How To Cook Frozen Onion Rings In The Air Fryer
Can you cook frozen onion rings in an air fryer?
The answer is yes! If you’ve got a bag of frozen onion rings sitting in the freezer, the air fryer is a great way to cook them. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer, including the cooking time, temperature and a few handy tips for getting them lovely and crispy.
I love onion rings. They go perfectly with steaks and burgers, they’re great for buffets and, if I’m being honest, they’re pretty good as a snack too!
Like many people, I always keep a bag of frozen onion rings in my freezer. While I do love homemade onion rings, they can be messy and time-consuming to make. Plus, they’re usually best cooked in a deep fat fryer, and not many people have one these days.
Frozen onion rings are quick, convenient and one of those freezer staples I always like to have on hand.
Can You Cook Frozen Onion Rings In An Air Fryer?
Yes, absolutely.
Frozen onion rings are one of the easiest foods to cook in an air fryer. Whether they’re battered or breaded, and whatever brand you buy, they cook really well straight from frozen.
Why Cook Frozen Onion Rings In The Air Fryer?
There are lots of reasons to cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer:
- They usually cook quicker than they do in the oven.
- They’re much healthier than deep frying.
- I find they come out crispier than oven-baked onion rings.
- Air fryers generally use less electricity than a conventional oven, making them a more economical option.
- There’s no need to wait for a large oven to heat up.
Before You Get Started
A couple of things are worth mentioning before we get started.
Appliances vary. I used a Tower Air Fryer, but every model cooks slightly differently, so you may need to adjust the cooking time by a minute or two.
Brands vary. For this post I used Aunt Bessie’s Crispy Whole Onion Rings, but this method works just as well with other brands. Depending on the size and coating, you may just need to tweak the cooking time slightly.
How To Cook Frozen Onion Rings In The Air Fryer
Here’s how to cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer:
- Place the frozen onion rings into the air fryer basket in a single layer. I can usually fit around 12 onion rings in my Tower Air Fryer without overcrowding them.
- Cook at 180°C for 6 minutes.
- Turn the onion rings over and cook for another 6 minutes, until they’re golden brown and crispy.
Depending on your air fryer, they may need another minute or two.
Serve while they’re still hot.
How Long Do Frozen Onion Rings Take In The Air Fryer?
Answer: Around 12 minutes at 180°C.
I cook mine for 6 minutes on each side, turning them halfway through to help them brown evenly.
If you prefer your onion rings extra crispy, simply cook them for another minute or two.
Can You Reheat Onion Rings In The Air Fryer?
Yes, you can, although they do become very crispy when reheated.
If you’re preparing food ahead of time, you could cook the onion rings almost all the way through and then give them a quick blast in the air fryer just before serving.
As with any reheated food, make sure the onion rings are piping hot before serving. If you’re using a food thermometer, they should reach at least 75°C for 30 seconds.
Top Tips
- Turn the onion rings halfway through cooking for the crispiest finish (or give the fryer basket a shake).
- Don’t overcrowd the basket or they won’t cook as evenly.
- If you’re cooking a large quantity, it’s better to cook them in batches.
- Keep an eye on them towards the end of cooking as they crisp up quite quickly.
- Every air fryer is slightly different, so don’t worry if yours need an extra minute or two.
Frozen onion rings are one of my favourite things to cook in the air fryer. They’re quick, easy and come out beautifully crispy every time.
If you’ve never tried cooking them this way before, I definitely recommend giving it a go.
