Beer-Battered Goodies: Air Fryer Magic

Beer-battered food is a challenge to cook in an air fryer because the batter tends to run off the food and through the holes in the basket. However, it is possible to cook beer-battered food in an air fryer by using a thick batter, dredging in flour, and spritzing with oil.

Beer batter recipes for the air fryer

Yes, you can put beer batter in an air fryer, but it requires a different approach to deep frying. Beer-battered foods are a challenge to replicate in the air fryer as the batter tends to run off the food and through the holes in the bottom of the air fryer basket. However, you can make it work by creating a thick batter, then dredging in flour to create a coating that will stay put when you air fry.

Tips for Air Frying Beer-Battered Foods:

• Make sure your fish fillet is nice and thick. The fish needs to be thick enough that it doesn't overcook while the outside is browning.
• Spritz the coated fish generously with oil to ensure none of the flour is left dry. This will also help the flour coating to cook properly.
• Don't flip the fish over during the cooking process as the batter can be delicate.
• Make sure you have a generous amount of oil in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

Beer-Battered Fish Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of fresh cod, cut into 4 fillets
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
• 12 ounces of your favourite beer (a light wheat beer works well)
• Pickled onions, for serving
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Tartar sauce, for serving
• 4 cups of shredded green cabbage
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Pat the fish dry with paper towels.
• Place 1 cup of flour in a bowl and add a few shakes of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix.
• In another bowl, whisk together the remaining cup of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour in the beer and whisk until a smooth batter forms.
• Dip each piece of fish into the beer batter, coating completely. Then dip into the seasoned flour and press gently to adhere.
• Spray the air fryer basket generously with non-stick/olive oil spray.
• Heat the air fryer to 380-390°F. Place the fish in the basket and spray all over with oil.
• Set the timer for 12 minutes. Check once or twice during cooking and spray with more oil if needed to prevent the batter from drying out.
• Serve immediately with tartar sauce, slaw, and lemon wedges.

Variations:

• You can also add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the batter for a little extra crispness.
• Try using different types of beer to vary the flavour of the batter. A lager or ale works well, but you can also use a porter for a darker batter.
• If you don't like beer, you can substitute it with soda water.
• For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and add a little extra beer to the batter to make it thinner.

Enjoy your crispy, flaky, and buttery beer-battered fish straight from your air fryer!

How to get the batter to stick

Beer-battered food can be cooked in an air fryer, but it might be messier than deep-frying. The batter tends to run off the food and through the holes in the bottom of the air fryer basket. However, there are some methods to prevent this.

Firstly, ensure that your batter is thick. If it is too thin, it will be more likely to drip off the food. Secondly, coat the food in flour before applying the batter. This will help the batter adhere to the food. Thirdly, after applying the batter, coat the food in flour again. This will help the batter stay in place when you air-fry. Finally, spray the battered food with oil. This will ensure that none of the flour is left dry, and help the batter to cook properly.

Best types of beer to use

The type of beer you use in your beer batter can make a big difference to the final taste of your fried masterpiece. The choice of beer can lend subtle undertones or robust flavours to your batter. Here are some beers that are recommended for different dishes:

Carta Blanca

Perfect for fish tacos, Carta Blanca has a clean, crisp taste with subtle malty undertones reminiscent of a sunny afternoon spent by the sea on the Mexican coast. It imparts a lightness that results in a golden, crunchy exterior that cocoons the fish inside.

Harpoon IPA

When you think of crafting batter for frying, IPAs might not be your first choice. However, Harpoon IPA is an unexpectedly perfect companion for fried potatoes. Its bitterness counteracts the starchy sweetness of the potatoes, and its mild maltiness lends depth to the crispy exterior, ensuring every bite is rich and fulfilling.

Guinness

Guinness, with its rich, dark profile, might seem an unlikely choice for fish and chips. But it's this very quality that makes it a stellar partner. It offers a light and crisp flavour, enhanced by a delightfully creamy texture and just the right touch of carbonation. Such attributes make it an exemplary candidate for whipping up a batter that leans towards the thicker, more robust side.

Morning Wood Funky Buddha Brewery

Combining a rich, indulgent Imperial Porter like the Morning Wood from the Funky Buddha Brewery with the nostalgia-laden treat, the fried Twinkie, is a pairing that might initially raise eyebrows but offers a delightful blend of flavours and textures. Morning Wood brings forth a cascade of flavours, including coffee and maple syrup, mixed with the smoothness of bourbon.

Bud Light

Take the classic full-sour dill pickle and reimagine this beloved snack in a light, bubbly beer batter made with Bud Light. With its subtle malt undertones and refreshingly crisp finish, an IPA like Bud Light provides the ideal counterbalance to the vibrant sourness of dill pickles. When mixed into the batter, the beer's vivacity ensures that each pickle slice is encased in an airy, light coating.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

With its rich malt complexity and a subtle hint of bitterness, Samuel Adams Boston Lager adds a depth of flavour to the batter for onion rings. Its character not only enhances the taste but also ensures an exquisitely crispy texture.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Hailing from the world's oldest brewery, the Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier wheat beer is known for its hints of banana and clove. It offers an unexpected elegant twist to beer batter for chicken tenders that are flavorful, juicy, and exquisitely crispy. Weihenstephaner creates an airy and light batter, allowing the tender chicken to shine through.

Pabst Blue Ribbon

While Pabst Blue Ribbon is known as a cheap, mass-produced beer, it provides the right amount of carbonation necessary for an airy fish fry batter without overwhelming flavour. This allows the fish's natural taste to stand out for a fry that focuses on simplicity, taste, and texture.

Widmer Brothers' Drop Top Amber Ale

The Widmer Brothers' Drop Top Amber Ale is a beer that beautifully complements the earthiness of zucchini. The malt-forward sweetness of the Drop Top Amber Ale binds with the zucchini's natural flavours, and the caramel undertones and hints of toasted malt in this ale amplify the golden-brown crispiness achieved in frying.

Newcastle Brown Ale

The Newcastle Brown Ale is known for its balanced flavours, with a subtle touch of caramel sweetness. Its flavour profile lends itself beautifully to the intricacies of fritto misto. Whether you're frying up delicate seafood or an assortment of veggies, this ale ensures that each element retains its distinct taste, complemented by the added depth and richness of the beer.

Asahi Super Dry

With its crisp and elegant notes, Asahi Super Dry is a brew that subtly infuses batter with a distinct richness that's sensed mid-palate. This Japanese beer, renowned for its clear, refreshing flavours, becomes the secret ingredient that brings out calamari's taste. The beer gives calamari a golden, crispy exterior that gives way to tender, succulent rings of squid inside.

Miller Lite

While most wouldn't think of pairing Miller Lite with a sweet treat, its subtle malt profile can balance the richness of fried Oreos, allowing the iconic cookie's flavour to shine. The golden bubbles in the beer lend a surprising lightness to the batter, ensuring that each bite is a fusion of crunchiness, creaminess, and just the right hint of malty goodness.

Blue Moon Belgian White

When it comes to a comforting Sunday morning breakfast, fluffy, freshly-made pancakes often top the list. But what if we were to tell you that introducing beer to the batter can take your pancake mix up a notch? Blue Moon, known for its citrusy undertones and slightly creamy finish, adds a subtle depth and "funk" to the flavour of pancakes for an intriguing yet delightful taste.

Smithwick's Red Ale

Smithwick's Red Ale or Guinness are excellent choices for authentic Irish beer bread. Widely available and popular in the U.S., Smithwick' has its roots deeply embedded in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Since the 1700s, Smithwick's has been brewing beer, and today, this legacy continues. Originally, Smithwick's ventured into brewing its red ale, drawing inspiration from the much-loved English Pale Ale. However, unlike its English counterpart, Smithwick's Red places a pronounced emphasis on malt over hops. The result is a medium-bodied beer, offering a crisp and invigorating taste without skimping on flavour.

Brooklyn Lager

With its deep amber hue and aromatic blend of floral hops and sweet malt, Brooklyn Lager is far more than just a staple beverage for those exploring the New York craft beer scene. It also works wonders when it comes to elevating a traditional sweet treat: apple fritters. Apple fritters perfectly blend the sweetness of ripe apples with a crispy, golden batter, and they find a harmonious partner in Brooklyn Lager. When introduced into the apple fritter batter, Brooklyn Lager's malt undertones highlight the apples' natural sugars. The subtle bitterness from the hops, on the other hand, provides a counterpoint to the sweetness, giving the fritters a surprising depth and complexity. Moreover, the carbonation in the lager introduces an additional lightness to the fritter's batter.

What foods to use with beer batter

Beer batter is a great way to add flavour and a crispy texture to a variety of foods. The carbonation in the beer creates a light and airy batter. The beer also adds flavour and helps the batter turn a beautiful golden-brown colour.

Beer batter is a great option for deep-frying white fish, like cod or haddock. It is also a good choice for shrimp, chicken, tofu, and vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms, or zucchini. You can even use beer batter for onion rings or pickle chips.

If you're looking for a crunchy exterior, opt for a breading instead of a batter. But if you want a light and crispy coating, then beer batter is the perfect choice.

How to get crispy results

Frying beer-battered food in an air fryer can be challenging as the batter tends to run off the food and through the holes in the bottom of the air fryer basket. However, there are a few tricks to achieving crispy results with beer batter in an air fryer.

Thick Batter and Dredge in Flour

Firstly, make sure your beer batter is thick. After coating your food in the batter, dredge it in flour. This creates a coating that will stay put when you air-fry. The flour will absorb the cooking spray, so make sure the coated food is sprayed generously with oil to avoid dry spots.

Spritz with Oil

The oil is necessary to make sure the flour is completely coated and cooked in the air fryer. This can be done with a spray or brushed on.

Air Fryer Temperature and Timing

Preheat your air fryer to a high temperature, such as 380-390°F, and cook for around 12 minutes.

Other Tips

• Make sure your fish fillets are nice and thick so that they don't dry out during cooking.
• Don't flip the fish over halfway through cooking, as the batter can be delicate and may stick to the air fryer.
• Use a fork to dip the fish into the batter and then the flour, as it can get messy.
• If you are cooking something other than fish, such as pickles, a panko coating can help the beer batter stick when air frying.

Frequently asked questions