Marianne Martinez
Unagi, a Japanese delicacy, is a delicious and simple dish to make at home. It is traditionally served as a rice bowl with Japanese pickles, but there are many variations to this classic dish. Unagi is usually purchased pre-cooked, and frozen unagi can be cooked in an air fryer. To cook frozen unagi in an air fryer, it is recommended to defrost the unagi at room temperature for an hour, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and place it in the air fryer with the skin facing down. Set the heat to 200°C and the timer for 6-7 minutes. Once cooked, the unagi can be plated and served with rice and drizzled with unagi sauce.
How to cook frozen unagi in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Defrosting | At room temperature for around 1 hour |
| Cutting | Bite-sized pieces for easy consumption |
| Placement in air fryer | Skin facing down |
| Air fryer temperature | 200°C |
| Timing | 6-7 minutes |
| Plating | Drizzle unagi sauce on top of rice and place cooked unagi on top |
| Garnishing | Drizzle leftover unagi sauce on top of cooked unagi |
| Broiling | Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C |
| Baking sheet | Line with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray |
| Broiling time | 7-8 minutes |
| Cooling time | 2 minutes |
| Sauce | Combine soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (Japanese cooking wine) in a saucepan over medium heat, boil, and then simmer for 5 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Defrosting and cutting the unagi
To defrost your unagi, it is recommended to leave it in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 hours. Do not leave it out at room temperature for longer than an hour, as it may spoil. Once defrosted, the eel should be cut into bite-sized pieces. It is recommended to cut the unagi with the skin side down, as it is hard to cut through the skin. The skin should be removed before serving, but some people prefer to eat it. A quick sear of the skin can add flavor to the dish.
If you are in a hurry, you can defrost the unagi at room temperature for around an hour. This will reduce the defrosting time, but it is important to note that the eel may not be as crisp as when defrosted in the refrigerator.
It is important to handle unagi properly to prevent foodborne illnesses. The eel should be thoroughly defrosted and cooked before consuming it. It is also important to practice good hygiene when handling the eel, including washing your hands and any utensils that come into contact with the raw fish.
When cutting the unagi, it is recommended to use a sharp knife to ensure clean and precise cuts. The eel can be slippery, so it is important to be careful and take your time. It is also a good idea to pat the eel dry with a paper towel before cutting it, as this will help the knife glide through the flesh more easily.
Once the unagi is defrosted and cut into bite-sized pieces, it is ready to be cooked in your air fryer.
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Air fryer temperature and timing
The temperature and timing for cooking frozen unagi in an air fryer will depend on the size of the fillet and the power of your air fryer. As a general guideline, defrost the frozen unagi at room temperature for around 1 hour. Then, set the air fryer to 200°C for 6–7 minutes. You can also try cooking the unagi at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.
If you want to cook the unagi from frozen, without defrosting, increase the temperature to 400-450 F and cook for approximately 15 minutes.
It's important to note that every air fryer is different, so you may need to adjust the temperature and timing slightly depending on your particular appliance. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the unagi while it's cooking to ensure it doesn't overcook or burn.
Additionally, the cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your unagi fillets. Thicker fillets may require a few extra minutes in the air fryer, while thinner fillets may cook faster. So it's important to keep an eye on the unagi during the cooking process to ensure it doesn't overcook or dry out.
Finally, remember that unagi is traditionally served with a sauce. The sauce can be added after cooking, but for a more flavourful dish, you can also dip the unagi in the sauce during the cooking process, creating a caramelized glaze. This technique may require additional cooking time, so adjust your timing accordingly.
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![[Pack of 10] Unagi Kabayaki – Japanese-Style Roasted Eel, 14 oz Each – Fully Cooked & Vacuum Sealed – Rich Umami Flavor – Frozen for Freshness – Perfect for Donburi, Sushi, and Bento](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/618rfYNuHJL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Preparing the unagi sauce
To prepare the unagi sauce, start by gathering your ingredients: sake (Japanese rice wine), mirin (sweet rice wine), soy sauce (preferably Japanese or gluten-free soy sauce), and sugar. If you don't have mirin, you can substitute it with dry sherry or rice vinegar with an extra teaspoon of sugar. Combine these ingredients in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for about 4-5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, whisking it well into the mixture to avoid lumps. You can also add spices or herbs like red pepper flakes, but it's best to avoid ingredients like garlic and ginger, as their strong flavors can overwhelm the delicate unagi.
Let the sauce cool to room temperature, giving it an occasional stir. Once it has cooled, transfer the unagi sauce to a shallow container or sterilized jar. You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to two months. When using the stored sauce, be sure to give it a good stir, as some separation might occur.
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Broiling the unagi
To broil the unagi, first, preheat your oven to 200C/400F and line a large baking sheet with tinfoil. Spray the foil with oil to prevent sticking. If you are cooking from frozen, it is recommended to defrost the unagi at room temperature for around 1 hour before broiling. Remove any excess liquid, as frozen unagi may have pockets of melted ice.
Next, place the unagi fillets on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are completely dry. Broil the unagi for 7-8 minutes. You may also wish to refer to the package instructions for cooking times and temperatures.
Once the unagi is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a couple of minutes. Then, spread the eel sauce on top of the unagi. The sauce can be store-bought or made at home by combining soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (Japanese cooking wine).
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Serving suggestions
Unagi is a Japanese dish consisting of marinated roasted eel on top of a bed of rice. It is a popular and luxurious delicacy in Japan, and it can be an excellent introduction to sushi for beginners.
Traditional Unadon
Place steamed rice in an individual bowl and drizzle unagi sauce on top. Then, place the cooked unagi on the rice and pour more sauce over it. You can also sprinkle on some ground Japanese sansho pepper or garnish with a kinome leaf (sansho pepper leaf). Serve immediately with sides like miso soup, Japanese pickles, spinach with sesame sauce, or kinpira rekon.
Unagi Sushi
This is a common way to enjoy unagi in Japanese restaurants in the US. The unagi is glazed with a sweet sauce and served on tiny pieces of sushi rice.
Unagi Rolls
You can also make unagi rolls by placing the unagi and rice together and squeezing them into a ball, similar to making a snowball. This method is a fun and interactive way to eat unagi, as some people like to juggle the rice balls and catch them in their mouth.
Unagi Donburi
This version of the dish is served in a donburi (big rice bowl). Place a bed of hot rice in the bowl and brush with unagi sauce. Then, add two pieces of unagi, overlapping each other and covering the rice. Finally, brush more sauce on top of the unagi and serve.
With Additional Toppings
You can also add various toppings to your unagi and rice bowl. For example, shredded omelette, salmon roe, and sprouts can be a great addition to the dish.
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Frequently asked questions
The ideal temperature to cook frozen unagi in an air fryer is between 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to cook frozen unagi in an air fryer.
First, defrost the frozen unagi at room temperature for about an hour. Then, cut it into bite-sized pieces for easy consumption. Place the unagi with the skin facing down in the air fryer.
