Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This ensures that the prawn crackers will start cooking and puffing up as soon as they hit the basket.
While the air fryer is preheating, take your uncooked prawn crackers and lay them out on a flat surface. If they are very large, you may need to cook them in batches.
Using a pastry brush, lightly coat each prawn cracker with olive oil or high-heat oil. Ensure a very light coating to avoid making the crackers greasy; you just want enough oil to help them crisp up.
Place the oiled prawn crackers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping to allow for even cooking and puffing.
Cook the prawn crackers for about 2-3 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Keep a close eye on them, as they will puff up and cook very quickly. Depending on your air fryer model, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
Once the crackers have puffed up and achieved a light golden color, remove them from the air fryer. They should be crispy and airy.
Allow the prawn crackers to cool for a minute before serving. They can be enjoyed on their own or with your choice of dipping sauce, such as sweet chili sauce or a vinegar-based dip.
If cooking in batches, repeat the process with the remaining prawn crackers, ensuring the air fryer is preheated before each batch.