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How To Cook Pizza Rolls In An Air Fryer

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Crisp, crunchy, and full of juicy savory flavor, pizza rolls are a firm favorite for many families! These savory pastries make a great breakfast snack, taking no time at all to cook to crispy perfection.

But how do you cook pizza rolls in an air fryer? To cook pizza rolls in an air fryer, set the temperature to 390°F, cook for 4 minutes, remove from the air fryer and shake the pizza rolls for even cooking, place back in the air fryer for another 4 minutes, then remove and let cool for 2 minutes.

Want to learn more about the best way to cook pizza rolls? We have got all the answers and more for you!

We will take a look at why pizza rolls taste so good in the air fryer and give you some tips on the best way to cook these tasty snacks.

What Are Pizza Rolls?

If you’ve never tried a pizza roll before, you are in for a treat! Whoever dreamed up these bites of delicious flavor was an absolute genius, and we think they deserve a medal or something!

Pizza rolls are bite-size snacks, designed to incorporate all our favorite parts of a pizza in one mouthful. So, you have a breaded dough pocket, filled with the classic tomato pizza sauce and a range of different toppings.

When cooked, the dough becomes light and crispy without becoming too dry, and the juicy, cheesy filling nestles happily inside its dough pocket.

The name ‘pizza roll’ is actually a trademarked name, held by General Mills – the makers of the famous Totino’s Pizza Rolls.

And when it comes to the world of pizza-based snacks, Totino’s has really cornered the market. They not only make pizza rolls but also have created mini pizza snack bites, party pizza slices, and pizza stuffers.

And with so many different fillings and toppings available, you could eat a Totino’s pizza snack every night for months and not get bored!

We’re talking cheese, pepperoni, meat feast, and the mighty supreme topping pack – chicken, beef, green pepper, and pork!

Or if you want to get really weird and wonderful, you can even get a hamburger or cheeseburger pizza roll. Now that’s what we call decadent – two of our favorite fast food items, literally rolled into one!

Now an idea as good as this is bound to catch on, and Totino’s has some stiff competition from other pizza-based snack manufacturers.

But because Totino’s holds the trademark for the name pizza rolls, these manufacturers needed to come up with different names.

This means that when you rummage in the freezer section at the grocery store, you may also come across pizza snack rolls, pizza bites, pizza snacks, and pizza poppers.

So why do we love pizza rolls so much? Well, firstly they are incredibly tasty! And yes, they are not the healthiest of snacks, but sometimes you just want to indulge in something delicious and forget about the calorie count.

Pizza rolls are also very convenient! You can keep a bag of them in the freezer, ready for that evening when everything has gone wrong and you need a simple dinner to feed the family.

As they only take about 15 minutes to cook in the oven, you’ll have everyone fed in no time!

What Is An Air Fryer?

The craze for air fryers kicked in at around the same time as we all got a bit fanatical about healthy eating. Many of us rushed out to buy an air fryer, hoping to find a way to keep on enjoying all that fried food we loved so much.

And although we don’t doubt that many air fryers have long since been shoved to the back of the cupboard by some, for many busy home cooks this gadget has been an absolute lifesaver.

This is because there are 3 great advantages to cooking in an air fryer:

Speed

These things really are fast! When you’re in a hurry and you need to get some food on the table as soon as possible, an air fryer is the way to go.

They heat up much faster than a conventional oven and can cut cooking times by up to half.

Crispiness

Because of the way air fryers work, they can recreate the delicious crispy taste and texture of fried food, without the oil. Air fryers are much more effective at crisping up food than a conventional oven.

However, foods cooked in the air fryer do not soak up any oil, so if the oily coating appeals to you then stick to deep-frying instead.

Health

If you’re a fan of fried food, you’ll be well aware that deep-frying is not the healthiest form of cooking! Using an air fryer, on the other hand, will give you the fried food taste and texture, without the unhealthy oils and fats.

How Do Air Fryers Work?

An air fryer is a type of convection oven that circulates hot air at high speed. This cooks food quickly and also gives it a crispy brown outer layer, similar to foods that have been fried or roasted in hot oil

However, very little oil is required when using an air fryer – and in some cases, none at all!

These little magic ovens are designed to sit on your countertop, so they don’t take up too much space. They are small enough to be popped into a cupboard or on a shelf if you are short of room.

Most air fryers have a basket inside the oven chamber, which sits over a drip tray. This basket will need shaking occasionally during the cooking process, although some very clever air fryers will do this for you! 

And you can also use some air fryers in the same way as normal convection ovens, to roast, bake, and fry different foods.

Top-of-the-range models can also come with accessories such as skewer racks, grill trays, pizza pans, and even cake barrels.

Can You Cook Pizza Rolls In An Air Fryer?

OK, so we’ve established that both pizza rolls and air fryers are incredible, but what happens when you bring the two together?

Pizza bite perfection, that’s what! 

You can absolutely cook pizza rolls in an air fryer. In fact, the manufacturers cooking instructions even tell you how to cook them in an air fryer, so this perfect match was meant to be!

And because of the way air fryers work, you will get incredible results if you use this handy little appliance to cook your pizza rolls.

What Do Pizza Rolls Taste Like When Cooked In An Air Fryer?

In terms of flavor, pizza rolls will taste exactly the same when cooked in an air fryer compared to other cooking methods.

So you should have a gorgeous crispy dough pocket, filled with a herby tomato sauce and whatever other fillings you have chosen.

The manufacturers of pizza rolls suggest that these little pizza bites can be cooked in a convection oven, microwave oven, or air fryer.

Now, if you’re going to cook these in the microwave then you can pretty much wave goodbye to any crispiness! Cooking pizza rolls in the oven should give you good results, but they may easily become dry and overcooked.

Pizza rolls cooked in an air fryer will normally be crispier on the outside compared to the oven-cooked version.  They will taste more like fried food, without any frying having taken place.

We think that of all the ways to cook pizza rolls, the air fryer wins every time!

Cooking Frozen Pizza Rolls In An Air Fryer

Cooking frozen pizza rolls in an air fryer is a quick and easy process, and you will have these delicious pizza bites ready to eat in under ten minutes.

Here is our step-by-step guide to cooking pizza rolls in the air fryer:

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390°F.
  • Place your pizza rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Cook for 4 minutes.
  • Remove the basket and shake the rolls (unless your air fryer does this for you).
  • Cook for a further 4 minutes.
  • Let the pizza rolls stand for 2 minutes, then serve.

We do have to give one point to be cautious about here. The filling of pizza bites is notoriously hot once cooked and does not cool down quickly.

So make sure you cut one open to test the temperature before eating them, particularly if you are feeding small hungry children.

How Long To Air Fry Pizza Rolls

If you are air frying pizza rolls as described above, they will take a total of 8 minutes in the air fryer plus 2 minutes to rest after cooking. This is based on cooking a single layer of pizza rolls in your basket.

The Totino pizza roll packaging says that this is 25 rolls, but obviously, this depends on the size of your air fryer.

But what if you want to do more than this? Well, you could do them in two or more batches, but this is a bit of a pain if you want to sit down and eat with your family.

Another option is to cook them all in one batch.  This means that the pizza rolls will be stacked on top of each other, so will need a longer cooking time and regular shaking to ensure they are evenly cooked.

We’d suggest the following timings to do a larger batch of pizza rolls:

  1. Cook for 4 minutes
  2. Shake
  3. Cook for 4 minutes
  4. Shake
  5. Cook for 4 minutes
  6. Let cool for 2 minutes

It is a good idea to test one after the resting period, to make sure it is heated through and crispy. If not, pop them back in the air fryer for another 4 minutes, watching them carefully to make sure they do not burn.

Should I Use Oil to Cook Air Fryer Pizza Rolls?

The joy of the air fryer is that you don’t need to add any oil! The way air fryers work is to circulate very hot air around the food.

This heats any oils or fats contained within the food, giving the effect of frying without having to immerse your food in oil.

However, sometimes there is not enough oil contained within the food, and it may stick or develop a dry texture. If you find this is happening to your pizza rolls, you can add a small amount of certain types of oil to the air fryer.

If you need to add oil to your air fryer, it is recommended that you only use a small amount – a maximum of 1 tablespoon.

It is essential that you use the right kind of oil, otherwise you may damage your air fryer.

Because air fryers cook at very high temperatures, it is best to use an oil with a high smoke point. Good-quality vegetable oil has a smoke point of 400-450°F, which is compatible with most air fryers

Oils such as avocado oil and grape seed oil have even higher smoke points but are not very cost-effective when used regularly.

When adding oil to an air fryer, you only need a very small amount – this can make it difficult to coat the food thoroughly. An oil sprayer is very useful for ensuring your oil is evenly distributed.

However, it is essential to avoid aerosol oil sprays as these have been known to cause damage to air fryers. Never use an oil spray on your air fryer if it contains an ingredient called soy lecithin, as it may completely ruin it!

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to cook pizza rolls in an air fryer, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

Can you cook pizza in an air fryer?

Now, this is one of the best-kept air fryer secrets! No more preheating your oven and waiting ages for a pizza to cook – you could have a perfect pizza in half the time in an air fryer!

And not only does this work for frozen pizzas from the grocery store, but you can make delicious homemade pizza in the air fryer too! Let’s take a look at how it is done:

Cooking Frozen Pizza In An Air Fryer

You are going to need to do a bit of trial and error here unless you hit on the perfect pizza the first time.

Most frozen pizzas do not come with air fryer cooking instructions. So, you will need to figure out the timings yourself, but this can be tricky!

This is because pizzas come in many shapes, sizes and thicknesses.  A mini thin crust pizza will cook in no time at all, whereas a big deep pan pizza will take a lot longer.

Firstly, you need to make sure that your frozen pizza will fit in your air fryer basket. Ideally, you want to cook your pizza whole, so this method won’t work for giant pizzas.

Sit your pizza in the basket, and spray the top lightly with oil. This will prevent the top from burning before the pizza is cooked. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.

Cook your pizza in the air fryer for 6 minutes, then check it. If it is not cooked, add another 2 minutes onto the cooking time.

When you are happy that your pizza is cooked, lift it out of the basket. Remember that it will be very hot!

Cooking Homemade Pizza In An Air Fryer

This recipe really is a work of art! Air fryers are a quick and easy way to cook homemade pizza to perfection, giving you the perfect golden crust and sizzling toppings.

Simply roll out your pizza dough and pop it into the air fryer basket. then add your sauce and toppings. This is much easier than assembling the pizza and trying to transfer it into the basket!

Cook in the air fryer at 380°F for about 7 minutes. Voilá! Perfect homemade pizza, without the fuss!

Can cold pizza be reheated in an air fryer?

We’re sure we’re not the only ones who enjoy eating reheated takeaway food? Tucking into the leftovers of last night’s Indian, Chinese, or Thai takeout is one of life’s most decadent pleasures!

But unfortunately, pizza doesn’t always get the same treatment. Try cooking pizza in the microwave and you’ll be left with a tough, soggy lump of dough covered in greasy, mushy topping. Yuck!

However, there is another way to rescue your pizza! 

Using an air fryer to reheat cold pizza will bring your pizza back to life, keeping the crust just perfect whilst heating the topping to perfection. Here is the best way to reheat cold pizza in an air fryer:

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350°F
  • Place cooked pizza slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket
  • Cook thin crust pizza for 3 minutes, and deep pan pizza for 5 minutes
  • Remove your perfect pizza, and enjoy!

If you find your cooked pizza gets a little bit dry or overcooked during the reheating process, try adding a spray of oil next time.

Pizza Rolls In An Air Fryer

Pizza Rolls In An Air Fryer

Cook Time: 8 minutes
Additional Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Pizza rolls are one of the most delicious snack-sized options out there, and cooking them in an air fryer just helps to amplify their deliciousness!

Ingredients

  • Pizza rolls

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F.
  2. Place your pizza rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  3. Cook for 4 minutes.
  4. Remove the basket and shake the rolls (unless your air fryer does this for you).
  5. Cook for a further 4 minutes.
  6. Let the pizza rolls stand for 2 minutes, then serve.

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