Air-Fried Bread Rolls: A Quick, Easy Treat

Making bread rolls in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a warm and crusty roll for breakfast or lunch. The rolls are light and fluffy, and take less time to bake compared to an oven. This method is perfect for when you're short on time or want to free up your oven for other dishes. The rolls can be made from scratch or bought part-baked from the supermarket and cooked in the air fryer.

How to make dough for bread rolls

Making the dough for bread rolls is a simple process, but it does require some time and patience. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make dough for bread rolls that you can cook in your air fryer:

Ingredients:

Before you start, make sure you have the following ingredients:

• Flour (either strong white bread flour or all-purpose flour)
• Water
• Yeast
• Sugar
• Salt
• Butter
• Milk (optional)
• Egg (optional)

Step 1: Activating the Yeast:

Start by adding warm water to a small bowl or measuring cup. The water should be warm, but not too hot, as this can kill the yeast. Sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of sugar into the water and stir gently. Set this mixture aside for about 10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This process is known as "proofing" or "blooming" the yeast, and it ensures that your yeast is active and ready to use.

Step 2: Mixing the Dry Ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. You can also add milk powder at this stage if you want to enhance the softness and flavour of your rolls. Give the dry ingredients a quick mix until they are well combined.

Step 3: Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients:

Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture, along with softened butter and milk (if using). Start mixing everything together until it forms a rough dough. You can use a wooden spoon or a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment for this step.

Step 4: Kneading the Dough:

Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and begin kneading it. Kneading is an important step that develops the gluten in the dough, giving it strength and elasticity. Knead the dough for about 5-10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is sticky, you can add small amounts of flour as needed, but try not to add too much, as this can make the dough tough.

Step 5: First Proof/Rising:

Once you have a smooth and elastic dough, shape it into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel. Let the dough rest in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size. This first proof is crucial for developing flavour and a light, airy texture in your bread rolls.

Step 6: Shaping the Dough:

After the dough has doubled in size, gently deflate it and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into equal portions, depending on how many rolls you want to make. A standard-sized dough ball can be divided into 8-12 pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by flattening it, folding the edges towards the middle, and rolling it between your palms.

Step 7: Second Proof/Rising:

Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or a greased liner. Place the shaped dough balls into the basket, spacing them slightly apart. Cover the basket with a clean towel and let the rolls rise again for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until they have doubled in size. This second proof is important for ensuring your rolls will be light and fluffy.

Now that your dough is ready, you can proceed to cook the bread rolls in your air fryer, following the temperature and timing guidelines provided in the recipes. Enjoy your freshly baked bread rolls!

How to shape the dough into rolls

Shaping the dough into rolls is an important step in the bread-making process. Here is a detailed guide on how to shape your dough into rolls for air frying:

Firstly, after your dough has risen, gently press it down to deflate it and divide it into equal portions. The number of portions will depend on how many rolls you want to make and how large you want them to be. For smaller rolls, you can divide the dough into 12 or 16 portions, and for larger rolls, divide it into 8 portions.

Next, flatten each piece of dough and fold the edges towards the middle. Then, use your palms to roll the dough, applying gentle pressure to form a smooth ball. Repeat this process with the remaining portions of dough.

If you're feeling creative, you can shape the rolls with a pretty pattern or design on top. You can also dust the rolls with a light coating of flour before placing them in the air fryer.

Once you've shaped your dough into rolls, place them in the air fryer basket, spaced slightly apart. Cover the basket with a clean towel and let the rolls rise again until they are doubled in size, puffy, and touching each other. This second rise is crucial for ensuring your rolls are light and fluffy.

Finally, brush the tops of the rolls with an egg wash or milk, and sprinkle with toppings like sesame seeds or coarse salt, if desired. Your dough is now ready to be air-fried!

How to cook the bread rolls in the air fryer

Ingredients

• 3 teaspoons of caster sugar
• 2 cups of bread plain flour, extra for kneading
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground sea salt
• 125g of salted butter, melted, extra for greasing
• 1 beaten egg (optional)
• Water
• Yeast

Method

• Place water in a heatproof jug. Stir in yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Set aside for 10 minutes until foamy.
• Sift flour in a large bowl. Stir in the remaining sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture, butter and milk. Stir until the mixture forms a dough.
• Squeeze the dough together in the bowl with your hands. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Spray a large bowl with cooking oil spray. Place the dough ball in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel and sit in a warm place for 1 hour until tripled in volume.
• Punch down the dough. Knead gently on a lightly floured surface into a log. Cut into 8 even pieces. Knead each piece lightly into a ball. Mark two slits into the smooth tops with a sharp knife.
• Grease the air-fryer basket with butter. Place the dough balls in the air-fryer basket. Brush liberally with egg. Cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap and sit in a warm place to prove again for 1 hour or until tripled in volume.
• Air-fry at 160C for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Tip the rolls out onto a tray. Slide back into the air fryer basket, being careful not to burn yourself. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the bases are golden. Stand until room temperature and serve.

Tips:

• If you have a large air fryer that is also an oven, you can select the proving function to speed up the rising process. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and prove on 40C for 45 minutes until tripled in volume.
• Rolls are best eaten fresh on the day they are made. Freshen up rolls in the microwave for 10 seconds each. Rolls can be frozen on the day they are baked.

How to reheat the bread rolls in the air fryer

How to Reheat Bread Rolls in the Air Fryer

If you have leftover bread rolls, the air fryer is the best way to reheat them, making them soft on the inside with a slight crust on the outside. Here is a step-by-step guide to reheating bread rolls in an air fryer:

• Preheat the air fryer: Turn the air fryer to 325°F for 3-5 minutes to get it started and ready to warm up your rolls.
• Place the bread rolls: Put the bread rolls in the air fryer basket and ensure they don't touch each other to allow even cooking.
• Set the timer: Set the timer for 5 minutes initially. Check the rolls after 3 minutes and adjust the cooking time accordingly. If they are crisp and starting to brown, they are ready. If not, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the desired warmth and texture are achieved.
• Remove and serve: Use tongs to remove the warmed bread rolls from the air fryer and serve them warm with your favourite foods.

Some additional tips to keep in mind:

• The warming time may vary depending on the size and number of rolls. Start with 325°F for 3-5 minutes and adjust as needed.
• If the rolls are straight from the fridge, they may take a bit longer to warm up. You can let them sit at room temperature while the air fryer preheats.
• For frozen bread rolls, cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until fully warmed.
• Spritzing the rolls with water or brushing them with butter before reheating can add moisture and enhance the flavour.

How to freeze the bread rolls

There are several ways to freeze bread rolls, and doing so can save you time and effort when preparing for a dinner party. Here's how to do it:

Option 1: Refrigerate the Dough or Unbaked Rolls

If your dinner is only a day or two away, you can simply store the dough or unbaked rolls in the refrigerator. For the dough, transfer it to a storage container with a few inches of space at the top, cover, and refrigerate. For unbaked rolls, place them in their baking dish, cover, and refrigerate. If you're refrigerating the dough, you don't need to let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking; just add 20 minutes to the rising time. If you're refrigerating the shaped rolls, take them out of the fridge about an hour and a half before baking and let them rise until puffy. It's okay if they're still a little cool, as long as they've puffed up. Then, bake as usual.

Option 2: Freeze the Unbaked Rolls

Follow your recipe and shape the rolls, placing them apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let them rise partially until they just start to puff but are not ready to bake. At this stage, freeze the rolls on the baking sheet for a few hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the rolls to a freezer bag or container. Unbaked rolls can be frozen for about a month; after this, the yeast may struggle to rise the dough. The day before you want to bake them, arrange the frozen rolls in a baking pan, cover, and let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. On baking day, let the rolls finish proofing at room temperature for about an hour. They may still be cool, but when they've puffed up, they're ready to bake.

Option 3: Freeze the Fully-Baked Rolls

Bake the rolls as usual and let them cool completely. Then, wrap them tightly in aluminium foil and place them in a freezer bag or container. You can freeze baked rolls for up to a month before frost and freezer burn may develop. To thaw, remove the rolls from the freezer the night before serving and let them thaw at room temperature overnight. They can be served as soon as they're thawed, but they benefit from being rewarmed for 10 minutes in a 300°F oven. Alternatively, you can bake them straight from frozen: remove the foil-wrapped rolls from the freezer bag the night before, loosen the foil, and bake for 20-25 minutes at 300°F until piping hot. Serve immediately, as they can dry out once cooled.

Frequently asked questions