Air-Fryer Crab Cakes: Frozen To Crispy In 20 Minutes

Air fryer crab cakes are a quick and easy meal to make, with most recipes taking under 15 minutes to cook. The air fryer helps to create a crispy exterior without drying out the crab mixture, which stays tender and soft on the inside. You can use either store-bought or homemade crab cakes, and they can be cooked straight from frozen.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in cooking frozen crab cakes. It ensures that your appliance is hot and ready to cook, helping you achieve the desired golden brown exterior and heated interior. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for preheating your air fryer:

First, make sure your air fryer is set to the correct temperature. For cooking frozen crab cakes, you should preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature setting will help ensure that your crab cakes cook evenly and thoroughly.

Next, allow your air fryer to preheat for an adequate amount of time. It is recommended to preheat your air fryer for at least 5 minutes. This duration gives the appliance enough time to reach the desired temperature, ensuring effective cooking.

While the air fryer preheats, you can prepare your crab cakes. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This step helps to reduce mess and prevent sticking. Some people prefer aluminum foil as there have been comments about parchment paper catching fire in the air fryer. However, others have had success using parchment paper without any issues.

Place Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

Once the air fryer is preheated, it's time to place your crab cakes inside. Arrange the crab cakes in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they have some space around them. This arrangement allows hot air to circulate properly, cooking the crab cakes evenly.

Spray with Oil

Lightly spray the crab cakes with oil. This step is optional but recommended as it helps the crab cakes develop a crispier, golden exterior. You can use an olive oil spritzer, cooking spray, or your preferred cooking oil.

Air Fry the Crab Cakes

After preheating and preparing the crab cakes, it's time to start cooking. Close the air fryer basket and air fry the crab cakes for 9-11 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. For smaller or mini crab cakes, check on them after 6 minutes to prevent overcooking.

Serving

Once the crab cakes are golden brown and heated throughout, they are ready to serve. You can enjoy them as an appetizer or a light meal. Consider serving them with lemon wedges, aioli, tartar sauce, or remoulade for added flavour.

Place crab cakes in the basket

Placing crab cakes in the air fryer basket is a crucial step in the cooking process. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to ensure you get the best results:

Preparing the Crab Cakes

Before placing the crab cakes in the basket, it is recommended to line the basket with parchment paper or aluminium foil. This helps to reduce mess and sticking. If using parchment paper, ensure it is securely placed to avoid it flying up into the fan and heating element. You can also lightly spray the basket with oil to prevent sticking.

Placing the Crab Cakes in the Basket

Place the crab cakes in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they have some space around them. Overcrowding the basket can affect the crispiness of the crab cakes as it prevents hot air from circulating evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the crab cakes in batches.

Cooking the Crab Cakes

Once the crab cakes are in the basket, it's time to start cooking! Close the air fryer basket and set the temperature and timer according to your recipe. For frozen crab cakes, a temperature of around 375°F to 400°F is typically recommended, with a cooking time of 8 to 12 minutes. For mini crab cakes, check the internal temperature after 5 minutes, as they will cook faster.

Checking for Doneness

Keep a close eye on your crab cakes during the cooking process. You can check on them after 5 minutes to see how they are doing and decide if they need the full cooking time. The crab cakes are ready when they are golden brown on the outside and warmed through on the inside.

Serving the Crab Cakes

Once the crab cakes are cooked to your desired level of doneness, carefully remove them from the air fryer basket using a spatula. Serve them hot with your favourite sauce, such as tartar sauce, remoulade, or aioli. Lemon wedges are also a great accompaniment to add a bright, acidic flavour to the rich crab cakes.

Lightly spray with oil

When preparing frozen crab cakes in an air fryer, lightly spraying them with oil is a crucial step to achieving the desired crispiness and texture. Here's a detailed guide on why and how to do it:

The oil helps to create a crispy exterior on your crab cakes, complementing the tender interior. It also ensures that your crab cakes don't stick to the air fryer basket, making for easier cleanup.

You can use a variety of cooking oils for this purpose, such as olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, or any cooking spray. These oils have a high smoke point, making them suitable for the high temperatures of an air fryer.

Before placing the crab cakes in the air fryer, arrange them in a single layer in the basket or on a rack. Then, lightly spray the tops of the crab cakes with your chosen oil. Ensure that the oil spray is even and covers all the crab cakes.

Tips for Optimal Results:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave some space between each crab cake to allow hot air to circulate evenly.
• Check on the crab cakes regularly to avoid overcooking. They are ready when golden brown on the outside and heated through.
• For an even crispier exterior, you can also spray the crab cakes with an olive oil spritzer or cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer.

By following these simple steps and lightly spraying your frozen crab cakes with oil, you'll achieve delicious, crispy results that will impress your taste buds!

Air fry at 370-400°F for 8-12 minutes

Air frying frozen crab cakes is an easy and quick way to get delicious crab cakes with a tender interior and a crispy exterior. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 370°F and 400°F. This will usually take around 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Crab Cakes

Place the frozen crab cakes in the air fryer basket or on a rack. For best results, line the basket with parchment paper or aluminium foil to reduce mess and sticking. Leave some space between the crab cakes to allow hot air to circulate.

Step 3: Air Fry

Air fry the crab cakes for 8 to 12 minutes. The exact time will depend on your air fryer and the thickness of the crab cakes. Check on them regularly, especially in the last 5 minutes of cooking, to ensure they don't burn or overcook. You'll know they're done when they're golden brown on the outside and heated through.

Step 4: Serve

Remove the crab cakes from the air fryer and serve immediately. They go well with lemon wedges, aioli, tartar sauce, or remoulade.

Tips:

• For a crispier exterior, spray the crab cakes with an olive oil spritzer or cooking spray before air frying.
• If you're using mini crab cakes, they will take less time to cook, so start checking on them after around 6 minutes.

Serve with lemon wedges and sauce

Lemon wedges and sauces like aioli, tartar, or remoulade are the perfect accompaniments to air-fried crab cakes. The bright, acidic flavor of lemon adds a tangy twist to the rich crab cakes. A simple aioli can be made by mixing mayonnaise, a tiny bit of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and grated garlic. For an even more elaborate aioli, you can add hot sauce, Old Bay seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.

If you're looking for a store-bought option, tartar sauce or remoulade are great choices to serve with your crab cakes. These sauces complement the crab cakes perfectly and can be purchased at most grocery stores.

For a fancier presentation, you can garnish the crab cakes with lemon wedges and serve the sauce on the side, allowing your guests to customize their dish. This way, they can enjoy the combination of flavors and textures that the lemon and sauce bring to the crab cakes.

Additionally, you can also sprinkle some chopped chives, green onions, or parsley on top of the crab cakes for added color and flavor. These herbs will not only enhance the taste but also make your dish look more appealing and restaurant-style.

So, the next time you air fry crab cakes, don't forget to serve them with lemon wedges and your choice of sauce for a truly delightful culinary experience.

Frequently asked questions