What would a Chinese takeout order be without a side of egg rolls? The Chinese don't have a monopoly on , though, as the category also includes lumpia, spring rolls, and cha gio. There are also less traditional takes on the dish such as and even . (You can if you try hard enough.
) The one thing all egg rolls have in common, though, is that they're better with a crispy crust. Kenny Leung, executive chef at the New York City Cantonese restaurant , has some tips for how to achieve this when you're making egg rolls at home. Leung says you first need to drain the filling and press out any excess water before you wrap the roll.
He also endorses cooking the egg rolls in oil. As he put it, "I recommend frying the roll for longer to make it crispy." Beyond that, the cooking process isn't overly complex.
"Medium or high heat should do the trick." If you have (and you should definitely invest in one before you do any deep frying), heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and fry just a few egg rolls at a time so you don't crowd the pan. As the later batches are frying, keep the earlier ones warm in an oven that's also set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can you make crispy egg rolls in the oven or air fryer? While fried egg rolls are extra tasty (as most fried foods tend to be), sometimes you don't want all that extra oil and mess. Some recipes call for baking egg rolls in the oven or in an air fryer. But if you do so, does this mean giving up on the idea of a crispy exterior? Not necessarily,.