Air-Fryer Crab Cakes: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Crab cakes are a delicious dish that can be made in an air fryer with minimal mess and stress. The air fryer allows you to achieve a nice golden crust on the outside with flakey crab meat on the inside. This method is also healthier than deep-frying, as it requires very little oil. You can use either fresh or frozen crab cakes, and the cooking time will be around 8 to 10 minutes for fresh cakes and 9 to 11 minutes for frozen ones. The key to getting that perfect golden crust is using a high-quality crab meat and the right seasonings, such as Old Bay. You can serve your crab cakes with a variety of sauces, such as remoulade, tartar, or aioli, and a squeeze of lemon.

Crab cake ingredients

Crab cakes are a delicious and easy meal to make in an air fryer. The key to a good crab cake is the quality of the crab meat. It is best to use high-quality, fresh, or canned lump crab meat, but if you can't find this, imitation crab or claw meat will also work. Keep in mind that if you use imitation crab, you may need to add some cornstarch or flour to help bind the cakes.

The other essential ingredients for crab cakes include eggs, mayonnaise, and breadcrumbs. The eggs and mayonnaise help to bind the cakes and keep them moist, while the breadcrumbs add texture and flavour. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko, a type of Japanese breadcrumb with larger flakes, for an even crispier crust. If you're gluten-intolerant, gluten-free breadcrumbs or panko crumbs are a great alternative.

To add flavour to your crab cakes, you can include some Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Some recipes also call for celery, red bell peppers, parsley, and green onions for colour and texture. Lemon juice can also be added to enhance the flavour of the crab meat. If you're making keto crab cakes, you can use cracker crumbs, almond flour, or crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs.

When mixing the ingredients, be gentle to avoid breaking up the crab meat. Form the mixture into patties, then place them in the refrigerator to firm up before cooking.

Crab cake preparation

Crab cakes are a delicious and easy meal to make in an air fryer, with less mess and stress than pan-frying. The air fryer helps create a nice crust on the outside, without drying out the crab mixture, and the hot air circulates to yield a crispy and golden brown crust.

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make crab cakes:

• Crab meat (lump crab meat is best, but claw meat or imitation crab can also be used)
• Breadcrumbs (Panko or gluten-free)
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard (Dijon)
• Worcestershire sauce
• Old Bay seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• Celery, red bell peppers, and parsley, finely chopped
• Lemon juice
• Egg
• Cooking spray or oil (optional)

Preparation

First, mix all the ingredients (except the crab meat) in a large bowl. Then, place the crab meat in a medium bowl and break it up with a fork. Add milk, salt, and pepper, and toss to coat. Now, add this mixture to the large bowl with the other ingredients, stirring gently so as not to break up the crab meat.

Next, shape the mixture into 4-8 patties, depending on your preference. You can use lightly wet hands to shape the crab cakes without the mixture sticking to your fingers. Place the crab cakes on a plate and cover or refrigerate until firm (up to 8 hours).

When you are ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 370-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the crab cakes in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them so they cook evenly. You can line the basket with parchment paper, aluminium foil, or a silicone liner to prevent sticking, but this is optional. Spray the crab cakes with cooking spray or oil for a crispier exterior, if desired.

Cook the crab cakes for 8-11 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the interior is hot. For store-bought frozen crab cakes, cook for 6-8 minutes. Do not flip the crab cakes during cooking, as they may fall apart.

Serve your crab cakes with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, or your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Air fryer settings

Firstly, preheat your air fryer. Preheating ensures the appliance reaches the desired temperature, cooking your crab cakes evenly and efficiently. Most recipes recommend preheating to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, with some suggesting 370 degrees Fahrenheit as an alternative. Preheat for at least 5 minutes to ensure the air fryer is hot and ready to go.

Once preheated, it's time to cook your crab cakes. Place the crab cakes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded and leaving space between them. This step is crucial, as overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and affect the desired crispy texture. You can line the basket with parchment paper or a silicone liner to prevent sticking, especially if your crab cakes contain moist ingredients. However, some sources suggest that parchment paper may catch fire, so aluminium foil can be used instead.

Now, it's time to set the timer. Depending on the size of your crab cakes, the cooking time will vary. For regular-sized crab cakes, set the timer for 8 to 10 minutes. If you're cooking mini crab cakes, start checking them at 6 minutes, as they will require less time. Frozen crab cakes also take less time, usually around 7 to 8 minutes, and you can cook them straight from frozen without defrosting.

During the cooking process, you may need to flip your crab cakes halfway through to ensure even cooking on both sides. However, some recipes specifically instruct against flipping, as it can cause the crab cakes to fall apart if they are only partially cooked. If you're concerned about the crab cakes sticking to the basket, use a cooking spray or an olive oil spritzer to create a barrier and help develop a crispier exterior.

Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the crab cakes from the air fryer. They should be golden brown and heated through. Serve immediately with your choice of sauce, such as tartar sauce, remoulade, or aioli, and a wedge of lemon for added freshness.

Cooking time

The cooking time for fresh crab cakes in an air fryer varies depending on the recipe and the number of crab cakes being cooked. Most recipes recommend cooking fresh crab cakes in the air fryer for around 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the crab cakes and the desired level of doneness.

For example, one recipe suggests cooking fresh crab cakes in an air fryer for 10 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit without flipping them during the cooking process. Another recipe recommends cooking the crab cakes for 8 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them halfway through the cooking process.

It is important to ensure that the crab cakes are cooked thoroughly before serving. This can be done by checking the internal temperature of the crab cakes with a food thermometer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that fish and shellfish, including crab, should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure food safety.

Additionally, the cooking time may be affected by the number of crab cakes being cooked at once. It is important to leave space between the crab cakes in the air fryer to ensure even cooking and to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cooking times may also vary depending on the model and brand of the air fryer being used.

Some recipes recommend preheating the air fryer before adding the crab cakes, which can reduce the overall cooking time. Preheating the air fryer also helps to ensure even cooking and can improve the texture and appearance of the crab cakes.

Serving suggestions

Crab cakes are a delicious treat, and air frying them is a quick and easy way to cook them. They are a great appetizer or light dinner, and can be served in a variety of ways.

Firstly, you can serve them with a sauce. Some suggestions include: a remoulade sauce, tartar sauce, spicy mayo, or aïoli. You could also serve with a lemon wedge on the side, or with hollandaise or lemon butter.

Secondly, crab cakes can be served as part of a larger meal. They are a great light bite, so work well as a starter, or as part of a seafood platter. You could also serve them with a salad, such as an arugula salad with a lemony dill dressing.

Lastly, crab cakes can be served on their own as a snack, or as a canapé at a party. They are a tasty treat, hot or cold, and can be frozen and reheated, so are a great make-ahead option for entertaining.

Frequently asked questions