Cook frozen egg rolls in the air fryer for a fuss-free crispy appetizer! These tasty Chinese restaurant favorites are a perfect snack or when you want a simple side to serve with dinner. Frozen egg rolls cook quickly in the air fryer, have great flavor, and take almost no effort to make.
I enjoy making homemade egg rolls and cooking them in my air fryer. Whether it is traditional pork egg rolls or fun flavor combinations like Buffalo chicken egg rolls they are a great appetizer or side to serve with dinner.
But sometimes I don’t have the time or energy to make them from scratch. Some days opening a box of frozen food is all I can handle! And luckily the air fryer is fantastic at cooking frozen foods.
Why Cook Frozen Egg Rolls in Air Fryer?
The big advantages are time and crispiness. Air fryer frozen egg rolls are ready in about half the time it would take in the oven and the wrapper is crispy and crunchy. When you cook these in the air fryer you can get crispy egg rolls with very little time or effort.
In addition to being fast they also just taste better because they are crispier. If they are baked in the oven they just don’t have the same texture. I don’t think these are quite as good as homemade, but they are very tasty and a great option when you are craving a snack NOW!
Key Ingredients – Egg Rolls
You can buy all different kinds of frozen egg rolls, with all different types of filling. The filling doesn’t really matter for cooking them, what matters is their size.
I usually buy standard size, which are about 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. If you are cooking mini egg rolls they won’t need to cook as long, so adjust accordingly.
As a good rule of thumb, cook the egg rolls in the air fryer for at least half as long as the package suggests for the oven.
How to Cook Frozen Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer
1. Cook
Put your frozen egg rolls in the air fryer basket. Keep them in one layer and don’t overlap them or stack them. Cook them in batches if you need to.
My 5.8-quart air fryer will hold about 8 with no problem. And since my favorite frozen egg rolls come in a package of five I don’t have to worry about crowding!
There is no need to use a preheated air fryer. The egg rolls are cooked first at a lower temperature to thaw and heat them and then at a higher temperature for just a few minutes to crisp them up. Cook them at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
2. Brown
At this point, they should be almost done. They will smell good and be golden brown. Then use a spray bottle to coat them with a little oil. This is optional, but it will make the shells crispier.
Don’t use a commercial spray oil like Pam, because it has preservatives that can damage the air fryer basket. A simple spray bottle with olive oil or vegetable oil works well.
Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook them for another 2-3 minutes. This crisps the wrapper up and browns them nicely.
Find More Air Fryer Recipes!
Serving Ideas
Serve the egg rolls with a bowl of your favorite dipping sauce. I like sweet chili sauce, duck sauce or sweet and sour sauce. Soy sauce or spicy mustard are also great for dipping.
How to Store
If you have leftover egg rolls they keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 days. To reheat them put them back in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5-8 minutes. Don’t refreeze ones that have been cooked from frozen!
Tips
As a good rule of thumb check the package instructions and make sure you are heating the egg rolls for at least half as long as the package suggests for cooking in the oven.
If you love Chinese food then give making your own air fryer egg rolls a try! They are the perfect appetizer, and making them is easier than it sounds and a lot of fun. Check out my post on how to make homemade egg rolls for step-by-step instructions with a video.
FAQ
No, it is better not to thaw them. Take them right from the freezer to the air fryer and cook them.
The wrappers for these two popular Chinese appetizers are different. Spring rolls have a thinner wrapper which is usually made of rice. Egg rolls have a thicker flour wrapper.
Any brand will work fine, just pick your favorite. These photos are of Wegmans vegetable egg rolls. Other popular brands of frozen egg rolls are P.F. Changs, Pagoda, Tai Pei and Trader Joes.
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Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 package frozen egg rolls
- spray oil in mister bottle
Instructions
- Put the frozen egg rolls in the air fryer basket. Put them in a single layer in the basket and do not stack them. Cook in batches if you need to.1 package frozen egg rolls
- Cook at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes.
- Check to see if they are done. When they are done the outsides will be brown and crisp and a little bit of filling might start leaking out. Alternately, you can test the internal temperature with a thermometer and ensure they reach 165 degrees F internally.
- Spray them lightly with oil. Don't use aerosol spray oils since it can damage the air fryer basket. Use a spray bottle of oil.spray oil in mister bottle
- Increase the heat to 400 degrees F and cook for another 2 minutes to brown and crisp the egg rolls.
Notes
- Cooking time might vary based on the type of air fryer you have and the brand you bought. My times are for standard-sized egg rolls.
- As a general rule of thumb check the package instructions and make sure you are heating them for at least half as long as the package suggests for cooking in the oven.
- Serve them with your favorite sauce for dipping.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
