Onion rings are a popular snack or side dish created by slicing a large onion into rings, coating them in a flour and breadcrumbs mixture, then deep frying them till golden brown and crispy. They go well with several dips and sauces, including ketchup, ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce.
Onion rings are frequently found on fast food restaurant menus, but they are equally simple to make at home. You can cook onion rings at home in either a deep fryer or an air fryer. Deep frying gives the onion rings a more conventional, crispy texture, whilst air frying is a healthier option that uses less oil. Making onion rings at home may be a fun and delicious pastime for all, whether you are a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen.
How to Air Fry Onion Rings?
Air frying onion rings is a simple and quick way to prepare a nice snack or side dish. Air frying is a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying since it requires less oil while retaining a crispy, crunchy quality.
You’ll need an air fryer, some basic ingredients like flour and breadcrumbs, and a large onion to air fry onion rings. To begin, cut the onion into rings and dip them in a flour, breadcrumbs, and spice combination. Then, in the air fryer basket, add the coated onion rings and cook until golden brown and crispy.
Serve the onion rings immediately with your preferred dipping sauce. Air frying onion rings is a simple and tasty method to amaze your friends and family, whether you are a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen.
You can quickly learn how to air fry onion rings, whether you want to make a great snack for your family or a fantastic appetizer to serve your guests.
Ingredients:
- The onion rings need to be prepared beforehand. Make slices roughly 1/2 inch thick. Additionally, the onion’s root end needs to be removed. This prevents the onion from rolling while it cooks.
- The batter needs to be prepared next. If you’re gluten-free, you can use rice flour or all-purpose flour.
- Additionally, baking powder, buttermilk, and one egg are required. To produce buttermilk, you can use milk, cream, or vinegar. Egg aids in batter’s adhesion on onion.
- You should use panko crumbs if you can because bread crumbs are crucial. Compared to regular breadcrumbs, they generate a crispier breading.
Instructions:
- Four deep plates or shallow bowls are required. Combine flour, paprika, and 1/2 tsp. Salt in the first one. Buttermilk (or milk and vinegar/lemon juice) and egg should be combined in the second bowl before adding 1/4 cup of the first bowl’s flour mixture.
- With a fork, blend the panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and olive oil in the third step until the oil is dispersed evenly. To transition to the second portion after the first became sticky, place half of the panko in a fourth bowl.
- With paper towels, pat dries the onion rings to get rid of extra moisture. The onion rings should be dredged with a fork in the flour mixture, then placed in the buttermilk mixture, and then dredged in the panko mixture.
- Spray some oil on the Air Fryer Basket. In the Air Fryer basket, arrange the onion rings in a single layer. If required, you can stack smaller rings inside larger ones; make sure there is room between them.
- Cook for 11 to 15 minutes at 400°F or until golden brown and crispy. After around 6 minutes, spray some cooking spray. The onion rings don’t require turning.
- With a cookie spatula or fork, carefully remove the onion rings and serve.
Tip
Before Frying and Battering, Soak Onions in Buttermilk
To make the onion strings extra crispy and tender, soak them in buttermilk before battering and frying onion rings. Buttermilk will also aid in the batter’s ability to adhere to the onion.
Make careful to peel your onions before you begin soaking them. Onion edges can develop a strong bitter and pungent flavor. A small amount of buttermilk will assist in masking this flavor by soaking them.
You must dredge your onions in flour once they have been soaked. Using regular flour or making your own with rice flour are also options. The secret is not to thoroughly mix the onions with the flour. Instead, make an effort to coat them evenly with the flour mixture.
After that, you can move your onion rings to a baking sheet lined with paper towels so they can drain. You can put them in the refrigerator after they’ve drained. This will help keep them crisp and remove any extra fat. Then you have up to 30 minutes to bake them.
What Onions Make the Best Onion Rings?
The ideal onions for onion rings are sweet onions like Vidalia, Texas, Maui, or Walla Walla since they are sweeter and typically flatter than other onions. They lack the same harsh, pungent flavor as other onions.
How do you Make a Sauce for Dipping?
You should make a dipping sauce before air frying the onion rings, whether you’re cooking them for a party or just for fun. Ketchup is a basic sauce, but a homemade sauce might be more complicated. Consider placing a spicy dipping sauce in the middle of your blossoming onions if you’re in the mood for one.
In upscale recipes from the 16th century, onion rings made an appearance. They were a reasonable treat during the Great Depression. Bread crumbs, salt, and pepper were used to make the rings. They were also dipped in ketchup or honey mustard.
They are now offered as a side dish or an appetizer. They are tasty and crunchy. They are simple to create as well. You can increase your chances of getting a crunchy ring by using an air fryer.
The onions must first be soaked in cold water for 10 minutes. The onion’s petals will spread out and become more receptive to the oil as a result. The dipped onions can then be sprinkled with a little cornflour to make them cling to the batter.
What to do with the Frozen Leftovers?
Making the onion rings in an air fryer is a fantastic way to enjoy a delightful snack that is simple to freeze. If you have any frozen onion rings left over, reheat them in the oven or stove. Here are some ways to reheat frozen onion rings:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bake the frozen onion rings on a baking sheet for 8-10 minutes or until heated and crispy.
- In a frying pan, heat a small amount of oil. Cook the frozen onion rings for 2-3 minutes per side or until they are heated and crispy.
- Microwave: Place the frozen onion rings on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 1-2 minutes or until warm.
- Once the onion rings are heated through, they can be served as a side dish or snack. For added flavor, serve them with dips such as ranch dressing or ketchup.
- For food safety reasons, reheated leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 3-4 days. If the onion rings have been in the fridge for longer than this, they should be discarded.
Reference: Effect of frozen storage on deep-fat fried breaded onion rings
What are the Tips & Tricks for Making the Best Air Fryer Onion Rings?
- These onion rings are particularly crispy because of the panko breadcrumbs!
- The outcome might not be as crispy if you use regular breadcrumbs instead of panko breadcrumbs.
- The panko breadcrumb mixture should be split in half. It’s preferable to half the mixture because the battered rings will make the first portion sticky, at which point you may switch to the second portion of the dry mixture.
- You may quickly make your own buttermilk if you don’t have any by mixing 1 Tbsp of vinegar or lemon/lime juice with 1/2 cup of milk.
- You can substitute your preferred seasonings, such as a little garlic powder, cayenne pepper, or chile, for the paprika.
- Put them in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Small onion rings may be placed inside larger onion rings as long as they don’t touch. Your Air Fryer’s model determines how long it will cook. The onion rings need to cook for 12 to 15 minutes, although some models cook faster or slower, so watch your first batch carefully.
- After half the cook time has passed, spray the onion rings with cooking oil spray to make them extra crispy and brown.
- The onion rings don’t need to be turned while they cook! Simply put, they will become wonderfully crispy on both sides without it.
- Depending on the model, you might need to warm your air fryer.
Conclusion
You need these onion rings cooked in the air fryer! You’ll keep coming back for more because they have a crispy exterior, a melty interior, and a flavorful mixture of sweet and salty onions. They’re far easier to prepare at home and, in my opinion, taste just as good, if not better, than ordinary onion rings. These air-fried onion rings are one of our new favorites since they are entertaining, delicious, and quite healthy.
