Air-Fried Cod: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Air fryers are a great way to cook cod fish, as they can make the fish crispy and flaky. To cook cod in an air fryer, you'll need to season the fish, place it in the air fryer basket, and cook for around 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. You'll know the cod is cooked when it's golden brown and flakes easily with a fork. You can also use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the fish has reached 145°F.

Seasoning the fish with olive oil, paprika, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and lemon oil

To season the fish, pat the fillets dry and brush them with olive oil. In a small dish, mix paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of the fish. You can also brush the cod fillets with lemon oil and season on all sides.

Place the cod in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, or until the fish is golden brown and crispy. Flip the fillets halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

Use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the fish has reached 145°F. If you don't have a meat thermometer, ensure the cod is completely white/opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Choose thicker fillets to prevent the fish from drying out.

Serve with sliced lemon and enjoy!

Cooking the fish for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets

If your fillets are on the thicker side, you may want to cook them for the full 10 minutes. This will ensure that the fish is cooked all the way through without drying out. Thicker fillets are ideal for most cod recipes as they retain moisture better.

If your fillets are thinner, 8 minutes should be sufficient. You can check if the fish is cooked by using a meat thermometer - the internal temperature should be 145°F. If you don't have a thermometer, check that the fish is completely white/opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Regardless of the thickness of your fillets, it's important to flip them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking on both sides.

Flipping the fillets halfway through to ensure even cooking

Flipping the fillets halfway through the cooking time ensures that the cod cooks evenly on both sides. This is important because it helps to prevent the fish from drying out. It also helps to create a crispy exterior.

When cooking cod in an air fryer, it's important to choose fillets of a similar thickness so that they cook at the same rate. Thick fillets are recommended because they don't dry out as easily. However, if the fillets are not the same thickness, flipping them halfway through helps to even out any differences in cooking time.

To check if the cod is cooked, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature has reached 145°F. Alternatively, you can check that the fish is completely white or opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the fish

To check the internal temperature of the fish, use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the fish, making sure not to touch any bones, as this will give a false reading. The fish is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145°F. This should take around 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can check if the fish is cooked by seeing if it is completely white/opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Preparing a dipping sauce with mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, mustard, and salt

To cook cod in an air fryer, brush the fillets with oil and season with salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper. Place the cod in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the fish is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork.

While the cod is cooking, you can prepare a dipping sauce by mixing 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of finely chopped pickles (or sweet pickle relish), 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of Dijon or yellow mustard, and a pinch of salt. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to make a honey mustard dipping sauce, or add some hot sauce, paprika, garlic, scallion, onion powder and cayenne for a remoulade sauce.

Frequently asked questions