Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier way to cook foods, especially frozen convenience foods and french fries. But can they cook fresh fish well? Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of using an air fryer to cook fish and help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven that uses hot air to cook food. The high-speed circulating hot air produces a crispy texture similar to deep frying. Air fryers cook food by rapidly moving hot air around the food, helping to create a crispy outer layer using little to no oil.
Compared to deep frying, using an air fryer can reduce the fat and calories by 70-80%. This makes it popular for cooking foods in a bit healthier way. Air fryers are convenient appliances for quickly cooking frozen foods like french fries, chicken nuggets, etc. Many models have functions for broiling, roasting, and baking in addition to air frying.
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer for Fish
There are a few potential benefits to using an air fryer to cook fish:
- Requires little to no oil – Air frying creates a crispy texture without submerging food in oil, so you don’t need to use much or any oil. This reduces overall fat and calories.
- Fast cooking time – Air fryers can cook food very quickly, often much faster than baking or broiling in the oven.
- Easy – Simple to operate, with adjustable temperature and timer settings.
- Doesn’t heat up kitchen – Since it’s small, it doesn’t make the kitchen hot like using the oven does.
- Makes fish crispy – The circulating hot air can give a nice crispy texture to fish fillets or other pieces of fish.
- Potentially more evenly cooked – The hot air surrounds the food from all sides, which may cook some types of fish more evenly.
The fast cook time and lack of needing oil make an air fryer a quick and convenient option. The crispy texture produced can give fish a nice outside crunch without deep frying. For types of fish with a thicker, flakier texture like salmon or cod, the air fryer may help cook the fish evenly throughout.
Downsides to Air Frying Fish
However, there are also some drawbacks to keep in mind when cooking fish in an air fryer:
- Small capacity – Air fryers generally only hold 2-5 servings of food at once.
- Not ideal for larger fish – Whole fish or large fillets may not fit properly in the air fryer basket.
- Can dry out fish – The high heat and air flow can quickly dry foods out if not monitored closely.
- Breading/coatings may not adhere well – Air flow can blow off breading or seasoning coatings.
- Delicate fish may fall apart – Thin or delicate fillets like flounder may break apart easily.
- Must frequently shake/flip fish – Air fryers require shaking the basket or flipping fish frequently for even cooking.
- Temperature and time can be tricky – It can take testing different heat and time settings to get fish cooked properly without overcooking.
The small capacity and need for monitoring during cooking make air fryers less ideal for cooking fish for larger groups or dinner parties. Delicate types of white fish likely won’t hold up as well either. Breading also may not adhere properly if not prepared correctly before air frying.
Best Practices for Air Frying Fish
If you do want to try making fish in an air fryer, here are some tips to help it turn out well:
- Use oil or spray – Brush fish all over with oil or spray with a light coat of oil to help prevent sticking and drying out.
- Lower temperature – Cook at 300-400°F to prevent burning or overcooking; fish cooks quickly.
- Foil sling or basket – Use a foil sling under fish or an air fryer basket liner to make flipping easier.
- Flip halfway – Flip fish fillets halfway through cooking for even browning and cooking through.
- Thicker fish work best – Fatter fish like salmon, halibut, sea bass, or cod hold up better than thin, delicate fish.
- Cut in pieces – Cut fillets into smaller strips or pieces to fit better in the air fryer.
- Pre-cook breading – For breaded fish, parcook breading separately first before air frying.
- Spray breading – Lightly spray breaded fish with oil to help adhere crumbs.
- Test doneness – Use a food thermometer and cook until fish reaches 145°F.
Following these tips will help prevent fish from sticking, drying out, or falling apart when air frying. Using appropriate cuts of fish and properly preparing breaded fish can lead to much better results.
Types of Fish to Air Fry
While most white fleshed fish will work in an air fryer, some varieties hold up better than others. Here are good options to try:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Halibut
- Cod
- Sea bass
- Mahi mahi
- Trout
- Haddock
- Tilapia
- Orange roughy
- Snapper
Fattier fish like salmon, tuna, and halibut have enough oils to stay moist in the dry heat of an air fryer. Thick steaks or fillets also hold their shape better. More delicate white fish like sole or flounder may not fare as well.
Common Air Fried Fish Recipes
Once you get the technique down, there are endless possibilities for air frying fish. Here are just a few recipe ideas to get started:
Lemon-Herb Salmon
Salmon fillets or steaks seasoned with garlic, lemon, parsley, salt, and pepper. Delicious served over greens or with roasted vegetables.
Crunchy Parm Crusted Tilapia
Tilapia fillets dredged in parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and herbs for a crispy coating.
Cajun Blackened Mahi Mahi
Mahi mahi fillets coated in Cajun seasoning give a quick blackened fish taco dinner.
Fish Sticks
For a kid-friendly meal, cut white fish like cod or haddock into sticks, coat in breadcrumbs, and air fry until crispy.
Fish Tacos
Air fried seasoned white fish on corn tortillas with cabbage slaw make fast and easy fish tacos.
Coconut Shrimp
Butterfly shrimp coated in coconut flakes for a tropical twist on crispy coconut shrimp.
Tips for Buying Fish for Air Frying
To get the best results when air frying fish, start by purchasing high quality fresh or thawed frozen fish. Here’s what to look for:
- Purchase thicker cuts – Thicker fish steaks or fillets over 1 inch hold up better. Thinner fish can overcook quickly.
- Avoid thin tail sections – Stick to fillets from the center of the fish.
- Pick firm fish – Fish should be shiny and firm without dullness or excessive moisture.
- Check for fresh smell – Fish should smell mildly like the ocean without any fishiness or ammonia odor.
- Use within 2 days – Cook fresh fish within a day or two for best flavor and texture.
- Fully thaw frozen fish – Thaw frozen fish completely in the refrigerator before air frying.
Starting with fresh, high-quality fish makes a big difference in preventing dryness or overcooking when air frying.
Conclusion
While air fryers may not be the most ideal small appliance for cooking all types of fish, they can produce delicious results with the right techniques. Fattier fish with thicker fillets tend to cook up crisp on the outside while staying moist inside when air fried. With some trial and error to get the temperature and timing right, air fryers can be a quick and convenient option for cooking fish for small groups or families. Just watch closely to prevent overcooking and be prepared to flip or shake fish frequently for even browning. Follow the tips here to make the most of cooking fish in your air fryer.