In a large mixing bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar.
Let it sit for 4 to 5 minutes until the yeast is activated and foamy.
Add oil, flour, and salt.
Mix until all ingredients are combined, and no more dry flour is visible. The dough will form a ball. It will be tacky (the dough will feel cool, but when pressing in it will feel wet but not leave any dough residue on your finger), but not sticky (sticky will leave some dough on your finger when pressing on it).
Once the flour is almost combined, you can use your hand to finish incorporating the flour into the dough.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, draft-free environment for 1 hour.
On a clean surface, lightly flour, (I like to use a baking mat) and place the dough.
Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces.
Roll each piece into a ball.
Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with parchment paper
Place the dough balls in the air fryer basket on top of the parchment paper.
Place the basket back in the air fryer, don’t turn the air fryer on, and let it rise for another 45 minutes.
After 25 minutes into the second rise, brush the eggwash (beat 1 egg in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon water) on the rolls.
Place back into the air fryer OFF for another 20 minutes.
Start the air fryer at 320 degrees F for 10 minutes
The dinner rolls are done when the internal temperature has reached 190 degrees F.
Cool for a few minutes.
Notes
Storage:To keep leftover dinner rolls, let them cool to room temperature. Then, place them in an airtight container—a ziploc bag actually works best. Leave leftover rolls on the counter and enjoy within one or two days or freeze for up to 3 months.Tips:
Use a bench scraper or a long piece of unscented dental floss to easily and quickly cut dough into portions.
Don't add the salt in step one while the yeast activates. It can harm the yeast and prevent it from getting foamy.
If you don't have a thermometer to check the temperature of the water, judge it as best you can. It should feel like warm bath water. Not too hot, but definitely warm.
You can use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, or a large mixing bowl and either a dough whisk or wooden spoon.
Don't attempt to combine the flour mixture with an electric hand mixer. The dough is too thick and can burn out the motor.
In the recipe, please note that the rolls rise a second time in the air fryer. At this point, the air fryer should still be turned off.
Make sure the parchment paper covers the bottom of the basket and the side. Not too high as you don’t want the parchment paper to catch in the element.
DO NOT preheat the air fryer with only the parchment in it. Parchment paper will burn if heated alone in the air fryer. Don't add it to the bottom of the air fryer basket during the preheating process.
You can also cook the rolls in an aluminum foil baking pan (instead of on parchment paper.) It makes fluffy dinner rolls that are more of a pull-apart bread style.
If you don't eat eggs or don't have any, use a pastry brush to spread some milk (or a non-dairy milk alternative) on top of the rolls, instead.