My air fryer frozen foods cooking times is your ultimate go-to guide for cooking frozen foods quickly and easily in the air fryer. With convenient charts covering frozen breakfast foods, appetizers, vegetables, plant-based meals, meats, and seafood, you’ll get the exact temperatures and cook times you need. Whether you're making frozen French toast sticks, egg rolls, chicken nuggets, or fish fillets, this air fryer time and temp guide with a cooking chart for your favorite types of frozen foods takes the guesswork out of air frying.
Start with my must-know air fryer tips and tricks, then see all my easy air fryer recipes and air fryer cooking times with more charts and great foods to cook in your air fryer.

Jump to:
- Making Air Fryer Conversion Adjustments
- Frozen Appetizers & Snacks Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Frozen Breakfasts Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Frozen Vegetables Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Frozen Meats and Meals Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Frozen Seafood Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Frozen Vegetarian/Plant-Based Foods Air Fryer Cooking Times
- 💭 Tips For Cooking Frozen Foods In The Air Fryer
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Air fryers have completely changed the way I cook frozen foods, making it faster and easier to get crispy, delicious results without firing up the oven or stovetop. Whether tossing in broccoli and veggies, french fries, or mozzarella sticks, knowing the right cooking times and when to shake or flip makes all the difference.
From juicy chicken wings and shrimp to pizza, fish sticks, and meatballs, my air fryer cheat sheet has all your favorite frozen dishes covered. Cook in a single layer inside the air fryer basket for even cooking, better texture, and maximum crispiness.
Making Air Fryer Conversion Adjustments
A general rule of thumb to convert conventional oven cooking to air frying is to reduce the suggested oven temperature by 25°F (5°C) and the cooking time by 20%. Some foods tolerate the oven temp being reduced by up to 50°F (10°C), which would also reduce the cooking time by about 25%.
*Note: The temperatures and cooking times listed below are general guidelines. Actual cook times can vary depending on your air fryer’s make, model, wattage, and size. It’s best to keep an eye on your food and start checking for doneness about 5 minutes before the suggested time is up. Be sure to do this as air-fried foods turn from perfect, crispy food to over-cooked and dried out quickly (faster than conventional cooking methods).
Frozen Appetizers & Snacks Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Appetizers & Snacks | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Mozzarella Sticks | 400°F (205°C) | 6-8 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Onion Rings | 400°F (205°C) | 8-10 minutes | Use tongs to flip onion rings halfway through. |
Egg Rolls | 375°F (190°C) | 10-12 minutes | Use tongs to flip egg rolls halfway through. |
Jalapeno Poppers | 375°F (190°C) | 7-9 minutes | Use tongs to flip poppers after 4-5 minutes. |
Potato Skins | 375°F (190°C) | 6-8 minutes | Cook in a single layer. |
Pretzel Bites | 350°F (175°C) | 5-6 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Chili Cheese Nuggets | 400°F (205°C) | 5-6 minutes | Brush with cooking oil before air frying & shake halfway through. |
Pizza Rolls | 380°F (195°C) | 7-8 minutes | Shake or flip halfway through. |
Mac and Cheese Bites | 400°F (205°C) | 8-10 minutes | Shake or flip halfway through. |
Waffle Fries | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Shake frequently, add a few minutes for extra crispy fries. |
Potato Wedges | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
French Fries | 400°F (205°C) | 12-15 minutes | Shake halfway through, cook longer for crispier fries. |
Sweet Potato Fries | 360°F (180°C) | 15-18 minutes | Cook for 10 min. Toss the fries & cook 5-8 min. more. |
Curly Fries | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Toss or shake halfway through. |
Tater Tots | 400°F (205°C) | 9-10 minutes | Toss or shake halfway through. |
Pretzels | 320°F (195°C) | 3-4 minutes | Cook until warm and soft. |
Garlic Bread | 380°F (195°C) | 5-6 minutes | Cook until warm and soft. |
Dinner Rolls | 380°F (195°C) | 5-7 minutes | Cook until warm and soft. |
Potstickers | 375°F (190°C) | 10 minutes | Shake or flip halfway through. |
Breadsticks | 375°F (190°C) | 5-7 minutes | Use tongs to turn halfway. |
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Frozen Breakfasts Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Breakfast Foods | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Pancakes | 350°F (175°C) | 5–6 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Mini Pancakes | 350°F (175°C) | 4-5 minutes | No need to flip if cooking in a single layer. |
Waffles | 360°F (180°C) | 6-7 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
French Toast Sticks | 375°F (190°C) | 5-7 minutes | Shake or flip halfway through. |
Breakfast Sandwiches | 350°F (175°C) | 8-10 minutes | Wrap in foil for a softer texture or leave unwrapped. |
Hash Brown Patties | 400°F (205°C) | 10-12 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Hash Browns (Shredded) | 375°F (190°C) | 7-9 minutes | Shake or stir halfway through. |
Sausage Patties | 375°F (190°C) | 6–8 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Sausage Links | 375°F (190°C) | 5-6 minutes | Shake or turn halfway through. |
Bacon | 360°F (180°C) | 8–10 minutes | Cook in a single layer & drain grease as needed. |
Breakfast Burritos | 370°F (190°C) | 10-12 minutes | Turn halfway through, wrap in foil if needed to prevent over-browning. |
Frozen Vegetables Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Vegetables | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Green Beans | 375°F (190°C) | 10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Broccoli Florets | 380°F (195°C) | 6-7 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Cauliflower Florets | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Corn on the Cob | 400°F (205°C) | 12 minutes | Use tongs to turn halfway through. |
Peas | 350°F (175°C) | 8-10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Mixed Vegetables | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Asparagus | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Carrots | 380°F (195°C) | 10-12 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Brussel Sprouts | 380°F (195°C) | 18-20 minutes | Toss halfway through. |
Mushrooms | 360°F (180°C) | 18 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Vegetable Fries | 400°F (205°C) | 12 minutes | Toss the fries halfway through. |
Breaded Okra | 400°F (205°C) | 12-14 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Frozen Meats and Meals Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Meats & Meals | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Chicken Wings | 380°F (195°C) | 20 minutes | Use tongs to flip wings halfway through. After 20 min., increase temp to 400°F (205°C) to crisp. |
Popcorn Chicken | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Shake or turn halfway through. |
Chicken Nuggets | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Flip nuggets halfway through. |
Chicken Tenders | 390°F (190°C) | 5 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Chicken Fries | 400°F (205°C) | 8-10 minutes | Shake or turn halfway through. |
Burger Patties | 380°F (195°C) | 10-12 minutes | Depends on the thickness of your burger patties; flip halfway through. |
Meatballs | 380°F (195°C) | 8-10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Corn Dogs | 380°F (195°C) | 11 minutes | Shake or turn halfway through. |
Personal Pizzas | 380°F (195°C) | 7-8 minutes | Cover with foil for the first 5 minutes to prevent burning, then uncover for the final 2-3 minutes. |
Taquitos | 400°F (205°C) | 5-6 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Hot Pockets | 360°F (180°C) | 15 minutes | Use tongs to flip halfway through. |
Country Fried Steak | 380°F (195°C) | 10-12 minutes | Use tongs to flip halfway through. |
Burritos | 380°F (195°C) | 10 minutes | Use tongs to flip halfway through. |
Mini Tacos | 400°F (205°C) | 5 minutes | Preheat for 5 minutes before cooking mini tacos. |
Empanadas | 360°F (180°C) | 10-12 minutes | Flip halfway through. Mini empanadas will only take 7 minutes. |
Dumplings | 400°F (205°C) | 12 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Frozen Seafood Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Seafood | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Shrimp | 400°F (205°C) | 6 minutes | 10 min. cooking time for raw frozen shrimp, 6 min. for cooked frozen shrimp. |
Popcorn Shrimp | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Toss shrimp halfway through. |
Coconut Shrimp | 390°F (200°C) | 8 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Fish Sticks | 400°F (205°C) | 8 minutes | Flip or shake the basket halfway through. |
Tilapia Filets | 375°F (190°C) | 10 minutes | Thawed filets will take closer to 6 minutes. |
Tuna Steaks | 380°F (195°C) | 8-10 minutes | Use a spatula to flip halfway through. |
Salmon Filets | 380°F (195°C) | 10-12 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Breaded Fish Filets | 400°F (205°C) | 15 minutes | Use tongs to flip halfway through. |
Bay Scallops | 400°F (205°C) | 5-7 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Sea Scallops | 400°F (205°C) | 8 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Calamari | 380°F (195°C) | 5-7 minutes | Shake basket halfway through. |
Crab Cakes | 380°F (195°C) | 12 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Seafood Medley | 380°F (195°C) | 15 minutes | Toss the seafood halfway through. |
Salmon Burgers | 380°F (195°C) | 12 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Crab Rangoons | 350°F (175°C) | 6 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Frozen Vegetarian/Plant-Based Foods Air Fryer Cooking Times
Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Foods | Temperature | Time | Special Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
Meatless Chicken Nuggets | 400°F (205°C) | 8-10 minutes | Flip or shake the basket halfway through. |
Meatless Meatballs | 400°F (205°C) | 10 minutes | Flip or shake the basket halfway through. |
Veggie Burgers | 400°F (205°C) | 10-12 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Plant-Based Chicken Tenders | 400°F (205°C) | 12-14 minutes | Use tongs to flip halfway through. |
Plant-Based Chicken Patties | 400°F (205°C) | 12-13 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Fishless Filets | 400°F (205°C) | 12-14 minutes | Flip halfway through. |
Meatless Chicken Strips | 400°F (200°C) | 6-7 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Plant-Based Sausage Patties | 400°F (200°C) | 8-10 minutes | Use a spatula to flip halfway through. |
Tofu | 400°F (200°C) | 8-10 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Falafel (Afia brand) | 400°F (200°C) | 6-7 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through. |
Vegan Turk'y Roast | 400°F (200°C) | 100 minutes | 90 min. wrapped in foil, then 10 min. uncovered. |
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💭 Tips For Cooking Frozen Foods In The Air Fryer
- Air fryers vary, and so will the cooking times. Larger air fryers often require a bit more time to cook foods evenly, while compact models cook a little faster. A great moment to check progress is at the halfway point when flipping or shaking the food.
- Don’t thaw frozen foods. Unless the recipe specifically says to. Most frozen items are designed to cook straight from the freezer. Frozen fish or uncooked meats are typically thawed first, but almost everything else can go straight into your air fryer.
- Don't use nonstick cooking spray (like PAM) in your air fryer. Most nonstick cooking sprays contain propellants and additives that don’t evaporate during cooking. Over time, these can leave behind a sticky residue that builds up and damages the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket, causing it to degrade or peel. Silicone air fryer mats or liners are also ideal for non-stick air fryer cooking.
- Use a refillable oil mister or brush on high-smoke-point oils. Vegetable oils like avocado, canola, or light olive oil, or use melted butter or ghee, tallow, duck fat, or bacon grease for animal-based fats. These oils coat your food evenly without harming your basket’s nonstick surface. You can even lightly spritz your food with oil to enhance browning and crispness. This is a great trick for fries, egg rolls, and battered items for a 'fried' crispiness.
- Line the basket with parchment paper or foil. If cooking something messy or cheesy, poke holes in aluminum foil or parchment paper and use it to line your air fryer basket. This should be done after preheating once the food is in place.
- When in doubt, use a digital meat thermometer. Check any air-fried food's internal temperature at its thickest point(s) to ensure that it is cooked to the appropriate temperature.
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Frozen Foods Cooking Times
Ingredients
- 12 oz frozen french fries
- ¼ teaspoon salt (to taste)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Choose your food, such as 12 oz frozen french fries, and find the cooking time in the charts on this page.
- Preheat your air fryer if instructed to do so, then add your frozen french fries (in a single layer if possible) in the air fryer basket. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt or seasoning salt if desired.
- Set your air fryer for the cooking time in the tables above (12-15 minutes for frozen french fries) and start cooking the fries.
- Half way into the cooking time, about 6-7 minutes, pull the air fryer basket out and shake the fries or use tongs to flip them over for even cooking.
- If you'd like your fries extra crispy, cook them for a few extra minutes but watch them closely so that they don't burn.
- Remove from the air fryer basket carefully and serve immediately.
Notes
- Cooking times vary by air fryer, so check food halfway.
- Cook most foods directly from frozen.
- Avoid aerosol nonstick sprays; instead, lightly brush food with a high-smoke-point oil like avocado or canola for crispiness.
- For messy items, line the preheated basket with pierced parchment or foil.
- Always use a digital thermometer to check for safe internal temperatures.
Angela Latimer says
I love using the air fryer for quick and easy snack, side dish, and entree wins! I hope you find all of these times helpful for your air fryer cooking. ~ Angela