Egg rolls are a staple of Chinese takeout menus and a favorite of food lovers everywhere. But what do you do when you've got leftover egg rolls that have gone a bit soggy in the fridge? The microwave might leave them limp, and the oven can often be overkill. Enter the air fryer – your secret weapon for giving those egg rolls a second lease on life, restoring them to their original crispy glory. Here we’ll walk you through the simple steps to reheating egg rolls in an air fryer.
Why I Love This
Air fryer egg rolls are some of my favorite appetizers. There are two main types of egg rolls and the air fryer is an excellent way to make them.
Classic Chinese-American Egg Roll: Filled with shredded cabbage, carrots, and often proteins like pork or shrimp, wrapped in a wheat-based wrapper and deep-fried to a golden brown.
Spring Roll (Southeast Asia):
- Fresh Spring Roll: Common in Vietnamese cuisine, these are made with rice paper and often filled with shrimp, herbs, pork, rice vermicelli, and other ingredients. They're served fresh, not fried.
- Fried Spring Roll: Similar ingredients to the fresh version but deep-fried.
I love to make homemade egg rolls in batches and save the leftovers for later. It makes the perfect, quick snack. While different from your traditional egg rolls, I also love to think outside of the box and make fun egg rolls such as pizza egg rolls and jalapeno popper egg rolls.
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Why the Air Fryer?
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, allowing it to cook evenly and achieve a crispy exterior without the need for a lot of oil. This makes them an ideal choice for reheating fried foods like egg rolls, ensuring they stay crispy and delicious.
I love that I can still have crispy egg rolls without the need for deep frying. The air fryer always gives me the best results.
Here are a few of our FAVORITE recommendations.
Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer - Digital Meat Thermometer - Air Fryer All Day
What You Need
- Air Fryer - I love the Cosori Dual Blaze air fryer with two heating elements.
- Leftover Egg Rolls
- Parchment Paper or aluminum foil (optional) - helps with easy cleanup.
- Tongs - I love to use these to help remove items from the air fryer.
Reheating Egg Rolls in an Air Fryer
Step 1
Preheat the Air Fryer: Although some people skip this step, it’s a good idea to preheat your air fryer for a few minutes. Set it to 370°F (190°C) and let it warm up for 3-4 minutes.
Step 2
Arrange the Egg Rolls: Take your cold, leftover egg rolls out of the refrigerator. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. If you’re reheating multiple egg rolls, you may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Step 3
Reheat: Set the air fryer to 350°F (170°C) again, if it has cooled down. Cook the egg rolls for 6-8 minutes. It’s a good idea to flip or shake them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even reheating.
Step 4
Check for Crispiness: After 6-8 minutes, check one egg roll to see if it’s heated through and crispy on the outside. If they need a little more time, continue cooking in 1-2 minute increments until they're just right.
Step 5
Serve and Enjoy: Once your egg rolls are crisped to perfection, use tongs to carefully remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. For an extra touch, pair them with your favorite dipping sauce!
Dipping Sauces
- Soy Sauce: A simple soy sauce dip can be a great match.
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: This tangy sauce is a classic pairing with egg rolls.
- Hot Mustard Sauce: For those who like a bit of heat.
- Plum Sauce or Hoisin Sauce: These are sweet and have a unique flavor profile that pairs well with egg rolls.
- Chili Sauce or Sriracha: For an added kick.
- Peanut Sauce: A creamy and flavorful option.
Serve the sauces in small bowls or ramekins alongside the egg rolls. If you're serving multiple sauces, label them for your guests.
TIPS
Avoid Thawing: If you've frozen your egg rolls, you can go straight from the freezer to the air fryer. Just increase the reheating time by a few minutes.
Keep an Eye on Them: Depending on the exact size and fillings of your egg rolls, as well as the specifics of your air fryer, cooking times may vary. It's always a good idea to keep a close watch the first time you try this to get a sense of the perfect timing for your machine and your preferences.
Try Other Leftovers: The beauty of the air fryer doesn’t stop at egg rolls. You can use this method to reheat other fried foods like spring rolls, samosas, or fried chicken.
Clean up. Use aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup.
How to Serve
Sprinkle with some chopped fresh herbs like cilantro, chives, or green onions for added color and freshness. For a touch of brightness, you could also add a few slices of fresh lime or lemon on the side.
A light Asian-inspired salad with lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and a tangy vinaigrette can complement the richness of the egg rolls.
If you're serving egg rolls as part of a larger meal, steamed rice or noodles can be a great addition.
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover egg rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat, place the egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
FAQs
Most people recommend setting the air fryer to around 350°F (175°C) for reheating egg rolls.
Depending on the size and thickness of your egg rolls, it usually takes about 3-5 minutes. It's a good idea to check them halfway through to ensure they don't overcook.
While not always necessary, preheating the air fryer for a couple of minutes can help achieve a more consistent result.
Typically, you don't need to add any oil since the egg rolls already have some from their initial frying. The air fryer will make them crispy without extra oil.
Yes, you can reheat frozen egg rolls in an air fryer. However, it will take a bit longer, usually around 6-10 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
This depends on the size of your air fryer. It's important not to overcrowd them to allow hot air to circulate freely. Make sure they are in a single layer.
I love to use the air fryer for reheating crispy egg rolls. It's the best way to keep them crispy and crunchy. If you find yourself with leftovers and you need to reheat them, the air fryer is a great option.
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📖 Recipe
How to Reheat Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 egg rolls
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Although some people skip this step, it’s a good idea to preheat your air fryer for a few minutes. Set it to 370°F (190°C) and let it warm up for 3-4 minutes.
- Arrange the Egg Rolls: Take your cold, leftover egg rolls out of the refrigerator. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. If you’re reheating multiple egg rolls, you may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Reheat: Set the air fryer to 350°F (170°C) again, if it has cooled down. Cook the egg rolls for 6-8 minutes. It’s a good idea to flip or shake them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even reheating.
- Check for Crispiness: After 6-8 minutes, check one egg roll to see if it’s heated through and crispy on the outside. If they need a little more time, continue cooking in 1-2 minute increments until they're just right.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once your egg rolls are crisped to perfection, carefully remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. For an extra touch, pair them with your favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2024
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