Air-Fried Tuna Fish: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Tuna steaks are a great option for a quick and easy meal, and cooking them in an air fryer is a simple and healthy way to prepare this dish. You can use a variety of marinades to add flavour to the fish, and the air fryer will result in a tender, juicy piece of tuna.

Marinating tuna steaks

Tuna steaks are a great choice for a quick and healthy meal. Here's how to cook them in an air fryer, with a focus on the marinating process.

Firstly, you'll want to make sure you have good quality tuna steaks. Fresh is best, but you can also use frozen tuna steaks, as long as you thaw them first.

Next, it's time to marinate the tuna. You can whisk together a variety of ingredients to create a delicious marinade. Some popular options include olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, basil, oregano, and garlic powder. You can also add salt and pepper to taste. Once you've combined the ingredients, place the tuna steaks in the marinade, making sure they're coated all over. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and let the tuna steaks marinate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight, flipping them halfway through so that both sides absorb the flavours.

When you're ready to cook the tuna steaks, remove them from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Preheat your air fryer to between 360°F and 425°F for 5 minutes. Then, place the tuna steaks in the air fryer basket and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until they're cooked to your desired level of doneness. For a rare middle, cook the tuna while it's still cold or partially frozen. To check if the tuna is ready, look for grey edges.

Preheating the air fryer

To prepare the tuna, start by drying the fish with a paper towel. Then, rub it with oil and season it. You can also marinate the tuna in a shallow dish or large bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 10 to 30 minutes, or even overnight for more flavour.

Once the air fryer is preheated and the tuna is prepared, you can place the tuna in the air fryer basket and cook it for 2 minutes on each side. Check if the edges are grey, indicating that it's ready. You can also cook it for more or less time, depending on your desired level of doneness.

Cooking tuna steaks

Firstly, choose a good-quality piece of tuna. Fresh tuna is preferred, but you can also use thawed tuna. If you're using frozen tuna, partially thaw it by leaving it overnight in the fridge or immersing the vacuum-sealed package in a bowl of cold water.

Next, prepare your marinade. In a shallow dish or large bowl, whisk together your chosen ingredients. Add the raw tuna steaks in a single layer, ensuring they are fully coated. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 10 to 30 minutes, or even overnight, flipping the steaks halfway through so that both sides absorb the flavours.

When you're ready to cook the tuna, preheat your air fryer basket to between 360F and 425F for 5 minutes. It's important to dry the fish by patting it with a paper towel, then rub it with oil and season before placing it in the air fryer.

Cook the tuna in the air fryer basket for 2 minutes, then flip it and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. Check if the tuna is ready by looking at the edges; they should be grey. You can cook it for more or less time, depending on your desired level of doneness. If you want a truly rare middle, cook the tuna while it's still cold or partially frozen.

You can reheat your tuna steaks in the air fryer by setting it to 380ºF and heating them for 3-5 minutes. Preheating the air fryer in advance will ensure a bit of colour.

Reheating tuna steaks

If you want to cook the tuna from cold, it's best to use a good quality, fresh piece of tuna. You can also cook it from frozen, but make sure it's not frozen hard and is still pliable. You can partially thaw frozen tuna by leaving it overnight in the fridge or by immersing the vacuum-sealed package in a bowl of cold water.

Before cooking, pat the tuna dry with a paper towel, rub it with oil, and season it. Then, place the tuna in the air fryer basket and cook for 2 minutes. Flip the tuna and cook for another 1-2 minutes. You can check if the tuna is ready by looking at its edges; if they're grey, it's cooked. You can also cook it for more or less time, depending on how well done you like your tuna.

If you want to add extra flavour to your tuna steaks, you can marinate them before cooking. Whisk together your chosen marinade ingredients in a shallow dish or large bowl. Add the raw tuna to the dish in a single layer, cover with plastic wrap, and marinate for 30 minutes up to overnight, flipping the tuna halfway through so both sides absorb the flavour.

Tuna steak doneness

Tuna steaks are best cooked rare or medium-rare, as they are lean and can quickly become overcooked. To achieve a rare doneness, place the tuna steaks in a hot pan and cook for 30-45 seconds per side, until golden brown on the outside but still pink in the centre. For medium-rare, cook for 60-90 seconds on each side.

To cook tuna steaks in an air fryer, first whisk together the marinade ingredients in a shallow dish or large bowl, then add the raw fish in a single layer. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 30 minutes up to overnight, flipping halfway through. When you are ready to cook the tuna, preheat your air fryer basket for 5 minutes on the hottest setting it will go (typically 360-425ºF depending on the brand). Place the tuna steaks in the air fryer for 5 minutes, flipping at 3 minutes. You can also cook the tuna for 2 minutes, flip it, and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Check if the tuna's edges are grey, indicating it's ready.

Frequently asked questions