Air-Fried Fish Perfection: Flour Coating, Crispy Finish

Air fryer fish is a quick and easy way to enjoy crispy fish without the need for deep frying. To make it, you'll need to dredge the fish in flour, shaking off any excess, before dipping it in egg and then rolling it in a breadcrumb or panko mixture. You can add seasoning to the flour, such as paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. The fish is then cooked in the air fryer at 400° for around 10-12 minutes, or until it's golden and flakes easily with a fork.

How to prepare the fish before cooking

To prepare the fish before cooking, place the flour on a plate or in a shallow bowl. You can mix the flour with paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Beat an egg in another shallow bowl. In a third shallow bowl, pour in the panko and add Old Bay, tossing to combine. Working with one piece at a time, dredge the fish in flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip the fish in the egg. Finally, dredge the fish in the panko mixture, pressing gently to coat. Repeat until all the fish pieces are breaded.

How to coat the fish in flour

To coat the fish in flour, start by placing the flour on a plate or in a shallow bowl. You can add seasoning to the flour, such as paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a time, dredge the fish in the flour, shaking off any excess. Make sure the fish is fully covered in flour before moving on to the next step.

If you're using eggs in your recipe, dip the fish in the egg after coating it in flour. If not, you can move straight on to coating the fish in breadcrumbs or panko.

How to cook the fish in the air fryer

First, place the flour on a plate. You can mix the flour with paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Next, beat an egg in a wide, shallow bowl. In another bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, seasoned salt and pepper. Working with a few pieces at a time, dredge the fish in flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the fish in the egg. Finally, dredge the fish in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat. Repeat until all the fish pieces are breaded.

Spray the breaded fish with olive oil spray on both sides. Working in batches, place the fish pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with about 1/4-inch of space between them. Cook at 400° for 7-10 minutes, turning halfway through. Open the basket and spray the fish on the side that is facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated. Then, cook on the other side for another 7-8 minutes. Remove the fish and serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

How to serve the fish

To serve the fish, transfer it to a platter and serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce on the side. For a low-carb, keto-friendly option, serve with almond flour and crushed pork rinds instead of panko.

You can also serve the fish with fries, or 'chips' as a classic fish and chips meal.

How to make a low-carb version

To make a low-carb version of this recipe, you can substitute the flour with almond flour and the panko with crushed pork rinds.

First, place the almond flour on a plate. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg. Next, combine the crushed pork rinds with seasoned salt and pepper in another bowl. Working with a few pieces at a time, dredge the fish in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the fish completely in the egg, and finally, roll it in the pork rind mixture to coat. Repeat this process until all the fish pieces are breaded. Spray the breaded fish with olive oil spray on both sides.

Working in batches, place the fish pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving about 1/4-inch of space between them. Air-fry the fish at 400°F, turning with tongs halfway through, until it's golden and flakes easily with a fork, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your fish fillets. For thinner fillets, 7-8 minutes on each side should be enough.

Serve the fish with lemon wedges and tartar sauce on the side.

Frequently asked questions