Can You Make Spring Rolls In An Air Fryer? | Less Oil

If you love spring rolls but dislike standing over a pot of hot oil, air frying feels like a dream fix. You still get shatter-crisp wrappers and juicy filling, but with easier cleanup, less grease, and more control over browning.

This guide walks you through fresh and frozen spring rolls, cooking times, temperatures, and the tweaks that turn sad, soggy rolls into crunchy snacks. By the end, can you make spring rolls in an air fryer? will feel like a solved question, not a guess.

Spring Rolls In An Air Fryer: Time And Temperature Guide

Spring rolls come in lots of shapes and sizes, from tiny party bites to big, stuffed rolls closer to egg rolls. That means there is no single time that fits each brand or recipe, but there are clear starting points.

Use the table below as a quick reference, then adjust a little based on your air fryer model and how browned you like the wrapper.

Spring Roll Type	Temperature	Approximate Time*
Fresh, vegetable filling, medium size	375–390°F (190–200°C)	10–12 minutes
Fresh, meat or shrimp filling	380–400°F (193–205°C)	12–14 minutes
Frozen mini spring rolls	390–400°F (200°C)	6–8 minutes
Frozen full-size spring rolls	380–390°F (193–200°C)	10–12 minutes
Homemade, uncooked filling	375–390°F (190–200°C)	12–15 minutes
Par-cooked or leftover spring rolls	360–375°F (180–190°C)	5–8 minutes
Gluten-free or rice paper spring rolls	350–370°F (175–188°C)	8–10 minutes

*Always check the center of meat or seafood fillings to be sure they are steaming hot, and confirm doneness by cutting one roll open.

Can You Make Spring Rolls In An Air Fryer? Detailed Answer

So, yes, air fryers handle spring rolls well, and the process suits both homemade and store-bought rolls. An air fryer circulates hot air around the food, which dries the wrapper surface and browns it much like a convection oven, only faster.

Because the heat comes from a compact chamber and a fan, the wrapper crisps without needing a pot of oil. A light brush of oil on the outside of each roll gives colour, crunch, and that familiar fried taste.

The main thing to watch is balance: enough heat to cook the filling and crisp the wrapper, without burning the edges while the center is still cold. Once you understand how your specific model behaves, you can treat spring rolls as a nearly hands-off snack.

Why Air Fryer Spring Rolls Taste So Good

Air frying spring rolls sits between oven baking and deep frying. The internal fan keeps hot air moving, which dries the wrapper quickly and gives you lots of tiny blisters on the surface. That texture is what people love about deep-fried rolls.

Because you only add a thin layer of oil, the wrappers stay lighter, and the filling flavour stands out more. You also skip the lingering smell of used oil in the kitchen and avoid disposing of litres of frying fat after one batch.

For many home cooks, that mix of crunch, lighter feel, and easy cleanup is reason enough to keep a bag of spring rolls in the freezer just for the air fryer.

Step By Step: Fresh Spring Rolls In The Air Fryer

Fresh spring rolls, stuffed and cooked on the same day, give you the most control over texture. You can choose crisp vegetables, add protein, and season the filling the way you like.

Prep Your Filling And Wrappers

Start with a filling that is not too wet. Finely shred cabbage and carrots, add spring onions, and stir-fry them with garlic, ginger, and your preferred seasoning. If you add minced pork, chicken, or shrimp, cook it fully on the stove before rolling.

Let the filling cool to just warm. Hot filling can steam inside the wrapper and make the bottom soggy. If you use store-bought spring roll wrappers, keep them under a slightly damp towel so they do not dry out while you work.

Roll Tightly For Better Crisping

Lay one wrapper on your board with a corner facing you, add a small log of filling, then fold, tuck, and roll firmly. Seal the last corner with a little water, cornstarch slurry, or beaten egg white.

You want tight rolls with hardly any trapped air. Loose rolls blister in big patches, and open ends leak filling into the basket.

Oil, Preheat, And Arrange The Basket

Lightly brush the rolls with a neutral, high smoke point oil such as canola or sunflower. Avoid pressurised aerosol sprays that can damage nonstick surfaces in air fryers over time. A simple brush or mister is enough to help browning.

Preheat the air fryer for three to five minutes. Arrange the spring rolls in a single layer with a little space between them so air can move freely around each one.

Cook, Turn, And Check For Doneness

For medium fresh rolls with cooked filling, start at 380°F (193°C) for about 12 minutes. Turn them halfway through so both sides brown evenly.

To be sure meat or seafood fillings are safe, many home cooks follow the guidance from FoodSafety.gov’s safe minimum internal temperature chart, which calls for 165°F (74°C) for dishes that contain poultry or mixed leftovers. You can check one roll with an instant-read thermometer if you want extra reassurance.

Frozen Spring Rolls In The Air Fryer

Frozen spring rolls are even simpler. They are usually par-fried at the factory, so your goal is to reheat the filling and bring the wrapper back to a crisp texture.

Most brands cook well at 380–400°F (193–200°C) for 8–12 minutes. Small party rolls often finish closer to the lower end of that range, while big, thick rolls need the full time. Check the packet instructions as a starting point, then adjust based on how browned the first batch looks.

Many recipe testers, including those behind several popular air fryer frozen spring roll guides, recommend cooking in a single layer and shaking or turning midway. That prevents pale spots and keeps the bottom from steaming.

Tips For Store-Bought Frozen Rolls

• Do not thaw frozen spring rolls first; cook them straight from the freezer for better texture.
• Brush with a little oil before cooking to revive the crisp shell.
• Leave space between rolls instead of piling them up, even if it means cooking two batches.
• Check one roll a minute or two before the suggested time so you can pull them when the colour looks right to you.

Common Mistakes With Air Fryer Spring Rolls

Most spring roll problems come from three things: wrapper moisture, basket crowding, and heat that is either too soft or too fierce. Once you adjust those, your success rate jumps.

The next table gives you a quick way to match what you see in the basket with the fix that brings back that crackly bite.

Problem	Likely Cause	Simple Fix
Soggy, pale wrapper	Basket too full or temp too low	Cook in a single layer and raise heat by 10–20°F
Burnt tips, cold center	Heat too high or rolls too big for time	Lower temp slightly and extend time by 2–3 minutes
Wrapper splits open	Overfilled rolls or trapped air	Use less filling and roll more tightly
Wrappers taste dry or hard	Too little oil on the surface	Brush lightly with oil before cooking and halfway through
Grease pooling in basket	Rich filling or too much oil added	Drain filling before rolling and switch to a light brush of oil
Uneven browning	Rolls touching or basket not shaken	Space rolls apart and turn or shake midway
Wrappers stick to basket	No oil on contact points	Lightly oil the basket or use a liner made for air fryers

How To Answer Friends Who Ask About Air Fryer Spring Rolls

Once you have run a few batches through your machine, you will start hearing the same question from guests: can you make spring rolls in an air fryer? At that point you can say yes with confidence and share a few guardrails.

Tell them to start with a moderate temperature, give the rolls breathing room, and add just enough oil for colour. Remind them to treat any raw meat filling with care and to follow safe cooking temperatures for poultry, pork, and seafood.

From there it comes down to taste. Some people love a deep golden, extra crunchy wrapper. Others prefer a lighter, more delicate bite. Both are easy once you know your air fryer’s sweet spot.

Serving Ideas For Air Fryer Spring Rolls

Air fried spring rolls fit neatly into busy weeknights and relaxed weekends. They work as starters, snacks, or even a light main when paired with salad, rice, or stir-fried greens.

Keep a few dipping sauces on hand: sweet chilli, soy with lime and sliced chilli, peanut sauce, or a simple mix of rice vinegar, soy, sugar, and garlic. Set them out in small bowls and let everyone pick their favourite.

If you cook for kids, you can fill a few rolls with milder options such as shredded chicken, grated carrot, and a little cheese, then cook them right alongside spicier, veggie-heavy versions for the adults.

Putting It All Together

Air fryers give spring rolls a second life in home kitchens. You still wrap crisp vegetables and savoury fillings in thin pastry, but you trade a pot of oil for a breezy basket and a short timer.

Start with a small test batch, use the time and temperature ranges above, and take a quick peek during cooking so you learn how your own model behaves. With a little practice, you will quickly turn out trays of crisp rolls whenever a snack craving hits at home, no deep fryer required.

If you like to tinker, keep a small notebook or notes app near the counter and jot down how many rolls you cooked, the brand, and the settings. After two or three sessions you will have your own mini chart that fits your basket at home, your taste, and the size of rolls you buy most often.

Leftover spring rolls reheat nicely in the air fryer as well. Place them in a single layer, spray or brush a hint of oil on the wrapper, and cook at a slightly lower temperature until the filling feels hot again. This keeps the shell crisp instead of chewy and avoids the sogginess that often comes from a microwave.