Air-Fryer Fish: No Breadcrumbs, Still Delicious?

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to traditional frying methods, offering a quick and easy way to cook fish with minimal oil. The air fryer's magic lies in its ability to circulate hot air rapidly in a small space, resulting in even and faster cooking than a conventional oven. This cooking method is suitable for a variety of fish types, from salmon to cod, and can be used with or without breading. The key to success is ensuring the fish fillets are not overcrowded in the basket, allowing for that desirable crispy texture on the outside and a soft, flaky interior.

Cooking Fish in an Air Fryer Without Breadcrumbs

Fish types: Opt for thin, white, and flaky fish, like cod, haddock, or pollock

When choosing a type of fish to cook in an air fryer without breading, opt for thin, white, and flaky fish like cod, haddock, or pollock. These types of fish are perfect for air frying as they cook quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, flaky interior.

Cod is a popular choice for air frying due to its versatility and ease of preparation. It can be cooked with or without the skin, and you can use either Pacific cod or Atlantic cod. Before cooking, be sure to pat the cod fillets dry and season them with salt and pepper, or a seasoning blend like Old Bay. You can also brush the fillets with lemon juice for added flavour. Place the cod fillets in a preheated air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

Haddock, a member of the cod family, is another excellent option for air frying. It is a clean white fish with a firm, flavorful, and flaky fillet. Similar to cod, haddock can be seasoned simply with salt and pepper or with additional ingredients like paprika, parsley, dill, thyme, garlic, or onion powder. Air fry haddock fillets at 380°F for 5 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and flake easily with a fork.

Pollock is also a great choice for air frying. It is a versatile fish that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Like cod and haddock, pollock can be seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked in the air fryer until flaky and tender. You can also get creative and experiment with different seasonings and sauces to suit your taste preferences.

In addition to cod, haddock, and pollock, other thin, white, and flaky fish that can be cooked in an air fryer include halibut, hake, whiting, tilapia, and catfish. Remember to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the fish and always ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F (62-63°C) for safe consumption.

Breading: Use flour, egg, and breadcrumbs for a crispy coating

Breading fish with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs will give it a crispy coating when cooked in an air fryer. This method can be used for fish fillets such as cod, haddock, pollock, or mahi mahi. Start by thawing the fish if it is frozen, then pat it dry and cut it into strips. Next, dip the fish in flour, followed by egg, and finally, breadcrumbs. The egg wash helps the breadcrumbs stick to the fish. You can season the flour or breadcrumbs with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and baking powder.

Before breading the fish, remove as much moisture as possible by patting it dry with a paper towel. This will ensure that the coating becomes crispy rather than soggy. You can also let the coated fish sit for a few minutes to allow the flour to absorb the moisture from the egg wash. After breading, spray the fish with cooking spray to help achieve a crunchy texture.

Place the fish in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between the pieces to allow for even cooking. Depending on the thickness of the fish, cook it at around 350-380°F for about 10 minutes, flipping it halfway through to ensure even browning. The fish is done when it is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork.

Using this method of breading and cooking in an air fryer, you can enjoy crispy fish without the need for deep frying and with minimal oil.

Pre-cooking: Thaw frozen fish, pat dry, and cut into strips

To cook fish in an air fryer, it is important to prepare the fish before cooking. If your fish is frozen, it is recommended to thaw it first, as this can yield better results. However, it is not necessary, and you can cook frozen fish in an air fryer by increasing the cooking time.

To thaw frozen fish, you can use methods such as refrigerator thawing or cold water thawing. Once the fish is thawed, or if you are using fresh fish, pat it dry with a paper towel or absorbent kitchen towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is crucial, as too much moisture can cause the fish to steam, making your breadcrumb coating soggy.

Next, cut the fish into strips. If you are making fish and chips, you may want to dip the fish strips in flour and then egg, which helps the seasoned breadcrumb mixture stick. You can then coat the fish strips in breadcrumbs or panko for a crispy texture.

Finally, preheat your air fryer to around 380-400°F (190-200°C) to ensure even cooking. Spray the coated fish and the air fryer basket with cooking spray, and you're ready to start cooking!

Cooking: Don't overcrowd the fryer basket; cook in batches

Yes, you can cook fish in an air fryer without breading. However, if you want to add breading, it is important to remove as much moisture from the fish as possible before breading it. This is because if the fish is too wet, it can steam, and your breadcrumb coating could end up soggy instead of crispy.

When cooking fish in an air fryer, it is important not to overcrowd the fryer basket. The fish strips should not be touching, so it is best to cook them in batches. This is because overcrowding the air fryer basket will prevent the fish from crisping and result in steaming instead. It is a good idea to cook food in a single layer in the air fryer basket, not stacked or layered. This will ensure that the food cooks evenly and becomes crispy.

The size of your air fryer will determine whether you need to cook in batches. Even a large air fryer, with about four to five quarts, often needs to cook food in batches. If you are cooking for more than two people, you will likely need to cook in more than one batch. If you are cooking multiple batches in one sitting, you do not need to clean the air fryer in between batches.

When cooking fish in an air fryer, you should preheat the air fryer, and cook the fish until it is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork. You can also shake or flip the fish partway through cooking to promote even cooking and browning.

Temperature: Preheat the air fryer to 350–380°F (180°C)

To cook fish in an air fryer, preheating your appliance is a crucial step. The ideal temperature range for preheating your air fryer is 350–380°F (180°C). This temperature setting will ensure your fish cooks evenly and efficiently.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the fish. Start by thawing frozen fish, then pat it dry with a kitchen towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important because if the fish is too wet, it can steam, causing your breadcrumb coating to become soggy. Next, cut the fish into strips of relatively the same size to ensure even cooking.

After preparing the fish, you can give the air fryer basket a quick spritz with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent the fish from sticking. Then, place the fish pieces in a single layer in the basket, leaving about a 1/4-inch gap between them to allow hot air to circulate.

Once the air fryer reaches the desired temperature of 350–380°F (180°C), you can begin cooking the fish. The cooking time will depend on the type and thickness of the fish, but on average, it takes around 10-12 minutes for the fish to cook through and become golden brown.

During cooking, you may need to flip the fish halfway through to ensure even browning. To check if the fish is done, test it with a fork; if it flakes easily, your fish is ready to be served!

Frequently asked questions