Cody Casey
If you're craving crispy, tender calamari without the grease and mess of deep-frying, then cooking it in an air fryer is the perfect solution. This method uses less oil, resulting in a healthier dish without sacrificing the taste and texture you love. You can use fresh or frozen calamari tubes and tentacles, and the preparation is simple. The key to achieving the perfect fried calamari is to ensure your squid is tenderized and well-coated with a layer of oil or wet batter before air frying. This technique will give you a delicious appetizer that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
How to cook calamari in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Thawing | Place the frozen calamari in the fridge for 8-24 hours or until completely thawed |
| Tenderizing | Soak the calamari in milk, buttermilk, or a baking soda and salt brine |
| Drying | Use paper towels to pat the calamari dry |
| Battering | Dip the calamari in a wet batter (egg and water) or olive oil and then coat with a dry breading mixture (breadcrumbs, flour, and egg or nuts) |
| Cooking time | 6-10 minutes at 380-400°F, flipping halfway through |
| Serving | Serve with marinara sauce, garlic aioli, lemon, or parsley |
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What You'll Learn
Thawing frozen calamari
To cook calamari in an air fryer, you can use fresh or frozen calamari tubes and tentacles. If you are using frozen calamari, you will first need to thaw it.
- The safest way to thaw frozen calamari is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight or for up to 24 hours. Place the frozen calamari in its bag in the fridge.
- If you are in a hurry, you can place the frozen calamari in a colander and run cold water over it for 15 minutes.
- Once the calamari is thawed, place it on a tray lined with paper towels to dry.
- If you are not going to cook the calamari straight away, you can bread it and then refreeze it.
Once your calamari is thawed, you can follow your chosen recipe to cook it in the air fryer.
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Preparing the breading
Next, prepare your breading station. In one shallow bowl or tray, combine a large egg with some water. In another shallow bowl, add your breadcrumbs and season generously with salt and pepper, or use a mixture of flour, breadcrumbs, and egg, as some recipes suggest. For a more tender calamari, you can also try soaking the rings in buttermilk or milk before breading, or even a baking soda and salt brine. If you are dairy-free, use dairy-free milk or stick to the brine option.
Once your breading station is set up, it's time to start the breading process. Place the calamari rings into the wet batter and toss to coat evenly. Lift each ring with a fork, allowing any excess batter to drip off, then transfer the coated ring to the dry breading mixture. Use a spoon to completely coat the calamari with the dry breading. If you prefer a lighter, low-carb option, you can substitute nuts for the breadcrumbs.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for air fryer calamari will depend on the type of air fryer you have, whether you are cooking fresh or frozen calamari, and your personal preference for how well-done you like your calamari.
Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to between 380°F and 400°F. However, some recipes suggest preheating your air fryer to its hottest setting, without specifying the temperature.
If you are cooking fresh calamari, you should cook it for around 8–10 minutes in total. It is recommended to flip the calamari halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. You can check the calamari during cooking to see how it is progressing and adjust the temperature or timing as needed. You can check the calamari after 6 minutes to ensure it is not overcooking. The calamari is ready when it is golden brown and crispy. If you are cooking frozen calamari, you should cook it for around 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
It is important to note that every air fryer is different, so you may need to adjust the temperature and timing to suit your particular appliance. You can check on the calamari during cooking to see how it is progressing and adjust the temperature or timing as needed.
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Tenderising the calamari
Another method to tenderise the calamari is to pound the calamari rings gently on each side using a kitchen mallet or a heavy skillet. Be careful not to tear the flesh of the calamari. After pounding, the calamari should be cut into 1/2-inch thick rings and patted dry with a paper towel to remove any excess water. The rings should then be tossed and coated in a breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing to ensure they are fully coated.
The size of the squid you use will also impact the tenderness of the calamari. Smaller squid tend to be more tender, so it is worth considering this when purchasing your squid.
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Reheating calamari
Firstly, it is important to ensure that the calamari is not overcrowded in the air fryer basket. Leaving some breathing room between the pieces will prevent the calamari from steaming and turning soggy. Ideally, the calamari should be arranged in a single layer.
Next, preheat the air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with a small amount of oil.
Place the cold calamari in the basket and air fry for 2-3 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Check the calamari and continue to air fry for another 1-2 minutes if needed. The calamari is ready when it is golden brown and crispy.
Season the calamari with salt and pepper, and serve immediately. Reheated calamari should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking calamari in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. First, defrost the calamari in the fridge, which can take up to 24 hours. Then, cut the calamari into 1/2-inch thick rings and pat dry with paper towels. Next, prepare a shallow bowl with breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper, and another bowl with olive oil or milk. Dip the calamari rings in the oil or milk and coat them in the breadcrumb mixture. Place the rings in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spray with oil or avocado oil or another oil of your choice. Set the air fryer to 380-400°F and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
To get crispy calamari, it is important to ensure that the calamari rings are dry before cooking. You can also spritz or spray the rings with oil during cooking and let them cool on a rack after cooking to ensure they get crispy.
Cooking time can vary depending on the air fryer and the size of the calamari rings. On average, it takes around 8-10 minutes to cook calamari in an air fryer, but it is important to keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
Calamari is cooked when it has a firm but tender texture and is golden brown in color. It is important to avoid overcooking, as this can make the calamari tough and rubbery.
