Air-Fry Trader Joe's Gyoza: Quick, Crispy Perfection

Trader Joe's gyoza is a popular choice for those seeking a quick, delicious, and easy-to-prepare snack or meal. Gyoza, also known as potstickers or dumplings, are Japanese-style savoury pastries that can be pan-fried, steamed, microwaved, or even added to soup. However, air frying has emerged as a preferred cooking method for those seeking a crispier texture without the hassle of traditional pan-frying.

Air frying Trader Joe's gyoza is a simple process that yields satisfying results. Preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 350-400°F (175-200°C) for a few minutes to ensure maximum crispiness. Then, lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking and place the frozen gyoza inside, ensuring they don't touch to allow for even cooking.

Air fry the gyoza for a total of 7-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning on all sides. Once golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

So, if you're seeking a tasty treat that's both convenient and crispy, air-fried Trader Joe's gyoza is an excellent option to consider!

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an essential step in achieving maximum crispiness for your gyoza. It is best to preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F for 3-5 minutes. This ensures that your gyoza starts cooking immediately and helps to prevent the dough from becoming tough and chewy.

Preheating your air fryer also helps to ensure even cooking and gives your gyoza that desirable crispiness on the outside without overcooking the inside. This is especially important if you want to avoid the hassle of pan-frying but still want that perfect crisp.

However, it is worth noting that one source suggests that preheating the air fryer does not make a noticeable difference in the crispiness of the gyoza.

Additionally, it is important to note that air-fried gyoza will not have the same puffy texture as deep-fried gyoza. The air fryer method results in a crispy but heavier dumpling wrapper.

Use cooking spray or oil

Using cooking spray or oil is a great way to ensure your Trader Joe's gyoza come out crispy and delicious. While you can cook them without, you risk the dumplings being too dry, so it's recommended to use some form of oil.

You can use cooking spray or oil in two ways. Firstly, you can spray the air fryer basket with your chosen oil to prevent the gyoza from sticking. Secondly, spray or toss the gyoza themselves with oil to help them brown and crisp up.

If you're using cooking spray, you can spray the gyoza once they're in the air fryer basket. If you're using oil, toss the gyoza in a bowl with a small amount of oil before placing them in the basket.

You can use any cooking spray, but it's recommended to use olive oil spray as it doesn't leave a residue in the air fryer. If you're using oil, avocado oil spray and sesame oil are both recommended.

A light coating of oil is all you need to help the gyoza crisp up nicely.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket

When cooking Trader Joe's gyoza in an air fryer, it's important to remember not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. This is a common mistake that people make when using an air fryer, and it can lead to disappointing results.

The basket of an air fryer is small, and there is only enough room to comfortably cook two servings of meat or fish, or four servings of a vegetable side. If you try to cook too much at once, the hot air won't be able to move around the food properly. This will prevent the gyoza from cooking evenly and getting crispy. The steam that gets trapped in overcrowded baskets is the enemy of crispy food.

To avoid overcrowding, cook the gyoza in batches if necessary. It's better to make two batches of great, crispy gyoza than one batch of soggy gyoza. Cooking in batches will also allow for better airflow in each batch, resulting in faster and better cooking.

When placing the gyoza in the air fryer basket, make sure they are in a single layer and not touching. This will ensure even cooking and browning on all sides. You can also use a light coating of oil on the gyoza to help them brown and crisp up nicely.

Flip halfway through cooking

Flipping the gyoza halfway through cooking is essential to ensure even cooking and that coveted crispy texture. Depending on the air fryer model and the number of gyoza being cooked, the flipping time will vary. For example, if you're cooking a single layer of gyoza at 400°F, you'll want to flip them after about 3-4 minutes. On the other hand, if you're cooking a larger batch at 350°F, the flipping point will be around the 5-minute mark.

Flipping your gyoza helps to prevent them from drying out and ensures that both sides achieve that desirable golden brown finish. It's important to note that gyoza should be cooked in a single layer and not overcrowded in the air fryer basket to allow for even cooking and browning on all sides.

Additionally, using a light oil spray before and after flipping can further enhance the crispiness of your gyoza. However, this step is optional, as some people prefer to avoid adding extra oil to their cooking.

By flipping your gyoza halfway through the cooking process, you'll achieve the perfect balance of crispiness and moisture that defines the ideal potsticker. So, don't forget to set a timer and give them a flip!

Serve with a dipping sauce

Gyoza are delicious served with a dipping sauce. You can go with a classic like soy sauce or teriyaki, or you can get creative and try something like sweet chilli sauce, hoisin sauce, or even a spicy mayo sauce. If you're looking for something with a little kick, sweet chilli sauce is a great option, and hoisin sauce is a must-try if you haven't already—it has a sweet, savory, and slightly garlicky taste that goes perfectly with gyoza.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even make your own dipping sauce. A simple soy-based sauce can be made by whisking together soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and minced garlic. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. This sauce is the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and acidic, and it really brings out the flavour of the gyoza.

For a healthier option, you can also serve your gyoza with a side of steamed vegetables. Edamame pods, Japanese mushroom rice, or a vegan Thai butternut squash curry would all make great choices.

Frequently asked questions