Air-Fryer Frozen Gyoza: Quick, Crispy Perfection

Making frozen gyoza in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy crispy gyoza without the mess of oil splatter. Gyoza are Japanese dumplings that are smaller and more delicate than potstickers, with a thinner wrapper and finely chopped filling. Air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying as it uses just a small amount of oil and circulating hot air to cook the food.

You can make frozen gyoza in an air fryer in under 15 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to between 350-400°F and spray the basket with oil. Place the frozen gyoza in a single layer, leaving space between each one, and air fry for 7-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. Not only does it help to ensure that your food cooks evenly, but it can also reduce the amount of time needed to cook your gyoza.

Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to between 350-400°F (180°C). This is typically done by running the air fryer for about 5 minutes before adding your food. However, it's important to refer to your air fryer's specific instructions, as preheating temperatures and times may vary slightly between models.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you'll want to lightly coat the air fryer basket with oil. This can be done by spraying the basket with an oil spray or brushing it with a small amount of oil. This step helps to ensure that your gyoza doesn't stick to the basket and makes it easier to clean up afterward.

After oiling the basket, it's time to arrange your frozen gyoza. Place them in a single layer, leaving a little space between each one to allow for proper air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook your gyoza in batches to avoid overcrowding.

With your gyoza arranged, you're ready to start the cooking process. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, you'll want to air fry for 2-4 minutes at 350-400°F (180°C). If you're using frozen gyoza, this initial cook time may be closer to 6-8 minutes.

During the cooking process, keep an eye on your gyoza to ensure they don't overcook or burn. You may also need to flip them halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Oil the air fryer basket

Oiling the air fryer basket is an important step in ensuring your gyoza turn out crispy and tasty.

Firstly, you should preheat your air fryer to around 350-400°F for about 5 minutes. Then, remove the basket and brush or spray it with a light coating of oil. You can use a neutral oil like rapeseed or avocado, or olive oil if you prefer. This step ensures that the gyoza won't stick to the basket and helps them to crisp up.

Next, place your frozen gyoza into the basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch. This is important because it allows the hot air to circulate around each gyoza, cooking them evenly. If your air fryer basket is too small to fit all the gyoza in one layer, you will need to cook them in batches.

Once the gyoza are in the basket, you can spray or brush them with a little more oil. This will help them to crisp up and turn golden brown.

Finally, return the basket to the air fryer and cook according to your chosen recipe. Remember to flip the gyoza halfway through cooking for an even result.

Cook in a single layer

Cooking frozen gyoza in a single layer is important to ensure that your dumplings cook evenly. If you crowd the air fryer basket, your gyoza will likely be soft and non-crispy.

To cook in a single layer, place the frozen dumplings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching. It's okay if the dumplings are overlapping slightly, but they should not be stacked.

You may need to cook the gyoza in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer basket. If you are cooking a large batch, you can store the cooked gyoza in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

When placing the gyoza in the air fryer, brush or spray the basket with a small amount of oil first. This will help to prevent the dumplings from sticking and will also help to crisp them up.

Flip halfway through

Flipping the gyoza halfway through the cooking process is an important step to ensure they cook evenly. Depending on the air fryer model and the size of the dumplings, the cooking time will vary, but generally, you should cook the gyoza for 2-4 minutes, flip them, and then cook for another 2-4 minutes.

Flipping the gyoza helps to ensure that each side gets adequately cooked and achieves the desired level of crispiness. This is because the heat distribution in the air fryer may vary, resulting in one side cooking faster than the other. By flipping the gyoza, you can also prevent them from drying out or burning.

Additionally, if you are cooking a large batch of gyoza, you may need to cook them in multiple batches to ensure even cooking. It is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can prevent the gyoza from cooking evenly and may lead to softer or non-crispy potstickers.

Cook for 8-10 minutes

Once you've preheated your air fryer, sprayed it with oil, and placed your frozen gyoza inside, it's time to cook them!

Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your dumplings and your air fryer model, but generally, you'll want to air fry for 8-10 minutes. If you're using Trader Joe's gyoza, 7 minutes should be enough, but keep in mind that different brands may vary the cooking time. If you're using an air fryer without a window, it's a good idea to cook your gyoza in 5-minute increments and check on them periodically to make sure they're not overcooking.

Halfway through the cooking process, you'll want to flip your gyoza. This will ensure that they cook evenly on both sides. You may also want to add a little more oil at this point if they look dry.

Your gyoza are done when they're golden brown and have an internal temperature of 145°F for pork and beef, or 165°F for chicken. If you want them extra crispy, you can add another minute or two to the cooking time.

Frequently asked questions