Using shake and bake in an air fryer is absolutely possible, but there are some important things to keep in mind to ensure it turns out well. Shake and bake coatings provide a crispy, flavorful exterior, while the air fryer can cook foods quickly with less oil than traditional frying. With some simple preparation and tweaks to cooking time and temperature, you can make shook and bake dishes in the air fryer with delicious results.
What is shake and bake?
Shake and bake refers to a packaged breading mix containing flour, spices, and other dry ingredients that you shake with pieces of meat, fish, or poultry to coat them before baking. Some popular brands include Kraft Shake N Bake and Store Brand Bread Coatings. The coating mix sticks to moist pieces of protein thanks to a small amount of oil in the mix. Then when you bake it, the coating browns and crisps up around the exterior.
Shake and bake provides a quick and easy way to add lots of flavor and crunch to foods using just a simple shake in the bag and standard oven baking. It evolved from the process of dredging meat in flour before pan frying and became popular in the 1950s and 60s as a fast weeknight dinner option.
How does an air fryer work?
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven that uses super heated circulating air to cook foods. The high heat quickly cooks and browns foods by surrounding them completely with hot air. Minimal oil is used compared to deep frying, though a small amount can be added to foods to promote browning and prevent sticking.
Air fryers reach temperatures between 350-400°F, similar to a conventional oven, just in a much smaller space. The confined area and fan allow for very efficient heat transfer and rapid cooking times. Foods come out crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Tips for using shake and bake in an air fryer
Here are some tips to ensure your shake and bake coated foods get perfectly crisp and delicious in the air fryer:
- Use smaller pieces or thin cuts of meat, fish, or poultry so they cook through quickly.
- Let items sit coated in the shake and bake for 5-10 minutes before air frying to help the coating adhere.
- Lightly mist or brush pieces with oil before cooking to promote browning.
- Flip or shuffle items midway during cooking to expose all sides to the hot air.
- Adjust temperature and cook time based on the thickness and density of your protein.
- Brush or spray cooked items with a little oil at the end for extra crisping if needed.
Shake and Bake Air Fryer Cooking Charts
Refer to these air fryer cooking charts when making shake and bake recipes for different types of proteins:
Chicken
| Chicken Cut | Temperature | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken breasts, pounded thin | 370°F | 8-12 minutes |
| Chicken tenders | 370°F | 10-15 minutes |
| Chicken wings | 400°F | 15-20 minutes |
| Chicken thighs | 380°F | 15-20 minutes |
| Chicken drumsticks | 380°F | 20-25 minutes |
Pork
| Pork Cut | Temperature | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pork chops, 1/2 inch thick | 380°F | 10-14 minutes |
| Pork chops, 1 inch thick | 380°F | 14-18 minutes |
| Pork tenderloin, whole | 380°F | 25-35 minutes |
| Pork cubes for kabobs | 400°F | 10-15 minutes |
Fish and Seafood
| Type | Temperature | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fish fillets, 1/2 inch thick | 400°F | 8-12 minutes |
| Shrimp | 400°F | 5-8 minutes |
| Scallops | 400°F | 10-12 minutes |
| Crab cakes | 400°F | 10-15 minutes |
Best foods to use with shake and bake in an air fryer
These foods work exceptionally well coated in shake and bake seasoning and cooked in the air fryer:
- Chicken breasts – Pound chicken breasts thin so they cook quickly. The air fryer makes them super crispy.
- Chicken wings – Toss wings in sauce after air frying if desired. The skin gets perfectly crisp.
- Pork chops – Quick cooking and you can season the chops before coating in shake and bake.
- Fish fillets – Fast cooking makes fish flaky inside with an ultra crunchy exterior.
- Shrimp – Peel, rinse, and pat dry shrimp before coating in shake and bake seasoning.
- Potatoes – Cut potatoes into wedges, cubes or slices, coat in oil and shake and bake.
Recipes for shake and bake in an air fryer
Shake and Bake Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup shake and bake mix
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness.
- Season with salt and pepper. Brush lightly with olive oil.
- Put shake and bake in bag, add chicken breasts, and shake to coat evenly.
- Air fry at 370°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops
Ingredients:
- 2 bone-in pork chops, 1 inch thick
- 1/2 cup shake and bake mix
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Season pork chops with salt and pepper.
- Brush lightly with olive oil then coat in shake and bake.
- Air fry at 380°F for 16-18 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Shake and Bake Fish Sticks
Ingredients:
- 1 lb cod or haddock fillets
- 1/2 cup shake and bake mix
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
- Cut fish fillets into long strips about 1/2 inch thick.
- Pat dry then brush strips lightly with oil.
- Coat fish sticks thoroughly in shake and bake.
- Air fry at 400°F for 6-10 minutes until golden brown and fish flakes easily.
FAQs about Shake and Bake in an Air Fryer
Should you spray the air fryer basket before cooking shake and bake foods?
Yes, lightly spraying or brushing the air fryer basket with oil helps prevent shake and bake coated foods from sticking. The small amount of oil also helps the coating brown evenly.
How do you get a really crispy coating?
Letting items sit coated in shake and bake for 5-10 minutes before cooking allows the breading to fully adhere. Coating foods lightly in flour before adding shake and bake also improves crispness. If needed, mist items with a little oil at the end of cooking time.
Can you put raw chicken in shake and bake then air fry it?
Yes, you can coat raw chicken pieces in shake and bake then place directly in the air fryer basket. The high heat will cook the chicken fully while crisping up the coating.
Should you flip shake and bake foods during air frying?
Flipping or shuffling foods midway during air frying allows both sides to cook and brown evenly. If cooking longer pieces like chicken thighs or pork chops, you may want to flip twice.
What if my shake and bake is not crispy after air frying?
If your shake and bake coating is still soft or soggy, try misting items with a little oil and running the air fryer for 2-3 more minutes. Coating with flour before shake and bake and really pressing the coating onto the food can also help.
Conclusion
Air frying is a quick and easy way to get deliciously crispy shake and bake results with less mess and added oil than traditional oven baking. Allowing items to adhere before cooking and lightly oiling helps the coating crisp up nicely. Adjust air fryer temperature and cook times based on the size and thickness of foods. From chicken wings to fish sticks, shake and bake adds flavorful crunch to all kinds of proteins and sides.