Air Fryer Magic: Frozen Empanadas, Perfectly Crispy!

Empanadas are a Latin American favourite. They are baked or fried handheld savoury turnovers filled with meat, cheese or vegetables. You can also find dessert empanadas, which are hand pies filled with fruit.

The air fryer is a great way to cook frozen empanadas. They will be ready in less than 15 minutes and will be cooked to flaky perfection. You can use your preferred brand or even your own homemade version.

- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.

- Place your frozen empanadas in the air fryer basket.

- Spray them with cooking oil spray or brush them with an egg wash.

- Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip.

- Spray or apply an egg wash and air fry the other side for 4-6 minutes, or until your air fryer empanadas are crispy and golden brown on the outside and fully heated on the inside.

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F/180°C

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of making frozen empanadas. While some air fryers have a built-in preheat functionality, others require you to manually preheat the appliance. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, simply turn it on and let it heat up for about 4 to 5 minutes. This step is crucial because it ensures that your empanadas cook evenly and achieve the desired crispiness.

When preheating your air fryer, it's best to set the temperature to 350°F/180°C. This temperature setting strikes a balance between cooking the empanadas thoroughly and achieving a golden, crispy exterior. It's important to note that different brands of air fryers may have specific instructions for preheating, so be sure to refer to your air fryer's user manual for any model-specific guidelines.

While preheating, you can prepare your frozen empanadas. It's recommended to keep the empanadas frozen until you're ready to cook them. This helps ensure that the pastry remains flaky and doesn't become soggy. You can also use this time to prepare any dipping sauces or side dishes that you plan to serve with your empanadas.

Once your air fryer reaches the desired temperature of 350°F/180°C, you'll know that it's ready to cook your frozen empanadas. At this point, you can proceed to the next steps of placing the empanadas in the air fryer basket, applying oil or an egg wash, and setting the cooking time and temperature. By preheating your air fryer effectively, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy empanadas.

Prepare the glaze/egg wash

Preparing the glaze/egg wash is an important step in the process of making frozen empanadas in an air fryer. This step ensures that the empanadas have a beautiful golden colour and a crispy texture. Here is a detailed guide on how to prepare the glaze/egg wash:

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need an egg, milk, turmeric, and paprika. If you don't have eggs or prefer to avoid them, you can make a glaze with milk, a pinch of turmeric, and paprika. You can also use non-dairy milk or water mixed with honey or maple syrup as an alternative.

Next, prepare your glaze by mixing the ingredients in a small bowl. For those using eggs, whisk together one large egg and one tablespoon of water. You can also add a teaspoon of water to the egg wash if you prefer a thinner consistency. If you are using milk, mix together four tablespoons of milk with half a teaspoon each of turmeric and paprika.

Now you have your glaze/egg wash ready, it's time to brush it onto the empanadas. Take a pastry brush and gently coat each empanada with the mixture. Make sure to cover all the surfaces of the empanadas evenly.

Once the empanadas are glazed, they are ready to be placed into the air fryer. Remember to place them in a single layer and avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This will ensure even cooking and the best crispy texture.

Finally, follow the remaining steps in your chosen recipe to cook the empanadas. The glaze/egg wash will give your empanadas a beautiful golden colour and a delicious crispy texture. Enjoy your homemade air-fried empanadas!

Place uncooked empanadas in the air fryer basket

When placing uncooked empanadas in the air fryer basket, it's important to ensure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. This is to ensure even cooking and that coveted crispy texture. Depending on the size of your air fryer and the empanadas, you can fit around 4 to 6 standard-sized empanadas or 8 to 12 mini empanadas.

It's best to keep the empanadas frozen until you're ready to cook them. This helps prevent the pastry from becoming soggy and ensures the filling doesn't spill out. If using homemade empanadas, it's also recommended to freeze them before cooking to help them retain their shape.

You don't need to add any oil to the basket, but if you want an extra crispy crust, you can spray or brush the empanadas with a small amount of oil. Avocado oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil are good choices. Avoid using canned non-stick spray.

If your air fryer doesn't have a built-in preheat function, preheat it to around 350-360°F for about 4 minutes before adding the empanadas.

Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip

Once you've placed your frozen empanadas in the air fryer basket, it's time to start cooking. Set your air fryer to 350°F and air fry for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, flip your empanadas. You may want to spray or brush them with a little oil at this point, to help achieve that extra crisp crust. Avocado oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil are good options, but if you're going to use olive oil, make sure it has a high smoke point.

After flipping, air fry the other side for 4-6 minutes, or until your empanadas are crispy and golden brown on the outside and fully heated on the inside. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the type and size of empanada and the model of air fryer, so keep an eye on them. The internal temperature should be 165°F, but check the packaging directions as this can vary depending on the filling.

Once they're done, remove the empanadas from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Air fry for another 4-6 minutes

Once you've sprayed the empanadas with cooking oil spray or brushed them with an egg wash, it's time to air fry them! Place them in the air fryer basket and fry for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, you'll want to flip the empanadas and spray or apply the egg wash to the other side. Then, it's time for the final step: air fry for another 4-6 minutes, or until your empanadas are crispy, golden brown, and fully heated.

This second air fry step is crucial to achieving that perfect golden colour and crispy texture that makes air-fried empanadas so delicious. Depending on your air fryer and the size of your empanadas, you may need to adjust the timing slightly, but this general process will ensure your empanadas turn out beautifully.

Once they're done, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the flaky, golden goodness!

Frequently asked questions