Air Fryer Spring Rolls: Cooking Time Perfection

Air fryers are a quick, clean, and easy way to cook spring rolls, with most recipes suggesting a cooking time of around 8-10 minutes. Spring rolls cooked in an air fryer are crispy and crunchy, and can be served with a variety of dipping sauces. They can be cooked from frozen, and most recipes suggest brushing them with oil to get the best results.

Cooking Spring Rolls in an Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures your spring rolls cook evenly and efficiently. Most air fryer recipes recommend preheating your appliance, and this is especially important when cooking frozen foods, such as spring rolls. By preheating, you create a consistent temperature that cooks your food evenly on all sides. This is how air fryers achieve that coveted crispy exterior and perfectly cooked interior.

To preheat your air fryer, simply turn it on and set the temperature to your desired level. Many spring roll recipes suggest cooking at 400°F (200°C), so you should preheat your air fryer to this temperature. The amount of time it takes to preheat will depend on your appliance, but a good rule of thumb is to let it run for about 5 minutes. This gives the air fryer enough time to reach the desired temperature and ensures that your spring rolls will cook evenly.

While preheating, you can prepare your spring rolls. Brush them lightly with oil to enhance the crispiness. You can use a variety of oils, such as vegetable, avocado, or rapeseed oil. This step is optional, as air fryers can produce crispy results without any additional oil. However, adding a small amount of oil can replicate the traditional fried taste and texture.

Once your air fryer has preheated, it's time to arrange the spring rolls in the basket. Place them in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch each other. This arrangement allows hot air to circulate around each spring roll, cooking them evenly and preventing sogginess. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the spring rolls in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

Oil the spring rolls

Oil is an optional but recommended step when cooking spring rolls in an air fryer. While air fryers can crisp up spring rolls without oil, brushing or spraying them with a small amount of oil will enhance their exterior crispiness.

You can use any type of oil you like or have on hand, such as vegetable oil, avocado oil, rapeseed oil, or sesame oil. If you're using a neutral oil like vegetable oil, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Then, brush the spring rolls with oil and place them in the air fryer basket. Fry for 4 minutes, then bring out the basket and turn the spring rolls. Place the basket back in the fryer and fry for another 4 minutes at the same temperature.

If you're using sesame oil, you can follow a similar process. First, toast the sesame seeds in a saucepan. Then, add the meat and cook, stirring, until browned. Next, add the onion powder, pepper, ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and green onions. Continue cooking until most of the juices evaporate. Finally, add the cabbage and cook until it wilts. Assemble your spring rolls, then brush them with oil and place them in the air fryer. Heat the air fryer to 200°C and cook the spring rolls for 12 minutes, turning them halfway through to brush with more oil.

If you're looking for a mess-free option, you can cook frozen spring rolls in an air fryer without any additional oil. Simply place the frozen spring rolls in the air fryer basket, making sure they're in a single layer and not touching each other. Air fry for 9-10 minutes, or until they're crispy and golden brown.

Cook for 8-10 minutes

Cooking spring rolls in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. It takes less than 10 minutes to cook frozen spring rolls in an air fryer, and there's hardly any mess to clean up afterward. You can use any brand of frozen spring rolls, and you don't need to thaw them before cooking. Simply brush the spring rolls with a small amount of oil to ensure they're perfectly crisp but not dry. You can use any type of oil you like, such as vegetable, avocado, or olive oil. Then, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. Place the spring rolls in the air fryer basket, ensuring they're in a single layer and not touching each other. This will give them enough space to cook evenly.

Cook the spring rolls for 8-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C). If you're using a toaster oven-style air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking time, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook. For extra crispy spring rolls, you can flip them halfway through the cooking time. Once they're golden brown and crispy, they're ready to be served. Let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Don't forget to dip them in your favorite sauce! Some popular options include sweet chili sauce, dark soy sauce, peanut sauce, avocado crema, or a sweet and spicy sauce. Enjoy your delicious and crispy air-fried spring rolls!

Flip halfway through

Flipping your spring rolls halfway through the cooking process is an important step in ensuring they cook evenly. This is because air fryers cook food by circulating hot air around it, and flipping the food allows all sides to be exposed to the hot air. This results in an even cook and a crispy, golden-brown exterior.

When cooking spring rolls in an air fryer, it is recommended to flip them halfway through the cooking process. This is usually after about 4 minutes of cooking at 400°F (200°C). After flipping, place the spring rolls back in the air fryer for another 4 minutes at the same temperature.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your spring rolls and the model of your air fryer. For larger spring rolls, it is recommended to start with 5 minutes of cooking, flip, and then cook for another 5 minutes. You can then adjust the cooking time as needed, adding a couple of extra minutes if the spring rolls are not heated through.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that the spring rolls are not overcrowded in the air fryer basket. They should be arranged in a single layer with space between them to allow for even cooking. If you are cooking a large batch of spring rolls, you may need to cook them in multiple batches.

Serve with a dip

When it comes to serving your spring rolls, a dip is a must. There are many options to choose from, so you can pick your favourite or get creative and make your own.

A popular choice is a combination of sweet chilli sauce and dark soy sauce. This dip will add a sticky, sweet and spicy kick to your spring rolls. You can also add in some gyoza sauce for an extra punch of flavour.

If you're after something creamy, a peanut sauce with a ginger kick could be the perfect option. It's made with almond butter and pairs beautifully with the spring rolls. For something a little different, try avocado crema. The cool crema is a great contrast to the hot spring rolls.

For those who like a traditional dip, garlic soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce are great choices. Or, if you want something with a bit more spice, try a sweet and spicy sauce. This dip is similar to a traditional sticky sauce but with the added tang of ginger and a kick of spicy Sriracha.

If you're making pork spring rolls, a sweet chilli dip will complement the flavours perfectly. You could also add some sesame seeds and spring onions to the spring rolls for an extra burst of flavour that will work well with the dip.

Whatever dip you choose, your air-fried spring rolls are sure to be a delicious treat.

Frequently asked questions