Air Fryer Onion Rings - The Homemade Version (2024)

FAQs

How to air fry best choice onion rings? ›

Preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Coat the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Place the onion rings in a single layer in the basket, then mist the tops with more nonstick spray. Air fry the onion rings for 7 to 9 minutes, until golden and crisp (no need to flip them).

Soaking onions in water for 15-20 minutes helps to neutralize the flavors of the onion and lessen the “bite”. It also brings out a sweet flavor and makes them a bit crunchier.

When it comes to batter, ensure it's not too thin or it will drip right off your onion ring. Also, make sure your batter is ice cold, as this makes for a lighter coating when it's fried. In contrast, ensure your oil is piping hot at around 360 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit before dropping in your battered rings.

Use a canola oil or vegetable oil for the best-flavored onion rings. Olive oil doesn't get hot enough and you'll end up with a greasy onion ring and no-one wants that!

Too much batter.

This is almost worse than having batter that's too thin. Instead of staying light and crisp, an onion ring with too much batter will retain too much internal moisture, and as soon as it comes out of the oil, the batter starts getting soggy.

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended.

Fried foods

French fries, onion rings, and the like contain difficult-to-digest fats and can lead to problems with diarrhea and bloating. Fried foods also can encourage harmful gut bacteria. Instead of frying foods, we suggest you look to other cooking techniques, such as roasting or boiling.

Eating onions, especially raw onions, can have a few side effects, including: Gas and bloating. The same substances in onions that feed the healthy bacteria in your gut can be hard for some people to tolerate. Onions are among foods that sometimes cause trouble for people with irritable bowel syndrome.

If your onion has gone bad, it will be pretty obvious. Squishy onions should be tossed into the trash without a second's thought. The same can be said for stinky onions or onions that have excess moisture. The less obvious signs are small wet spots, brown spots, or a softened texture.

What is the trick to getting things extra crispy with an air fryer? ›

While we wish it were possible to fry without any oil, air fryers do need a little oil to make your food crispy (but you'll use a lot less than a traditional fryer). Toss your food with a small amount of oil (around a tablespoon or less) to coat it evenly, then add it to the air fryer basket.

Air Fried vs Actual Fried Onion Rings

The obvious difference between frying onion rings and air frying them is that regular onion rings are submersed in oil to fry. Air fryer onion rings use MUCH less oil, but can get just as crispy!

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Answer: To air fry frozen fries place them in an air fryer basket preheated to 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Or until they reach your desired crispiness. The above temperature and cook time is what I have found to be the most universal method for air frying fries, regardless of style.

You want your onion rings to cook evenly, so do not overcrowd your basket (I fill mine about half way) so you may need to cook in batches if you are making the whole bag or if you have a small air fryer. Cook for 5-7 minutes shaking the basket every few minutes.