Air-Frying Tempura: Is It Possible?

Tempura is a Japanese method of lightly battering and deep-frying foods, typically seafood or vegetables. It is known for its lacy, crispy batter. The batter is usually made with flour, egg, and water, and the water must be ice-cold to achieve the perfect light and puffy texture. While deep-frying is the traditional method, it is possible to achieve similar results with an air fryer. The key challenge when making tempura in an air fryer is the batter, which needs to be just right to avoid sticking to the air fryer basket or dripping to the bottom.

Air fryer tempura batter tips

Air-fried tempura is a delicious and healthy alternative to deep-fried tempura. You can make it with a variety of vegetables, seafood, or meat. The key to getting it right is the batter. Here are some tips to help you achieve the perfect tempura batter in an air fryer:

Thickness of the batter

The batter for tempura is typically thin and runny. However, in an air fryer, a thin batter may drip off the food or be blown around by the circulating hot air. To prevent this, make a batter that is slightly thicker than usual. You can do this by using less liquid or adding a little more flour.

Ice-cold water

Use ice-cold water in your batter. This slows down gluten formation, making the batter lighter and puffier. Some recipes even call for carbonated water or cold beer to add crispness to the batter.

Double-coating

For a crispier texture, try double-coating your food. Dip your food in the batter, let the excess drip off, then dust it with flour before frying. This creates a breaded layer that holds the wet batter in place.

Chopsticks

If you want to go the traditional route, use chopsticks to gently mix your batter. This ensures you don't over-mix it, which can happen easily with a whisk or electric mixer.

Fry immediately

Once you've prepared your batter, work quickly. The carbonation in the water or the air beaten into the batter can escape, causing your batter to deflate. Have your air fryer preheated and ready to go before you start dipping your food.

Don't overcrowd the basket

When air frying tempura, it's important to give the hot air enough space to circulate. Place your food in the basket in a single layer, leaving some space between each piece. You may need to cook your tempura in batches.

Tempura shrimp preparation

Tempura shrimp is a Japanese dish that can be made in an air fryer. It is a quick and easy way to get your tempura fix without deep frying. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing tempura shrimp in an air fryer:

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

Firstly, you can make shallow slices crosswise along the underside of the shrimp. Then, using your fingers, stretch out the shrimp so that it lies straight instead of curled. Traditional shrimp tempura is always straight, but you can skip this step if you are not concerned about presentation. The taste will remain the same.

Step 2: Prepare the Battering Mixture

There are various battering mixtures you can use. One option is to mix water, mayonnaise, and flour. You can also add salt to taste. Another option is to whisk together cornstarch, flour, club soda, and a beaten egg. You can also add some baking powder to the wet batter to make it fluffier. For a more complex flavour, whisk together soy sauce, sherry, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, scallions, sugar, lemon juice, and ginger stir-in paste.

Step 3: Prepare the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit (175-200 degrees Celsius). You can also coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray or use a piece of parchment paper to line the basket and prevent the batter from dripping.

Step 4: Batter the Shrimp

Dip the shrimp into the batter, ensuring they are evenly coated. Allow any excess batter to drip off before placing the shrimp into the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket.

Step 5: Cook the Shrimp

Cook the battered shrimp in the air fryer for around 8 minutes, or until the desired level of crispness is reached. You can serve the shrimp with a dipping sauce, such as sweet chilli sauce.

It is important to note that tempura batter is typically thin and can be challenging to work with in an air fryer. To prevent the batter from dripping, you can dust the battered shrimp with flour before placing them in the air fryer. Additionally, it is recommended to cook frozen shrimp directly in the air fryer without defrosting them first, as defrosting can affect the texture and crispness of the batter.

Tempura vegetables preparation

Tempura is a Japanese dish that consists of shrimp and/or vegetables dipped in a batter and then deep-fried. The air fryer makes it easy to cook tempura vegetables with less oil. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing Tempura vegetables:

Step 1: Prepare the vegetables

Slice your root vegetables of choice to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. You can use sweet potatoes, green beans, asparagus, red onions, sweet peppers, avocados, or zucchini. Soak the root veggies in water to wash off excess starch while you prepare other foods.

Step 2: Prepare the batter

The tricky part about making tempura in an air fryer is getting the batter right. Tempura batter is usually thin and doesn't set until it hits hot oil. In an air fryer, a thin batter will fly off the food or drip down to the bottom of the basket. To prevent this, make sure your batter is not too liquidy. You can also dip your battered vegetables in flour to create a breaded layer that will hold the batter in place.

• Beat egg whites in a bowl until frothy.
• Whisk in seltzer water until combined.
• Whisk in flour, seasoning, salt, and pepper until a batter forms.

Step 3: Preheat the air fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). You can also preheat your oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) to keep the vegetables warm after frying.

Step 4: Fry the vegetables

Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Dip the vegetables into the batter and let any excess drip off. Arrange the battered vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 5: Serve

Transfer the vegetables to the oven to keep them warm. Repeat the frying process with the remaining vegetables. Serve the tempura vegetables as-is or with any dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Air fryer settings for tempura

Preparing tempura in an air fryer can be tricky because the batter is thin and tends to drip off the food or stick to the basket. However, with the right techniques and settings, it is possible to make delicious tempura in an air fryer.

Air Fryer Temperature

Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to around 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit (175-200 degrees Celsius) for cooking tempura. However, some recipes suggest lower temperatures, such as 370 degrees Fahrenheit for shrimp tempura. It is important to note that the temperature setting may vary slightly depending on the model of your air fryer and your personal preferences for crispiness.

Air Fryer Basket Preparation

Before placing the battered food in the air fryer, it is crucial to prepare the basket properly. Spraying the basket generously with cooking oil or lining it with parchment paper can help prevent sticking and make cleaning easier. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that the basket is not overcrowded, allowing the hot air to circulate properly and cook the tempura evenly.

Cooking Time

The cooking time for tempura in an air fryer will vary depending on the type of food being cooked and the desired level of doneness. For vegetables, the cooking time is typically around 8-10 minutes, while shrimp may take 12-15 minutes or slightly less, around 3-5 minutes, for a lighter cook. It is important to keep an eye on the tempura during cooking and adjust the time as needed to avoid overcooking or burning.

Additional Tips

To ensure the best results, here are some additional tips for making tempura in an air fryer:

• Use a batter that is not too thin or liquidy. Adding a small amount of flour to the batter can help thicken it and prevent dripping.
• Dip the battered food in flour before placing it in the air fryer to create a breaded layer that holds the batter in place.
• For shrimp tempura, make shallow slices on the underside of the shrimp and stretch them out to achieve the traditional straight shape.
• Use ice-cold water in the batter to slow down gluten formation, resulting in a lighter and puffier texture.
• If using an egg-based batter, beat the egg whites until frothy before adding other ingredients.
• For extra flavour and crunch, consider adding seasonings such as sesame seeds, ground ginger, or shredded coconut to the flour or panko mixture.

Tempura batter alternatives

Tempura batter is typically made from a mixture of flour, egg, and water, but there are several alternatives you can use to achieve a similar result in an air fryer. Here are some suggestions:

Adjusting the Consistency

The key challenge when making tempura in an air fryer is that the batter tends to be too thin and liquidy, causing it to drip off the food. To address this, you can make the batter slightly thicker by reducing the amount of water used or adding more flour. This will create a stiffer batter that adheres better to the food without becoming soggy.

Chilling the Batter

Keeping the batter cold is essential for achieving the right consistency. Chilling the batter helps to prevent the overdevelopment of gluten, resulting in a crispier texture. Use ice-cold water or even replace the water with cold beer to achieve this effect.

Carbonated Liquid

Using carbonated liquid, such as seltzer water or sparkling water, can add air bubbles to the batter, creating a lighter and crispier texture. This technique is commonly used in Japanese cooking to create a lacy, crispy batter.

Dusting with Flour

After coating the food with batter, try dusting it with a light coating of flour. This extra layer can help the batter adhere better and may also absorb some of the moisture, reducing dripping.

Pre-Frying Coating

Before dipping the food in the batter, try coating it with a thin layer of potato starch or cornstarch. This helps the batter stick to the food and can improve the overall crispiness of the final product.

Egg Alternatives

For those with egg allergies, flax eggs or an egg substitute like mayonnaise can be used as an alternative. The mayo trick is especially useful for small batches, as it helps the batter stick to the food.

Frequently asked questions