How To Cook Perfect Air Fried Frozen Onion Rings

Onion rings are one of the tastiest snacks you can make in the air fryer! They’re also some of the fastest to make, too.

Your air fryer will perfectly cooked ready-to-eat onion rings as good as ones you’d order at your favorite restaurant in only a few minutes.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to burn frozen onion rings in the air fryer if you leave them in just a little too long. There are a few key things to keep in mind that will help you make delicious, dippable air fried onion rings with any meal.

How To Cook Air Fried Frozen Onion Rings

Firstly, do you need to thaw/defrost, or can you cook the onion rings frozen?

No, you can make onion rings in the air fryer without thawing first. Just take it straight out of the freezer and drop it into the air fryer.

You should cook them for around 5 minutes at around 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C and keep an eye on them as they may burn if they’re in there too long!

Like any food you cook in the air fryer, it takes trial and error to get the time and heat right. So, be prepared to burn a few batches or undercook some before you get the heat and timing perfect.

When cooking frozen onion rings in an air fryer, you should also shake the basket halfway. This is usually around two and a half minutes after starting the air fryer.

If you want to speed up the process, preheat the air fryer to 350°F/175°C a few minutes before starting your onion rings.

Learn more about preheating your air fryer in this video. 

Which Frozen Onion Rings Are Best?

You’re likely to try out a few brands of onion rings before you figure out which you like the most! There is a wide variety on the market for those more health conscious and willing to embrace a few extra calories.

The best part is, all varieties of onion rings taste great when they’re air fried, and none require the use of oil to make the texture crispy.

Some of the many brands of onion rings you might try to include Alexia Crispy Onion Rings, Red Robin Onion rings, and Nathan’s Thick Sliced Battered Onion Rings.

Can You Reheat Onion Rings in the Air Fryer?

Yes, onion rings can be reheated in the air fryer. If you’ve fixed some the day before, or even for lunch, and you’re looking to reheat them for your next meal, it’ll only take a few minutes with the air fryer to get them perfectly crispy.

When reheating onion rings in an air fryer, you won’t need to cook them as long as frozen ones.

Just preheat your air fryer to around 350°F/175°C and place the onion rings inside for two to three minutes.

The air fryer will cook your onion rings quickly, something to keep an eye on if you are busy with other parts of your meal. It is very easy to get distracted and end up with the outer layer of your onion rings burnt or the inside too dry to eat.

If you’re still finding that your air fryer is burning your reheated onion rings at 350°F/175°C, feel free to lower the temperature and experiment with one that you feel comfortable using that gives you the results you’re looking for.

Does the Air Fryer Dry Out Onion Rings?

Sometimes, if you are reheating frozen onion rings, you may find that the air fryer seems to dry the food out. This often happens if the food has been reheated multiple times or if you are heating the onion rings at a high temperature.

One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to use an oil spray to help reinvigorate your onion rings with moisture.

Best Foods To Eat With Onion Rings

If you love air fried onion rings, you’ll already know the many foods that complement these delicious crispy snacks. You may want to try adding onion rings to a meal that includes hotdogs, hamburgers, or even a healthier main dish like a stir fry.

Onion rings can help spice up any meal with their delicious crispy texture. They also go great with sandwiches and burgers (or even inside them as a special topping).

What Seasonings To Use With Onion Rings

When cooking frozen onion rings in your air fryer, feel free to get creative with adding different flavors, sauces, and seasoning salts.

There are many additional seasonings that you may want to experiment with while you’re cooking your onion rings. These include chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic, season salt, and old bay seasoning.

Adding seasoning to your onion rings is a great way to make unique styles. You might also want to try exploring a variety of dipping sauces, like ranch, barbecue sauce, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce.

How To Cook Perfect Air Fried Frozen Onion Rings

Onion rings are one of the tastiest snacks you can make in the air fryer! They're also some of the fastest to make, too.

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Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 bag frozen onion rings

Instructions

• Frozen Onion Rings in the air fryer works best if you cook them right from frozen. You do not need to thaw your onion rings.
• Place the frozen onion rings in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5-6 minutes at 350 °F. Shake or rotate the food halfway through cooking.
• Add more time as needed until they warmed and crispy to your liking. They will be fully cooked through once the internal temperature reads 165 °F on an instant read food thermometer.