Air-Fryer Catfish: A Healthy, Crispy Treat?

Cooking catfish in an air fryer is a quick, mess-free way to make a tasty, crispy meal. You can use a seasoned breading mix or a combination of flour and cornmeal to coat the fish before frying. You can also use a cooking spray to help achieve a golden colour. The catfish should be cooked in a single layer to ensure the air can circulate properly, and flipped halfway through cooking.

Air fryer catfish cooking time

Yes, you can cook catfish in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on the size of your air fryer, the thickness of the fish, and the temperature you set it to.

If you're cooking catfish fillets, it's recommended that you cook them at 400 degrees F for 20-22 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This will give you a golden brown and crispy exterior with flaky, tender flesh on the inside.

If you're cooking catfish nuggets, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F and place the seasoned catfish pieces in a single layer in the basket. You may need to work in batches. Spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray and air fry for 8 minutes. Then, flip the nuggets and cook for an additional 4 minutes.

You can also coat the catfish with yellow mustard and a mixture of flour and cornmeal before air frying for a crispy texture.

Air fryer catfish temperature

Yes, you can cook catfish in an air fryer. To achieve a golden colour, you can use cooking spray, which contains oil.

To cook catfish in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the catfish in a resealable bag with a seasoned breading mix, close, and shake to coat the fish with breading on all sides. Place the catfish in the air fryer basket in an even layer, sprayed side down. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray. Air fry for 8 minutes. Using tongs, flip the catfish over and cook for 4 more minutes. The catfish should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, with flaky, tender flesh on the inside.

For a full fillet, cook the catfish at 400 degrees F for 20-22 minutes, flipping the catfish halfway through the cooking time to ensure it cooks evenly.

Air fryer catfish coating

Yes, you can cook catfish in an air fryer. To make the perfect air fryer catfish, coat the catfish with yellow mustard and then set it aside. Combine flour, cornmeal, and seafood seasoning in a zip bag. Shake the bag to ensure that the ingredients are well combined. Next, drop the catfish into the zip bag with the cornmeal mixture and shake to ensure that the catfish is nicely coated.

You can also use a seasoned breading mix instead of making your own coating. Place the breading mix in a gallon-size plastic resealable bag. Drop the catfish pieces inside, close the bag, and shake to coat the fish evenly.

Spread the coated catfish in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation. This will help the fish crisp up and achieve a golden brown exterior. For an even crispier texture, spray the catfish with olive oil before air frying.

Air fry the catfish for 11 minutes, then flip it over and spray again with olive oil. Increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) and air fry for an additional 4-5 minutes. The catfish is ready when it is golden brown and crispy on the outside, with flaky, tender flesh on the inside.

Air fryer catfish oil

Yes, you can cook catfish in an air fryer. Using an air fryer to cook catfish is fast, mess-free, and makes perfectly crispy catfish.

To make catfish in an air fryer, coat the catfish with yellow mustard, then set it to the side. Combine the flour, cornmeal, and Seafood Magic in a zip bag. Shake to make sure that everything is well combined. Next, start dropping the catfish into the zip bag with the cornmeal mixture. Shake the bag to make sure that the catfish is nicely coated with the cornmeal mixture.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the catfish pieces inside and cook for 11 minutes. Flip the catfish and spray again with olive oil. Then crank the air fryer temperature up to 400 F and air fry for an additional 4-5 minutes. The catfish should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, with flaky, tender flesh on the inside.

You can also use a non-stick cooking spray to help achieve the golden colour that the fish would have if it was deep-fried.

Air fryer catfish nuggets

Yes, you can cook catfish in an air fryer. Here is a recipe for air fryer catfish nuggets.

Ingredients:

• Catfish
• Seasoned breading mix
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Yellow mustard
• Flour
• Cornmeal
• Seafood Magic

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Coat the catfish with yellow mustard, then set aside.
• Combine the flour, cornmeal, and Seafood Magic in a zip bag. Shake to make sure everything is well combined.
• Drop the catfish into the zip bag with the cornmeal mixture. Shake the bag to ensure the catfish is nicely coated.
• Place the breaded catfish on a baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
• Place the catfish in an even layer in the air fryer basket, sprayed side down. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Air fry for 8 minutes.
• Using tongs, flip the catfish over and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
• The catfish should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, with flaky, tender flesh on the inside.

Tips:

• You can use olive oil or cooking spray to help achieve a golden colour.
• Soaking the fillets in milk can help eliminate any "muddy" flavour that can sometimes come from freshwater fish.
• Always flip the catfish halfway through the cooking time to ensure it cooks evenly.

Frequently asked questions