Air Fryer Spring Rolls: Cooking Time Perfection

Spring rolls are a delicious snack, but frying them can be messy and time-consuming. Fortunately, air fryers offer a quick, convenient, and healthier alternative to traditional frying. With an air fryer, you can achieve the same crunch and flavour with less oil and no mess. But how long do you need to cook spring rolls in an air fryer to get that perfect crispiness?

How to cook frozen spring rolls in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen spring rolls
• Oil (vegetable, avocado, or another variety of your choice)

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Pastry brush

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
• Brush the frozen spring rolls with a thin layer of oil.
• Place the spring rolls in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded and are in a single layer.
• Air fry for 4 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
• Remove the basket, turn the spring rolls, and place them back in the air fryer for another 4 minutes at the same temperature.
• Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

Tips:

• If your spring rolls are larger, you may need to increase the cooking time to 5 minutes on each side.
• Always ensure your air fryer is preheated before adding the spring rolls.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• For best results, brush the spring rolls with oil before cooking.
• If you don't have a pastry brush, you can spray the spring rolls with oil.

How long to preheat the air fryer for

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your food will cook evenly and efficiently, and helps to create that desirable crispy texture.

The preheating time for an air fryer is generally between two and seven minutes. Smaller air fryers will preheat faster than larger ones, so while a small air fryer may only need two to three minutes, a larger model could take up to seven minutes to preheat. Most air fryers will reach 400° F in three to five minutes.

To preheat your air fryer, set the desired cooking temperature and leave the basket inside so that it gets hot. Then, press start or preheat, and let the appliance warm up. Once the air fryer has reached the set temperature, you can add your food and begin the cooking process.

For foods that require a good sear, like steaks or burgers, preheat your air fryer for three to four minutes at 400° F. Preheating is also beneficial for achieving a crispy texture with fried or breaded foods, such as chicken tenders, fries, or spring rolls.

In general, preheating your air fryer will decrease the overall cooking time, so it's a great option if you're looking for faster cooking results.

How long to cook the spring rolls for

The length of time you should cook spring rolls in an air fryer depends on the type of spring rolls you are cooking.

For frozen spring rolls, cook at 400°F (204°C) for 5 to 7 minutes, or until crispy and golden. If you are cooking homemade spring rolls, the cooking time will be slightly longer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cook for 8 minutes. If you are making pork and vegetable spring rolls, you should cook them for 8 minutes at 380°F, flipping them halfway through.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your spring rolls and the type of air fryer you are using. Always keep an eye on your spring rolls while they are cooking to ensure they don't burn.

To ensure your spring rolls are crispy, brush them lightly with oil before placing them in the air fryer. This will help to achieve a perfectly crisp exterior without drying them out.

How to assemble the spring rolls

To assemble spring rolls, start by laying out your spring roll wrapper on a flat surface. If you're making Chinese spring rolls, place the wrapper so that one of the four corners is facing toward you—it should look like a diamond. For Vietnamese spring rolls, place the wrapper in a diamond orientation as well, but with the diagonal line of the diamond running parallel to your body.

Next, you'll add your filling. For Chinese spring rolls, use about two tablespoons of pre-cooked, cooled/refrigerated filling and place it in the centre of the wrapper, about 2 inches from the corner closest to you. For Vietnamese spring rolls, place two to three spoonfuls of filling in the centre, again in a line parallel to your body.

Now it's time to start rolling! For both types of spring rolls, the first step is the same: roll the corner closest to you over the filling once.

If you're making Chinese spring rolls, gently press down on each side of the filling to flatten the wrapper. Then, fold over both the left and right sides of the wrapper towards the middle. Stir up a cornstarch slurry with your finger and gently brush it onto the opposite corner of the wrapper. Continue rolling the spring roll into a tight cigar shape.

If you're making Vietnamese spring rolls, begin folding the wrapper over the filling, trying not to trap any air between the wrapper and the filling. Roll the spring roll forward one complete revolution. Lightly press down on each end of the filling to flatten the wrapper and eliminate air bubbles. Then, fold each side of the wrapper towards the middle and continue rolling forward, tucking in the front to prevent air pockets from forming.

And that's it! You've assembled your spring rolls and they're ready to be cooked or served fresh!

What to serve with spring rolls

There are many dishes that can be served with spring rolls. Here are some ideas:

Sauces and Dips

Spring rolls are often served with a dipping sauce. A sweet chilli dip is a classic choice, but you could also try a combination of sweet chilli sauce and dark soy sauce, or make your own gyoza sauce. Other sauces that go well with spring rolls include Chinese hot mustard, Thai sweet chilli sauce, and peanut sauce.

Salads and Vegetables

Spring rolls pair well with Asian chopped salad—a bright salad with chopped peppers, red onion, cabbage, cucumber, and spring onion, dressed with lime juice, lime zest, and white wine vinegar. Another option is a cucumber salad, such as the Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad. Asian vegetable stir-fry and ginger veggie stir-fry are also tasty accompaniments to spring rolls.

Rice

Rice is a great side dish for spring rolls. Why not try pineapple fried rice? You can make this by frying vegetables like peppers, red onion, and chillies, then adding cooked rice and pineapple, and seasoning with soy sauce. Bacon fried rice is another tasty option, as is garlic fried rice.

Noodles

Wok-fried noodles are a delicious and versatile side dish that can be served with spring rolls. You can add king prawns, scallops, or vegetables. Udon noodles are another tasty choice.

Soups

Spring rolls can be served with a variety of soups, including chicken and sweetcorn soup, Chinese hot and sour soup, and egg drop soup.

Other Dishes

Some other side dishes that go well with spring rolls include tempura prawns, Chinese broccoli with garlic sauce, sweet and sour chicken, and Chinese chicken wings. If you're serving vegetarian spring rolls, falafel is a good option, too.

Frequently asked questions