Tillie Doyle
Cooking frozen fish fillets in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious, crispy fish dish on the table in under 15 minutes. With no need for a deep fryer and minimal oil required, this method is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fillets and the type of air fryer you have, but generally, it should take around 10 minutes to cook frozen fish fillets in an air fryer, with an additional 2-4 minutes if you want them extra crispy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 370°F-400°F |
| Preheat Temperature | 380°F/193°C |
| Cooking Time | 10-20 minutes |
| Internal Temperature | 145°F |
| Oil | Grapeseed oil, Olive oil |
| Breadcrumbs | Panko breadcrumbs |
| Fish | Tilapia, Pollock, Haddock, Halibut, Cod |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your fish fillets cook evenly and efficiently. The ideal temperature for preheating your air fryer is 380 degrees Fahrenheit or 193 degrees Celsius. Depending on the make and model of your air fryer, it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute to reach this temperature. For example, the Cosori air fryer, which has a preheat button, takes about a minute to preheat.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your frozen fish fillets. It is important to note that you should not thaw or defrost the fish before placing it in the air fryer. Simply take the desired number of fillets out of the package and set them aside. You can also use this time to prepare the air fryer basket. It is recommended to coat the basket with a thin layer of olive oil, grapeseed oil spray, or another type of cooking spray to prevent the fish from sticking. If you prefer, you can also line the basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Once the air fryer has reached the desired temperature, it's time to place the fish fillets inside. Make sure to arrange them in a single layer, leaving a little space between each fillet. This ensures that the hot air can circulate properly and cook the fillets evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fillets in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding. Close the air fryer and set the timer for the desired cooking time.
The preheating step is crucial because it ensures that the air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking the fish fillets. Without preheating, the cooking time may be longer, and the results may be less consistent. By preheating the air fryer, you can be confident that your fish fillets will cook evenly and efficiently, resulting in a delicious and crispy texture.
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Oil the air fryer basket
To oil the air fryer basket, you can use a brush to apply a thin layer of oil, such as olive oil, or use an oil mister. You can also use grapeseed oil spray or pure oil spray. The oil helps to ensure that the fish fillets don't stick to the basket and adds to the crispiness of the dish.
If you are using frozen fish sticks, coat the air fryer basket lightly with oil to prevent sticking. You can also spray or coat the frozen fish sticks with oil before placing them in the basket for extra crispy breading.
For frozen battered fish fillets, it is recommended to spritz or brush both sides of the coated fish fillets with vegetable oil before placing them in the basket. This will help to ensure even cooking and a crispy texture.
When cooking Gorton's frozen fish fillets, it is not necessary to oil the basket, as the product already contains oil. However, you can decide whether to add additional oil for extra crispiness.
Remember, the amount of oil used can vary depending on personal preference and the specific recipe being followed.
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Place frozen fish fillets in the basket
Place the frozen fish fillets into the air fryer basket in a single layer, directly from the freezer. No thawing is required. Leave a little space between the fillets to allow the hot air to circulate and cook the fillets evenly. You can coat the basket with grapeseed oil spray or olive oil, and brush or spray the fillets with a little oil as well.
If you are using a 5.8-quart Cosori air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit or 193 degrees Celsius. Then, air fry the fish fillets for 10 minutes. After that, carefully flip the fillets and cook for an additional 2 to 4 minutes, depending on how crispy you want them. The fillets are ready when they are golden brown. The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cooking time may vary depending on the brand of your air fryer and the thickness of the fillets. For example, if you are using a Ninja XL Air Fryer, you may need to turn the fillets halfway to get them crispy on both sides. For larger fillets, you may need to cook them for an additional 4 to 5 minutes after flipping.
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Cook for 10 minutes
To cook frozen fish fillets in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 380-390°F (some sources suggest 400°F). While the air fryer is heating up, take your frozen fish fillets out of the packaging. You can use any type of white fish fillets, such as pollock, tilapia, haddock, halibut, or cod. If you're using a 5.8qt Cosori air fryer, you may want to prepare the air fryer basket with olive oil, aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a non-stick cooking spray.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the frozen fish fillets into the basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping and that there is a little space between them to allow the hot air to circulate. You can brush or spray the fillets with olive oil or grapeseed oil. Some sources suggest coating the fillets with panko breadcrumbs, salt, and garlic powder before placing them in the air fryer.
Cook the fish fillets for 10 minutes. You may want to flip them over halfway through the cooking time. After 10 minutes, check that the fish is cooked to your liking. The fish should be crispy and golden brown, and it should flake easily with a fork. The internal temperature should be at least 145°F, which you can check with a meat thermometer.
Once the fish is cooked to your liking, carefully remove it from the air fryer and serve. You can serve the fish fillets with a side of fries, hush puppies, lemon wedges, or your favorite vegetables. You can also add tartar sauce or your favorite sauce on the side. Enjoy!
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Serve with your favourite sides
There are many ways to serve your crispy air-fried fish fillets. For a quick and easy meal, serve the fillets over a salad or with your favourite vegetables. You could also pair the fillets with a side of fries, hushpuppies, and lemon wedges.
If you're looking for something more creative, why not try fish and chips or fish tacos? For fish and chips, serve the fillets with steak fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots. For fish tacos, use corn or flour tortillas and add coleslaw, jalapenos, and sriracha mayo.
You can also use the fillets in fish sandwiches or as a topping for salads. Don't forget to add your favourite sauce, such as tartar sauce, and a squeeze of lemon juice!
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you cook frozen fish fillets in an air fryer for 10 minutes at 380-390°F. Depending on the crispness you want, you can cook it for an additional 2-4 minutes.
No, you don't need to defrost the fish before cooking it in the air fryer. You can place the frozen fish fillets directly into the air fryer basket.
To get the breadcrumbs to stick to the frozen fish fillets, coat the fillets with a thin layer of olive oil or grapeseed oil spray before adding the breadcrumbs. The oil will act as a glue for the breadcrumbs.
White fish fillets, such as tilapia, pollock, haddock, halibut, or cod, work well for frozen fish fillets in an air fryer.
Yes, you can cook a variety of frozen foods in the air fryer, including french fries, chicken nuggets, and frozen pizza. Frozen foods cook quickly in the air fryer and turn out crispy.
