Is fish better in an air fryer?

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthy way to cook foods with less oil. Fish can be perfectly cooked in an air fryer with a light crispy crust and tender, flaky interior. But is cooking fish in an air fryer actually better than traditional cooking methods? Here we’ll examine the pros and cons of air frying fish and help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Air Frying Fish

There are several potential benefits to using an air fryer for fish:

Uses less oil – Air fryers require just a teaspoon or two of oil to crisp up foods, whereas pan frying fish can use multiple tablespoons. This significantly reduces the amount of fat and calories.
Quick and easy – Air fryers preheat rapidly, and fish cooks fast at the high temperatures. Dinner can be on the table in 15-20 minutes.
Even cooking – The circulating hot air surrounds food evenly, preventing hot spots or uneven doneness.

Crispy exterior – The hot dry air will give fish skin or breading a delightfully crispy texture.
Retains moisture – Despite the crisp exterior, the fish interior will stay tender and moist thanks to the shorter cooking time.
Versatile – All types of fish fillets, fish sticks and other breaded seafood can be cooked to perfection.

Easy cleanup – Air fryers have a nonstick basket that cleans up easily after cooking.

For those watching fat intake or who simply want quick and easy fish dinners, an air fryer can be very appealing.

Potential Drawbacks

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if an air fryer is best for cooking fish:

Small batches – Air fryer baskets only hold 2-3 servings of food at once, requiring multiple batches for larger families.
Not ideal for all fish – Delicate fish like sole or flounder works best. Oilier varieties like salmon may not turn out as crispy.
Can dry out – Leaving fish in too long may lead to overly dry flesh, so monitoring of cook times is important.

Breading complications – Breading doesn’t always adhere as well in an air fryer compared to pan frying.
Prone to overcooking – The intense heat of an air fryer makes it easy to accidentally overcook if you’re not careful.

For certain types of fish and recipes, traditional stove top cooking or baking may be a better choice to ensure ideal doneness and texture.

Tips for Air Frying Fish

If you want to give air frying fish a try, keep these tips in mind:

Use oil sparingly – Lightly brush or spray fish with oil instead of drenching for best texture.
Flip halfway – Flipping fish fillets halfway through prevents one side from overcooking.

Don’t overcrowd – Leave space between pieces so air can circulate and crisp all sides.
Use breadcrumbs – Panko or other coarsely ground breadcrumbs hold up best in the air fryer.
Spray breaded items – Mist a light coat of oil over breaded fish sticks or nuggets to help browning.

Check early – Begin checking doneness several minutes before recommended cook times.
Let rest before serving – A brief rest lets moisture redistribute for tender, flaky fish.

Best Fish to Air Fry

These varieties of fish work exceptionally well in the air fryer:

Cod – Cod fillets stay tender and juicy inside with an ultra-crisp coating.
Haddock – The soft flakes of haddock retain moisture well during air frying.
Tilapia – Fast-cooking and sturdy tilapia fillets develop a delicious crunch.

Sole – Thin sole fillets cook up lightly crisped and delicious.
Halibut – The steak-like texture of halibut is perfect for air frying methods.
Catfish – Fried catfish is replicated with fewer calories and less time in the air fryer.

Basa – Basa and other flaky whitefish stay tender and juicy when air fried.

Worst Fish for Air Frying

On the other hand, these fish are not well-suited for air frying:

Salmon – The high fat content of salmon causes it to not get as crispy from air frying.

Tuna – Tuna steaks do not typically benefit from the crisping effect of an air fryer.
Swordfish – The dense, meaty texture of swordfish often fares better with other cooking methods.
Arctic Char – This fatty fish tends to dry out too much when air fried.

Trout – Whole trout and trout fillets are prone to overcooking in the hot air fryer.

For oily fish or rich cuts like tuna steaks, you’re often better off using traditional grilling, broiling or pan searing to achieve the right texture.

Air Fryer vs. Oven Baked Fish

How does air fried fish compare to fish cooked in the oven? Here’s a brief comparison:

Air Fryer	Oven Baked
Cooks much faster, usually 10-15 minutes	Slower cooking, can take 30+ minutes
Crispier exterior from hot circulating air	Less crisp exterior unless breading is used
Prone to drying out if overcooked	More gentle heat helps retain moisture
Small batches only	Can accommodate more food at once
More hands on time, flipping required	Set and forget simplicity

Air frying produces crispier fish in much less time, but oven baking is better for cooking large quantities without as much risk of overcooking. Depending on your needs, one may be more suitable than the other.

Sample Air Fryer Fish Recipes

Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Tilapia

Ingredients:

4 tilapia fillets

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning
Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

Pat tilapia fillets dry and brush lightly with olive oil.
Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning evenly on both sides, pressing to adhere.

Arrange fillets in air fryer basket without overlapping.
Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes until opaque and flaky.
Serve tilapia immediately with lemon wedges.

Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Ingredients:

1 lb cod or haddock fillets, cut into sticks
1 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt
Tartar sauce, for serving

Instructions:

Cut fish fillets into long sticks about 1/2-inch thick.
Place flour in one shallow bowl, beaten eggs in another, and panko in a third.
Dredge fish sticks in flour, dip in egg, then coat with panko mixture.

Mist fish sticks with oil spray and place in air fryer basket.
Air fry at 400°F for 4-5 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway.
Serve hot with tartar sauce for dipping.

Baked Catfish Nuggets

Ingredients:

1 lb catfish fillets, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup milk

1 cup cornmeal
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

Cut catfish into bite-size nugget pieces and soak in milk for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, mix cornmeal, Cajun seasoning, pepper and salt.
Drain catfish pieces and dredge in cornmeal mixture, pressing to adhere.

Mist nuggets with olive oil and place in air fryer basket.
Air fry at 380°F for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

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 fillets. Here’s what to look for:

Look for firm flesh – Fish should be translucent looking without signs of drying or discoloration.
Ensure proper thickness – 1/2 to 1 inch thick fillets hold up best. Thinner fish dries out.

Get skinless – Skin can inhibit crispiness and be harder to eat. Skinless is ideal.
Buy uniform sizes – Similar sized pieces cook evenly. Avoid tail ends.
Get odor free – Fresh fish shouldn’t smell overly fishy or ammonia-like.

The day of cooking, pat fish dry with paper towels and allow to come up to room temperature before breading and air frying for the juiciest interior and crispiest exterior.

Cleaning Your Air Fryer After Cooking Fish

One downside to cooking fish in an air fryer is the lingering odor it can leave behind. Be sure to clean the appliance thoroughly after each use.

Unplug and allow air fryer to cool completely before cleaning.

Remove basket and wash in hot soapy water, scrubbing to remove any stuck on bits.
Clean inside fryer cabinet with a cloth and all-purpose cleaner.
For smells, wipe down inside with equal parts water and distilled white vinegar.

Air dry all parts fully before reassembling air fryer.
Run empty air fryer for 5-10 minutes at high heat to burn off any residue.

Repeating this process after each fish fry will keep the interior and exterior of your air fryer fresh and odor free.

Is Air Fried Fish Healthier?

One of the biggest proposed benefits of air frying is its health advantage over traditionally fried foods. But does air fried fish stack up better nutritionally? Here’s a comparison of a serving of air fried cod to a serving of deep fried cod:

Nutrition Facts	Air Fried Cod (100g)	Deep Fried Cod (100g)
Calories	144	218
Fat	4g	12g
Saturated Fat	1g	2g
Sodium	101mg	112mg
Carbohydrates	0g	12g

As the data shows, air frying results in a significantly lower fat and calorie count compared to deep frying. The minimal amount of oil needed still allows for a crispy coating, but keeps the fish healthier overall.

Conclusion

While not necessarily the best cooking method for all fish, using an air fryer can produce delicious results with many varieties of fish. The crispy texture and reduced fat content make it an appealing option for health conscious cooks or those looking for fast weeknight meals. Pay close attention to cook times, and air frying can yield tender fish fillets or crispy fish sticks the whole family will love.

Give air fried fish a try, and enjoy all the flavors and textures without the excess oil and calories of deep frying!