Air-Frying Frozen Fish: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook frozen food, and you can definitely use them to cook frozen fish. In fact, cooking frozen fish in an air fryer can produce a delicious, tender, and flavourful meal with minimal effort. The air fryer cooks the fish evenly, resulting in a flaky and juicy interior with golden brown, crispy edges. You can cook breaded or unbreaded frozen fish fillets in an air fryer, and it usually takes around 12 to 15 minutes.

No need to defrost

There are several benefits to cooking frozen fish in an air fryer without defrosting it first. Not only does it save you time, but it also frees up your stovetop to work on delicious sauces and sides. It's also a convenient way to cook fish without having to worry about defrosting it beforehand.

When cooking fish straight from frozen, it's best not to rinse off any ice crystals or glaze from the fish, as this can result in a more waterlogged texture. Instead, place the fish directly into the air fryer basket and be sure to spray the basket generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat your air fryer to its highest setting (usually around 400°F) and adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your fish fillets.

For breaded frozen fish fillets, coat the fish with a thin layer of olive oil and then spoon seasoned breadcrumbs over the top, pressing gently to help them stick. Transfer the fish to the air fryer basket and cook for 12-14 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the breading is golden brown.

For unbreaded frozen fish fillets, pat the fish dry with a paper towel and then brush with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings. Place the fish in the preheated air fryer basket and cook for about 15-20 minutes at 400°F, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.

With either method, there's no need to defrost the fish first—simply cook it straight from frozen for a quick and easy meal.

Use cooking spray to prevent sticking

Using cooking spray is essential when cooking frozen fish in an air fryer to prevent it from sticking to the air fryer basket. The cooking spray creates a barrier between the fish and the air fryer surface, allowing the fish to release more easily once cooked.

To use cooking spray effectively, first, preheat your air fryer to its highest setting, usually around 400°F (204°C). Then, generously coat the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the frozen fish directly into the prepared air fryer basket, ensuring it is in a single layer with space around each fillet for the air to circulate.

Cooking spray is particularly useful when cooking breaded frozen fish. The breading can sometimes stick to the air fryer basket, but a coating of cooking spray will help prevent this. It is important to note that when cooking breaded fish, you should not use additional oil as this can make the breading soggy rather than crispy.

In addition to preventing sticking, cooking spray can also help to ensure even cooking. By creating a non-stick surface, the fish can more easily be flipped or rotated during cooking, resulting in more even browning and crisping.

For best results, it is recommended to use a cooking spray that has a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. This will help to prevent the oil from smoking and imparting an unpleasant flavour to the fish.

Don't rinse the ice glaze off

When cooking frozen fish in an air fryer, it is best not to rinse off any ice glaze or ice crystals from the fish. Rinsing the fish can result in a more waterlogged texture once the fish is cooked. For the best texture, place the fish directly into the air fryer basket in its frozen state.

Before cooking, spray the inside of your air fryer basket generously with cooking spray to prevent the fish from sticking. Preheat the air fryer to its highest setting, usually around 400°F (204°C).

Some recipes suggest defrosting the fish first and then coating it in breadcrumbs and seasonings. However, this traditional dredging method doesn't work well with frozen fillets as the hard surface doesn't allow the breading to stick. Instead, coat the fish with a thin layer of olive oil, which will act as a glue for your breadcrumbs. Then, gently press the breadcrumbs onto the fish before placing it in the air fryer.

If you choose not to use breadcrumbs, you can simply pat the fish dry with a paper towel and brush it with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings before placing it in the air fryer.

Whether you choose to bread your frozen fish or not, it is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the thickness and size of your fillets. Always ensure that your fish reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F (63°C) to 160°F (72°C) to prevent foodborne illness.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in achieving that coveted crispy exterior on your frozen fish. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure your fish is cooked to perfection:

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to its highest setting, typically around 400°F. This step ensures that your fish starts cooking immediately when placed in the basket, resulting in a desirable crispy finish. It is recommended to preheat for about 3 to 5 minutes before adding the fish.

If you're cooking breaded frozen fish fillets, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Then, spray the basket with an oil cooking spray. Skip the seasoning step and air fry the fish for about 15 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F.

For unbreaded frozen fish, preheat your air fryer to 370°F. Brush or spritz the frozen fish fillets with olive oil and season them with a mix of panko breadcrumbs, salt, and garlic powder. Place the fish in the air fryer basket, breaded side up, and air fry for a total of 12-14 minutes. Spray the tops with olive oil again after the first 6 minutes to help the crumbs toast. Ensure the fish is cooked through and golden brown.

If you're cooking frozen fish without breading, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Remove the fish from its packaging, place it on a plate, and gently pat it dry with a paper towel. Create a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, dried oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper. Brush this mixture generously onto the frozen fish. Place the seasoned fish in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes at 400°F, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.

Remember, preheating your air fryer is essential to ensure your frozen fish cooks evenly and has that desirable crispy texture.

Seasoning and oil tips

Oil

When cooking frozen fish in an air fryer, it is important to use oil sparingly. A light coating of oil on the fish will help to achieve a crispy texture. Olive oil is a good choice as it adds a nice flavour to the fish, but you can also use avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a cooking spray.

Seasoning

You can season your fish fillets with a variety of herbs and spices. Salt, garlic powder, and black pepper are popular choices, but you can also use dried or fresh herbs such as oregano. You can mix your chosen seasonings with oil to help them stick better to the frozen fish.

Application

There are a few different ways to apply the oil and seasoning to your frozen fish fillets. You can brush the oil onto the fish with a pastry brush, or use an oil mister or spray bottle. This will help to ensure an even coating. The seasoning can be applied by sprinkling it over the oiled fish, or you can place the fish and seasoning in a sealable bag and shake until the fillets are fully coated.

Cooking

When cooking, place the fish fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each fillet to allow for proper air circulation. Depending on the thickness of the fillets, they will usually take around 10-20 minutes to cook, but you should always use a cooking thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached at least 145°F (63°C) before serving.

Frequently asked questions