Air Frying Tilapia: The Perfect Temperature Tips

Tilapia is a flaky fish that can be cooked in an air fryer. The air fryer should be preheated to a temperature of 375-400°F/190-200°C. The fish should be seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and olive oil. It should then be cooked for 6-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F/63°C.

Preheat the air fryer to 375F/190C or 400F

Preheat your air fryer to 375F/190C or 400F. The preheating time will vary depending on your air fryer model, but it usually takes around 2 minutes. This step is crucial as it ensures the tilapia fillets cook evenly. Once preheated, lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent the fish from sticking. You can also spray both sides of the fillets with oil before placing them in the basket.

Season the tilapia fillets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and olive oil

To season the tilapia fillets, you will need salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and olive oil. Arrange the fillets on a large plate and sprinkle them with half of the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Flip them over and sprinkle the other sides with the remaining spices. Then, brush the fillets on both sides with olive oil. Make sure they are evenly coated.

Once the fillets are seasoned, you can place them in the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for two minutes. This step ensures that the fish cooks evenly. You can also spray or apply some oil to the air fryer basket to stop the fillets from sticking.

Place the basket into the air fryer and cook at 400°F without opening or flipping for seven minutes. Check if the fillets are opaque and flaky throughout. If they are, they're done. If not, return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another two to three minutes.

The internal temperature of the fillets should read 145°F (63°C) when they are fully cooked.

Place the fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer

To cook tilapia in an air fryer, you should preheat the air fryer to 375F/190C or 400F/200C. Then, place the fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the basket with oil to stop the fish from sticking. You can also spray the fillets with oil.

It's important to make sure the fillets are in a single layer so that they cook evenly. If you have a lot of fillets, you may need to cook them in batches.

Once the fillets are in the basket, you can air fry them for 6-7 minutes at 375F/190C, or 7 minutes at 400F without opening or flipping. If they're not done after this time, cook for another 2-3 minutes. You'll know they're done when they're opaque and flaky throughout.

The internal temperature of the fillets should read 145F/63C when they're fully cooked.

Cook for 6-7 minutes at 375F/190C or 7 minutes at 400F

Cooking tilapia in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare this flaky fish. The air fryer should be preheated to 375F/190C for 2 minutes. It is important to spray or apply some oil to the air fryer basket to prevent the fish from sticking. Once the air fryer is preheated, place the fish fillets in the basket and cook for 6-7 minutes at 375F/190C. The fish is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145F/63C.

Alternatively, you can cook tilapia in an air fryer at 400F/200C. Preheat the air fryer to this temperature and then cook the fish for 7 minutes. Do not open the air fryer or flip the fish during this time. After 7 minutes, check if the fish is opaque and flaky throughout. If not, return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Check if the fillets are opaque and flaky throughout

To check if your tilapia fillets are cooked, you should look for an opaque and flaky texture throughout the fish. This should take around 7 minutes at 400°F without opening or flipping the fillets. If the fish is not cooked, return the basket to the air fryer for another 2-3 minutes. You can also check the internal temperature of the fillets with a thermometer; they should read 145°F/63°C when cooked.

Frequently asked questions