Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls: Quick, Crispy, Delicious!

Making frozen egg rolls in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, golden brown results without the mess and guilt of deep frying. This simple recipe is perfect for a snack, appetizer, or side dish and can be on the table in less than 15 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of making frozen egg rolls. While some recipes don't require preheating, doing so will ensure that your egg rolls come out crispy and golden brown. The ideal temperature range for preheating your air fryer is between 350°F and 400°F. This temperature range will allow your egg rolls to cook evenly, resulting in a crispy exterior and a fully cooked interior.

Preheating your air fryer to the correct temperature is crucial for achieving the best results. Different air fryers have different preheating functions, so it is essential to refer to your air fryer's manual for specific instructions. However, most air fryers will require 5 minutes to preheat at 370°F before adding your frozen egg rolls. This initial heat-up ensures that your appliance reaches the desired temperature, creating the optimal cooking environment for your frozen egg rolls.

Once your air fryer has preheated, it's time to add the frozen egg rolls. Place them in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap or touch. This arrangement allows the hot air to circulate freely, cooking the egg rolls evenly on all sides. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the egg rolls in batches to avoid overcrowding.

After placing the frozen egg rolls in the air fryer, you can proceed with the cooking process, following your preferred recipe's instructions for temperature and timing. By preheating your air fryer to the recommended temperature range of 350°F to 400°F, you'll be well on your way to achieving the perfect crispy texture and flavour for your frozen egg rolls.

Place frozen egg rolls in a single layer

Placing frozen egg rolls in a single layer is a crucial step in making delicious, crispy egg rolls in an air fryer. This step ensures that the hot air in the air fryer can circulate freely around each egg roll, resulting in even cooking and that desirable crunchy texture.

When arranging the frozen egg rolls in the air fryer basket, it is important to leave some space between them. This is because overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking and soggy egg rolls. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the egg rolls in batches to ensure they are in a single layer with sufficient space around them.

By placing the egg rolls in a single layer, you allow the hot air to circulate evenly, crisping up the exterior while cooking the interior evenly. This technique is one of the reasons why air-fried egg rolls turn out so crispy and tasty, similar to deep-fried egg rolls but without the excess oil.

Additionally, when placing the frozen egg rolls in the air fryer, ensure that they do not overlap or touch each other. This arrangement ensures that each egg roll has enough exposure to the hot air, resulting in that perfect golden brown colour and flaky texture.

So, when preparing frozen egg rolls in an air fryer, always remember to place them in a single layer, leaving some space between them, for the best results.

Air fry for 7-12 minutes

Now it's time to air fry! Place your egg rolls into the air fryer basket and set the temperature to between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature will depend on your air fryer model and your personal preference for how crispy you like your egg rolls. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your egg rolls and the power of your air fryer, but on average, it should take between 7 and 12 minutes.

For regular-sized egg rolls, air fry for around 10 minutes. If you're using an oven-style air fryer, you may need to increase the cooking time to 12-15 minutes. For mini egg rolls, 5-9 minutes should be enough. Keep an eye on your egg rolls as they cook, and adjust the timing as needed.

If you're cooking a large batch of egg rolls, you may need to cook them in multiple batches to ensure even cooking. It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket and to leave some space between each egg roll to allow the hot air to circulate.

Some recipes suggest flipping your egg rolls halfway through the cooking process for an even crisp. However, this is not necessary, as air frying ensures even cooking on all sides.

Once the time is up, carefully remove your crispy, golden egg rolls from the air fryer and enjoy!

Remove and let cool

Once the egg rolls are cooked, carefully remove them from the air fryer basket and set them aside to cool for 2-3 minutes. The insides will still be very hot, so take care not to burn yourself. The egg rolls will be crispy on the outside and hot and juicy on the inside.

You can serve the egg rolls with your favourite dipping sauce, such as sweet and sour sauce, duck sauce, spicy mustard, or soy sauce. You could also serve them with fried rice or cut them into pieces to add to a bowl of soup or stir-fry.

If you have any leftover egg rolls, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer and heat at 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-6 minutes.

Serve with your favourite dipping sauce

When it comes to serving your egg rolls, the world is your oyster! There are so many different sauces that you can pair with your egg rolls to elevate your meal.

For a simple option, you can serve your egg rolls with a classic soy sauce. If you're feeling adventurous, you could try something with a little more kick, like sweet Thai chili sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or spicy mustard. For a unique twist, you could even make your own sauce by mixing soy sauce with sesame oil and adding some rice vinegar and chopped green onions for presentation.

If you're serving egg rolls as an appetizer, why not provide a selection of different sauces for your guests to sample? You could offer a variety of flavors and spice levels to cater to different tastes.

And don't forget, egg rolls can be a versatile side dish too! Try pairing them with a bowl of pho or soup, or adding some crunch to your stir-fry.

Frequently asked questions