Air-Frying Fish: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Air fryers are a popular kitchen gadget, producing crispy, crunchy food with less mess and in less time than a traditional deep fryer. You can cook fresh or frozen fish in an air fryer, but you should avoid adding beer-battered fish or fish with any sort of batter as the liquid will make a mess. To cook fresh fish in an air fryer, brush the grate with a little oil, place the coated fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap, and air fry at 390°F (199-200°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Cooking times and temperatures

Air fryers cook food faster than an oven, so you'll need to adjust your cooking times and temperatures accordingly.

To cook fresh fish in an air fryer, you should set the temperature to 390°F (200°C) and cook for 12-15 minutes. After the first 8-10 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the fish fillets, then continue cooking. It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will prevent the fish from crisping. You might need to adjust the cooking times depending on the kind and thickness of the fish, and the model of your air fryer.

If you're using frozen fish fillets, make sure they are completely thawed before cooking. You can also add breadcrumbs and spices, like cayenne, to add flavour and heat.

How to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket

To avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, place the fish fillets in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. You can use fresh or frozen fish fillets, but make sure they are completely thawed before cooking. The fillets should not be too thin, as thin strips won't work in this recipe. You might need to adjust the cooking times depending on the kind and thickness of the fish, as well as the model of your air fryer.

If you are cooking a large quantity of fish, you may need to cook it in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Overcrowding the basket will prevent the fish from crisping properly.

It's important to note that you cannot cook beer-battered fish or fish with any sort of batter in an air fryer, as the liquid will make a mess in the bottom of the fryer and won't stick to the fish in the same way it would when deep-frying.

How to cook frozen fish fillets

You can cook fresh or frozen fish fillets in an air fryer. To cook frozen fish fillets, preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C). You can prepare the air fryer basket with olive oil, aluminium foil, parchment paper, or a non-stick cooking spray. Place the frozen fish fillets into the air fryer basket in a single layer directly from the freezer. No thawing is needed. Air fry the fish fillets for 10 minutes. Carefully flip the fish fillets and cook for an additional 2-4 minutes, depending on how crispy you like them, and until they are golden brown. The fillets are cooked when they are flaky – you can test this with a fork. Alternatively, the internal temperature should be 145°F. If your fish fillet is pretty thin, there is no need to flip it during cooking. However, if your fillet is thicker, flip it after about 8 minutes of cooking. Make sure that the fish is cooked but not overcooked or it will become rubbery.

If you are using fresh fish fillets, brush the air fryer grate with a little oil. Place the coated fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Air fry at 390°F (199°C) for 12-15 minutes. Halfway through, gently flip the fish fillets to ensure they don’t stick and all sides get cooked well. Serve warm with a fresh lemon wedge.

How to add flavour to the fish

You can add flavour to the fish by using a variety of spices and seasonings. For example, you could use Italian seasoning, cayenne, or plain bread crumbs. You can also serve the fish with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

To cook fresh fish in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and brush the grate with a little oil. Place the fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through at 8-10 minutes. For smaller pieces of fish, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Make sure your air fryer basket is not overcrowded, as this will prevent the fish from crisping.

How to clean the air fryer after cooking fish

To cook fresh fish in an air fryer, brush the air fryer grate with a little oil. Place the coated fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Air fry at 390°F (199°C) for 12-15 minutes. Halfway through, gently flip the fish fillets to ensure they don’t stick and all sides get cooked well. Serve warm with a fresh lemon wedge. If you are using frozen fish fillets, make sure to thaw completely before following this recipe.

To clean the air fryer after cooking fish, start by knocking any crumbs out and wiping up any visible oil. Then, gently wipe out the interior, including the coil, using a towel and warm water. Depending on the soil level, repeat this step with warm soapy water to dissolve any cooked-on grease. If your air fryer feels especially greasy, add a bit of dish soap to the water. Be sure you're using a grease fighter. To make it easier to clean the fryer post-cooking, you may also be able to use disposable air fryer aluminium foil or parchment paper liners. If you're finding that powerful food odours like fish are clinging to your air fryer after a deep cleaning, try rubbing a lemon over the basket.

Frequently asked questions