Spring rolls are one of those crowd-pleasing snacks that always seem like too much effort at home — until you have an air fryer. Skip the spluttering oil and the mess: your air fryer delivers the same golden crunch in a fraction of the time, with way less cleanup. Here's how to make them perfectly every time.
Why the Air Fryer Works for Spring Rolls
Traditional deep-frying relies on full submersion in hot oil to crisp the wrapper. An air fryer replicates this by circulating superheated air at high speed around the food, achieving the same Maillard reaction — that satisfying golden crunch — without a drop of oil beyond a light spray. The result is a wrapper that's crisp all the way around, not just on one side.
Ingredients
Makes 12 spring rolls
- 12 spring roll wrappers (frozen, thawed)
- 200g pork mince (or sub firm tofu for vegetarian)
- 1 cup shredded wombok (Chinese cabbage)
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 2 spring onions, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp water (for sealing)
- Olive oil spray
Dipping sauce: sweet chilli sauce or soy with a splash of rice wine vinegar
Step-by-Step Method
- Make the filling. Heat a wok or frying pan over high heat. Cook pork mince until browned, breaking it up as you go. Add garlic, ginger, carrot and wombok and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until just softened. Add soy sauce and sesame oil, toss to combine, then remove from heat. Allow to cool completely before filling — this prevents soggy wrappers.
- Fill and fold. Lay a wrapper on a clean surface in a diamond orientation. Place 2 tablespoons of filling in the lower third. Fold the bottom corner up over the filling, fold in the sides, then roll firmly away from you. Seal the top corner with the cornflour slurry. Repeat with remaining wrappers.
- Spray and cook. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with oil. Place spring rolls seam-side down in a single layer — don't overcrowd. Spray the tops generously with oil. Cook for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway, until deep golden and crisp.
Tips for Extra Crunch
- Spray generously — don't be shy with the oil spray, it's what drives the colour and crunch
- Don't overcrowd the basket — airflow needs space to circulate; cook in batches if needed
- Seam-side down first — this seals the roll and prevents it from opening during cooking
- Cool the filling completely — warm filling creates steam inside the wrapper, which softens the crust
Variations
- Vegetarian: swap pork for firm tofu, add sliced shiitake mushrooms and a dash of hoisin
- Prawn: use roughly chopped raw prawns instead of pork mince — cook time stays the same
- Mini party size: cut wrappers in half and reduce filling to 1 tsp each — cook for 7–8 minutes
Ready to Get Crispy?
A good air fryer makes recipes like this effortless. Browse our range of air fryers to find the right model for your kitchen — from compact basket styles to large-capacity ovens perfect for entertaining.