Cody Casey
Cooking frozen fish fillets in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious dish straight from the freezer. There's no need for a deep fryer, and you can use minimal oil. To cook frozen fish fillets in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place the frozen fish fillets into the air fryer basket in a single layer, with no overlapping. Depending on the thickness of the fillets, you may need to flip them halfway through cooking. Cook for 10-17 minutes, or until the fish is flaky and fully cooked through.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air fryer temperature | 380-390°F/193°C |
| Air fryer basket preparation | Olive oil, aluminium foil, parchment paper, non-stick cooking spray, or grapeseed oil spray |
| Fish fillet preparation | Place in a single layer directly from the freezer |
| Cooking time | 10-17 minutes |
| Flipping | Only necessary if the fillet is thick, after around 8 minutes |
| Doneness | Flaky, or internal temperature of 145°F |
What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer to 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit
Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in ensuring your frozen fish fillets cook evenly and efficiently. By setting your air fryer to the optimal temperature range of 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit, you create the perfect environment for cooking your fish to flaky, juicy perfection.
To preheat your air fryer, start by ensuring it is switched on and plugged into a power source. Adjust the temperature dial or digital controls to reach the desired temperature of 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is ideal for cooking frozen fish fillets, as it provides sufficient heat to cook the fish through without drying it out or causing it to stick to the air fryer basket.
Depending on your air fryer model, the preheating process may take a few minutes. Modern air fryers often have preheat settings or indicators that let you know when the desired temperature has been reached. If your air fryer does not have this feature, you can use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature or simply wait a few minutes after setting the temperature.
Once your air fryer reaches 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit, it's ready for the next step: adding your frozen fish fillets. Remember to place them directly from the freezer into the air fryer basket, ensuring they form a single layer with no overlap. This arrangement allows hot air to circulate evenly around each fillet, promoting even cooking.
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Prepare the air fryer basket with oil, foil, paper or cooking spray
To prepare the air fryer basket, you can use olive oil, aluminium foil, parchment paper or a non-stick cooking spray. If you are using oil, you can use olive oil or grapeseed oil spray. Simply coat the air fryer basket with the oil or cooking spray, and place the frozen fish fillets into the basket. You can then spray the fillets with another coat of oil or cooking spray. If you are using aluminium foil or parchment paper, place this in the air fryer basket before adding the fillets.
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Place the frozen fish fillets in the basket
Once your air fryer is hot, place the frozen fish fillets into the air fryer basket. Make sure the fillets are in a single layer and do not overlap. If you need to, you can prepare the air fryer basket with olive oil, aluminium foil, parchment paper, or a non-stick cooking spray like grapeseed oil spray. You can also coat the fish fillets with oil spray.
No thawing is needed. Simply place the frozen fish fillets directly into the air fryer basket from the freezer.
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Cook for 10-17 minutes, flipping halfway through
Once the air fryer is hot, add the frozen fish fillets to the air fryer tray, ensuring they do not overlap. Depending on the thickness of the fillets, you may need to cook them for 10-17 minutes, flipping halfway through. If your fillets are thin, there is no need to flip them during cooking. However, if they are thicker, you should flip them after about 8 minutes. Check that the fish is cooked by testing it with a fork – it should be flaky. Alternatively, the internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the fish is not overcooked, or it will become rubbery.
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Check the fish is cooked with a fork or temperature probe
To check if your fish is cooked, you can use a fork to test if the fish flakes easily. You can also use a temperature probe to check the internal temperature of the fish. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using a thicker fillet, you may need to flip the fish after about 8 minutes of cooking to ensure even cooking.
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Frequently asked questions
You should cook frozen fish fillets in an air fryer for 10-17 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillet and the crispness you want to achieve.
Preheat your air fryer to 380-390 degrees Fahrenheit (193 degrees Celsius).
No, you can place the frozen fish fillets directly into the air fryer basket from the freezer.
The fillets are cooked when they are flaky and can be easily pulled apart with a fork. Alternatively, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
