Nathan’s Thick Sliced Battered Onion Rings have been a firm family favorite for years, with their generous slices of onion and perfectly crispy and crunchy batter. So, you might be wondering how to cook Nathan’s frozen onion rings in air fryer?
The reality is that it’s super simple to do, and you don’t need to thaw or defrost the onion rings at all before cooking them in your air fryer, giving you the perfect snack in just minutes!
Keep reading to learn exactly how to cook Nathan’s frozen onion rings in air fryer.
Why Make Nathan’s Onion Rings in an Air Fryer?
Air frying onion rings allows you to create healthier onion rings in a fraction of the time it would take for you to do so in an oven, and with way less oil than you’d need if you were deep frying.
Air frying is also less energy-intensive than these other two methods, meaning that you are choosing not only the quickest but also the most energy-efficient way to cook your frozen onion rings.
Heath benefits of air frying over deep frying
Many people might choose to deep fry their Nathan’s Onion Rings in order to get the best result with the batter. However, air frying produces exactly the same, if not better results and is a much healthier way to get great-tasting onion rings.
Deep fat frying uses a lot of oil, and a lot of the oils suitable for deep fat frying in are not all that good for you, increasing your risk of heart attacks, higher cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
Air frying on the other hand requires little to no oil reducing this risk. Air fryers are able to do this thanks to the way in which they work: circulating hot air around the compartment or basket so that every part of the food that you are cooking gets an even coating of oil without needing to be drenched in it.
This results in perfectly crispy onion rings without the risk of them being too greasy.
Choosing the Perfect Onion Rings
Brands of Onion Rings
Although our guide is on Nathan’s Thick Sliced Battered Onion Rings, there are plenty of other brands that make their own onion rings, with some grocery stores even making their own non-branded ones.
Factors to consider
If buying a different brand than Nathan’s, be aware that the ingredients and the size of the onion rings may differ. They may be thinner and smaller, or even use a different coating such as breadcrumbs.
Some onion rings may even have a particular spice mix added to the batter which can alter the flavor, such as making them spicy with chili. Be sure to check whether you are buying a flavored or spiced product, especially if you only want plain onion rings!
Where to buy and what to look for
You should be able to find Nathan’s Thick Sliced Battered Onion Rings at most grocery stores. When buying, make sure that the packet is fully frozen and that it doesn’t look like it has thawed at some stage.
You can tell if the temperature has fluctuated too much by gently feeling the onion rings inside of the packaging. If you can feel some ice or small grains, it’s likely been out of the freezer at some point or near the top when lots of people have been opening and closing the freezer doors.
Nathan’s onion rings are free of trans fat which is something to look out for when purchasing alternative brands. Additionally, if buying a different brand, make sure to check the ingredients to assess the quality of the onion rings: good ones should always have onion as their first ingredient!
Preparing Nathan’s Onion Rings for Air Frying
Tools needed
When it comes to how to cook Nathan’s Frozen Onion Rings in air fryer, it’s pretty simple and no special tools are needed.
We do however suggest a pair of tongs to get the onion rings out of the air fryer with once they are cooked, and also if you want to make cleanup easier for yourself, place them onto air fryer parchment paper in the basket.
Prepping Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
There really is little to no prep needed when it comes to cooking Nathan’s frozen onion rings in an air fryer. They can be cooked straight from frozen, so there is no need to thaw them out before cooking.
Therefore, the only real prep needed is to line your basket if you are using parchment paper, and to preheat the air fryer for best results!
Step-by-Step Guide to Air Frying Nathan’s Onion Rings
As you may have guessed already, our guide is on how to cook Nathan’s frozen onion rings in air fryer.
It is worth noting that different brands of onion rings may vary in their cooking times, temperatures, and instructions, so make sure to read the packaging of your particular onion rings before air frying.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. This should normally only take a few minutes.
- Place a layer of onion rings onto your air fryer rack or into the basket. Make sure that you only place a single layer, don’t stack them! You should also ensure that the onion rings aren’t squished together too much and have space between them to cook.
- Cook the onion rings for 6 minutes, making sure to either flip the onion rings over or shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- Check that the onion rings are done by checking for a golden brown coloring, and that they are cooked through and hot inside.
- Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
One of the most popular ways to eat onion rings is to simply dip them into your sauce of choice, whether that’s ketchup, BBQ sauce, or mayo.
However, that’s not the only way to make the most of these crispy snacks. Take a look at some of our other serving suggestions below.
Onion rings in burgers
Onions go great in burgers, either raw or fried, so it stands to reason that onion rings can work great as a burger topping too! They add a crispy, oniony hit to any burger, helping to add texture and structure.
As a salad topping
Instead of croutons, try cutting up onion rings to use as a topping on your salad! They add a flavorful crunch and the sweet onion pairs well with crisp lettuce and tangy tomatoes.
Drink pairings
Nathan’s Thick Sliced Battered Onion Rings have beer added to their batter, so it stands to reason that an ice-cold beer makes for a great accompaniment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Air Frying Nathan’s Onion Rings
Q. Do I need to defrost the onion rings before cooking?
A. No, you don’t need to defrost them, and in fact, they actually cook up better when air fried from frozen! This allows them to stay nice and crispy rather than potentially getting soggy from the thawing process.
Q. How many onion rings can you cook at once?
A. This will vary depending on the style and capacity of your air fryer. However, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer, and make sure that you only cook a single layer of onion rings at a time.
Q. What do I do with any leftover onion rings?
A. Leftover cooked onion rings can be stored in the fridge for 1-3 days. Make sure to store them in an air-tight container and wrap them in kitchen paper to stop them from going soggy.
Conclusion
In summary, when it comes to how to cook Nathan’s frozen onion rings in air fryer, it’s pretty easy! Not only is it healthier than deep frying, but you get a tasty snack within minutes.
Remember, there are all sorts of battered favorites that also end up amazing when cooked in an air fryer, such as fish, or even fried chicken! Always feel free to experiment and see what else your air fryer can cook to perfection for you.
