How Long to Cook Egg Rolls in Air Fryer?

Egg rolls, a popular deep-fried appetizer found in American-Chinese restaurants, trace their origins back to the 20th century, with their first appearance in New York, United States. The exact history remains a bit murky, as various sources have pointed to an early mention of egg rolls in a 1917 Chinese recipe booklet. Originally, egg rolls included a filling of meat and vegetables wrapped in an egg omelet, a composition quite different from the ingredients commonly found in the egg rolls beloved today. Interestingly, both Asian and American iterations of egg rolls typically do not incorporate eggs—hard-boiled or fried—into the filling. However, in places like Nigeria, within West Africa, it’s customary to find egg rolls with actual eggs inside the filling. This variation underlines the global acceptance and enjoyment of egg rolls, despite regional differences in the recipe.

Why do I have to Use an Air Fryer for Cooking Egg Rolls?

This is a big friendly, and essential question. In some parts of the world, it is a norm to fry egg rolls with the frying pan, some well acquainted with the conventional oven. But if you want your egg roll to look crispy and healthy, an air fryer is the right appliance because;

It cooks fast. Its speed while making sure you get your desired taste is fantastic. Research shows that it is 20% faster than any other method of cooking.

It cooks crispy and crunchy.

It needs little or no oil when used to fry, and it is advisable to use an air fryer when you want healthy food as it helps fry up 75% of fat in your food.

Why can’t I use a Conventional Oven or Pan-Fry my Egg Rolls?

It is not a bad idea to use the conventional oven or frying pan. Some people prefer using a frying pan to other methods because they believe that you will get the desired texture within a relatively short time. But as said earlier, it is advisable to use an air fryer.

How can I quickly make Egg Rolls with my Air Fryer?

To make egg rolls, you need ingredients, and below are the ingredients for baked egg rolls. These ingredients are enough to make 4 to 6

1lb ground lean pork (or ground chicken or turkey), three chopped green onions, 1grated carrot, two garlic cloves minced, 1⁄2cup water chestnut chopped, two tablespoons soy sauce, one tablespoon cornstarch, one teaspoon of vegetable oil, one tablespoon water, one teaspoon sesame oil, 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper, and 12 egg roll wraps, the large size five 1/2-inch.

Below are the steps to take while baking to ensure you get desired taste and texture.

Preheat the oven to 375°F; if your air fryer does not have a preheating mode, then on and let it heat for 5 to 6 minutes. In a non-stick pan, cook the filling— pork, chicken, or turkey— over medium-high heat, breaking up with a spoon until no longer pink or stiff. This should take no longer than 5 minutes. Drain off the fat.

Then, add the onions, garlic, carrot, and water chestnuts, cooking over medium heat until the onions are soft, might take about 3 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, cornstarch, water, sesame oil & pepper all together. Pour over cooked mixture, stirring to mix. Let it cool slightly.

After that, place the egg roll wrapper on the work surface and brush with water. Then, spoon a scant three tablespoons of filling on the bottom third of the wrapper, leaving a 1/2 border on the bottom and sides.

Pull bottom edge over the filling and roll up, pinching edges to seal. Ensure they are closed because if not correctly done, the filling will spill out, and this might affect the non-stick coating lined on the air fryer basket when you want to wash. It is good to use water or Egg wash to brush gently before putting them in the air fryer’s basket.

When it comes to air frying these egg rolls, please place them in your air fryer basket and ensure they are not packed tight or touching. For the air fryer to optimally and perfectly cook your egg rolls, make sure there is space between them. This way, the hot air from the heating element can circulate the egg rolls, cooking them evenly. You will probably need to do it in two batches if you are serving many.

Place seam side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with oil. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes, or until golden and crisp. It can be served with plum sauce, spicy peanut sauce, and many other sauces you have available.

Will an Air Fryer save my Time while Cooking Egg Rolls?

Yes, it will undoubtedly save your time compared to other methods. However, preparation time often takes 19 to 20 minutes. Therefore, the preparation must be done carefully. An air fryer is known for cooking fast food, so be rest assured it won’t waste time. Cooking time is an air fryer takes 20 minutes.

How to Preserve Egg Rolls?

Once your egg rolls are cooked and done, you can store them in the fridge for five days and reheat them either in a 350°F oven or in the air fryer. Just heat them until they are warmed. The air fryer will take just a minute or two and the oven about six to seven minutes. You might also want to wrap the cooked egg rolls tightly in aluminum foil and freeze them for up to three months. If they are frozen, unwrap and reheat them in the oven only until they are thawed and crispy again. Ensure you do not preheat the air fryer before rehearing your frozen egg rolls; if you try to heat the frozen egg rolls in a preheated air fryer, they will burn on the outside before the inside is thawed.

Bottom line

To make/ bake egg rolls traditionally required using a lot of oil, but thanks to the new age of technology, it is easier to make egg rolls, enjoy food crispy and delicious, and health benefits when using an air fryer.