simply cook them in multiple batches.
The cooking time for each batch will vary depending on the size of your air fryer and the size of the spring rolls. For larger spring rolls, start with 5+5 minutes, checking halfway through, and then adjust the cooking time as needed. For smaller or mini spring rolls, you may only need to cook them for 4 minutes per batch. If you find that your spring rolls are not crispy enough or fully cooked, you can always add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
It is also important to note that not all air fryers are the same, and cook times may vary. Some air fryers may require preheating, while others do not. Be sure to check the instructions for your specific air fryer model. Additionally, if your spring rolls came with sauce packets, you can defrost one in a small bowl of water while you are cooking the spring rolls.
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Serve with a dip
Spring rolls are a great snack, appetizer, or light lunch, and can be cooked in an air fryer with minimal mess and in under 10 minutes. They are best served hot with a dip.
Peanut Sauce
A creamy dip with a ginger kick. This sauce is made from almond butter and goes well with vegan rainbow spring rolls.
Avocado Crema
A cool crema that pairs well with the hot spring rolls.
Sweet and Spicy Sauce
A traditional sticky sauce with tangy ginger, spicy Sriracha, and a little cornstarch to make it thick.
Dumpling Sauce
A pan heated with oil and chili oil, with vegetables like onions, carrots, cabbage, and green onions. Add soy sauce, Sriracha, and toasted sesame seed oil. Cook for 4 minutes, then add salt, pepper, and garlic.
Sweet Chili Sauce
A popular choice, this sauce can be mixed with soy sauce and chili sauce for a spicier kick.
Garlic Soy Dipping Sauce
A great choice if you're looking for a store-bought option.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Another great store-bought option.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a common ingredient in many dips and sauces and can be used on its own as a simple dip.
Gyoza Sauce
A great choice to make at home and pair with your spring rolls.
You can also get creative and make your own dips and sauces at home. Experiment with different ingredients and flavors to find your favorite combinations.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes between 5 to 10 minutes to cook spring rolls in an air fryer.
Set your air fryer to 380°F to 400°F (about 200°C).
Yes, preheat your air fryer for about 5 minutes.
