Air-Fryer Fish Fillet: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a quick and healthy way to cook fish fillets, producing a crispy, golden finish without the need for deep frying or excessive oil. The process is simple: prepare your chosen fillets (thawed or fresh) by coating them in oil and breadcrumbs, then place them in the air fryer basket and cook for around 10-15 minutes at 390°F (200°C). The result is a delicious, flaky fish that pairs well with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

Choosing the right fish

Types of Fish

The type of fish you choose will depend on your personal preference and the availability of fresh or high-quality frozen fillets. You can use any kind of fish fillets in the air fryer, but some popular options include cod, tilapia, catfish, pollock, hake, haddock, and even salmon. These fish have different thicknesses, so the cooking time will vary. Thicker fish like cod or halibut may need a few extra minutes, while thinner fillets like tilapia or flounder will cook faster.

Fresh or Frozen

When choosing fish for your air fryer fillets, you can opt for fresh or frozen fillets. If you go for frozen, it's essential to thaw them completely before cooking. The best way to thaw fish is to leave it in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, for smaller pieces, you can submerge them in ice-cold water for an hour until they're thawed.

Fish Quality

To ensure the best results, select high-quality fish fillets. Look for firm, mild white fish with a fresh smell and avoid any fillets with discolouration or a strong fishy odour. The fish should have moist, shiny flesh and lie flat without any gaping. Check for freshness by pressing your finger on the flesh; it should bounce back quickly.

Quantity

When purchasing fish, consider the number of fillets you need for your meal. Most recipes suggest 2-4 fillets per person, depending on their size and your sides. It's also important not to overcrowd your air fryer basket, as this can prevent the fish from crisping up nicely.

Preparation

Before cooking, pat the fillets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step helps the coating adhere better to the fish. You can then season the fillets with salt and pepper or other spices of your choice, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper.

Remember, the key to choosing the right fish for air fryer fillets is selecting fresh or high-quality frozen fillets of your preferred variety, ensuring they are the appropriate thickness for even cooking, and preparing them properly before air frying.

Preparing the fish

Firstly, you will need to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need fish fillets—you can use any type of fish, but white fish such as tilapia, cod, catfish, pollock, hake, or haddock are recommended. You will also need flour, breadcrumbs (either regular or panko), an egg, oil, and any desired seasonings. For the seasonings, you can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or add some extra flavour with spices like paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper.

Once you have gathered your ingredients, it's time to start preparing the fish. Begin by patting the fillets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important as it helps the coating adhere better to the fish. Next, season the fillets with your chosen seasonings—be sure to season both sides of the fish. If you are using flour and egg for your coating, set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with a whisked egg, and one with breadcrumbs. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the flour and egg, and mix any desired spices into the breadcrumbs. Now it's time to coat the fish. First, dredge the fillets in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip them into the whisked egg, and finally, coat them in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs gently onto the fish to ensure an even coating.

If you are not using flour and egg, you can simply coat the fillets directly with a thin layer of oil and then press them into the breadcrumbs. Again, make sure both sides of the fish are well coated.

And that's it! Your fish fillets are now ready to be cooked in the air fryer. Just remember to spray the basket with a little oil first to prevent sticking, and cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Coating the fish

To make fish fillets in an air fryer, you'll need to coat the fish in a layer of breadcrumbs. This will give the fish a crispy texture. Here's a step-by-step guide to coating the fish:

Before you start coating the fish, make sure you have your chosen breadcrumbs ready. You can use Italian breadcrumbs, or plain breadcrumbs mixed with Italian seasoning and other spices such as cayenne pepper. You could also use Panko breadcrumbs, which have more surface area and will make the fish crispier. If you want to make a gluten-free version, you can use crushed cornflakes instead of breadcrumbs.

Now, let's begin the coating process:

• Start by patting the fish fillets dry with a paper towel. This step is important as it helps the coating adhere better to the fish.
• Next, season the fillets with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or lemon pepper.
• Prepare a shallow dish with your chosen breadcrumbs and any additional spices you want to include. Mix them together.
• Coat each fish fillet with a thin layer of oil. This will help the breadcrumbs stick to the fish.
• Gently press the oiled fish fillets into the breadcrumbs, making sure to coat both sides evenly.
• After coating, gently shake off any excess breadcrumbs from the fillets.
• If desired, you can also dip the fillets in a whisked egg before coating them with breadcrumbs. This will create an extra crispy crust and help the coating adhere better.
• Once the fish fillets are coated, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer.

Remember, the coating process allows you to be creative and experiment with different types of breadcrumbs and seasonings to find the combination you like best. Enjoy making your delicious air-fried fish fillets!

Cooking the fish

First, pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This is an important step, as it helps the coating stick to the fish better. Then, season the fillets with salt and pepper.

Next, you'll want to prepare your breading station. In one bowl, whisk an egg. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you desire. Common seasonings include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, and lemon zest. In a third bowl, add your breadcrumbs. You can use regular or panko breadcrumbs. For extra flavour, mix in some Italian seasoning, cayenne, or other spices of your choice.

Now it's time to coat the fish. First, dredge the fillets in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip them into the whisked egg, and finally, coat them in the breadcrumbs. Make sure the fillets are well-coated.

Preheat your air fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you're unsure, three minutes of preheating should suffice.

Brush the air fryer grate with a little oil, or line the basket with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Place the coated fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fillets in batches.

Cook the fish at 390°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The total cooking time will depend on the thickness and type of fish you're using. Thinner fillets will cook faster, while thicker fillets like cod may take a minute or two longer. The fish is done when it's golden and can be easily flaked with a fork.

Once the fish is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately. It goes well with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, or your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Serving suggestions

There are plenty of ways to serve air fryer fish fillets. Here are some ideas:

• Classic fish and chips combo: Serve the fish fillets with French fries, lemon wedges, and tartar sauce or remoulade sauce.
• Potato options: Try air fryer baked potatoes, rosemary potato wedges, or potato cakes.
• Vegetables: Accompany the fish with roasted veggies, air fryer peppers, roasted Brussels sprouts, air fryer asparagus and mushrooms, or a salad.
• Burgers: Serve the fish fillets in burger buns with your favourite burger toppings and a remoulade dipping sauce.
• Other sides: Try air fryer French fries, oven-baked fries, baked potato wedges, or healthy vegetables like air fryer vegetables, zucchini noodles, or microwave broccoli.
• Tacos: Make fish tacos by serving the fillets with tortillas, salsa, and your favourite taco toppings.
• Burritos: Add the fish to burritos for a healthy, tasty option.

Frequently asked questions