Air-Fryer Tofu Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Lauren in Spain

Hard to find potato starch in my village. Would cornstarch be an acceptable substitute?

Lynda Spiegel

Used cornstarch instead of potato starch

Barbara

For people having trouble finding potato starch (at least in the US)- you're in luck! Look in the Passover aisle of your supermarket.

Bill

I wonder if the tofu could be torn into pieces rather than sliced. It would create lots of craggy places to promote crispiness...I have seen that it works well with tofu.

Gina

I toss drained tofu cubes with cornstarch, ground ginger, garlic powder, pepper, and salt in a brown paper bag and skillet-fry or air-fry them; works well.

Sheila T

how would you cook this in an oven or a convection oven?

LarryAt27N

Cooking note: the tofu chunks kept their pale complexions despite extra time in the air fryer. So, after dunking them in the sauce, I returned them to the still-hot fryer at 400 for about four minutes, turning them once. That did the trick, giving me tofu chunks that looked as good as they tasted. I served them with buttered sticky rice out of a 90-second bag, delicious.

Tony Maiorana

Made everything as the recipe, except doubled the glaze. So yummy. Made crispy brussel sprouts and rice to complete the meal.

kjporfavor

Yes, you can use corn starch in place of potato starch. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/potato-starch-substitute

Suz

I made this using the potato starch instead of corn starch for the first time last night. I don't have an air fryer, just convection. I can not believe the night and day difference between the potato starch and corn starch. MUCH crispier, much chewier. Making in the convection though it didn't get as golden. Definitely will use the potato starch again. I made my own sauce and am really just commenting on the difference between the two starches.

Kirsten

I would switch up the first two steps—press the tofu first, AND THEN preheat the air fryer. No need to have an air fryer preheating for 30 minutes.

Karen

Per Sam: Eleanore Park’s air-fryer tofu works almost as well in a regular oven, and exactly as well in an oven with a convection setting. Potato starch gives the tofu an extra crispy skin, and the soy glaze makes it thrilling alongside a mound of rice, perhaps with some stir-fried greens.

Susan

This really needs some minced garlic and scallions for flavor, which is what I add, one of each- some red pepper if feeling spicy. I’d also add sesame seeds/ sesame oil if I had them

Elizabeth

I do this at 400 or 425 as long as your over doesn't smoke too much. I line a sheet pan with parchment paper and flip half way through. Works great.

Mapotato 2

Cornstarch should work in this too, if you can’t find potato starch. The finish potato starch gives is a touch more crisp, but corn starch will be fine in a pinch.

Marli

I am a diabetic - this worked so well my husband could not tell it was not sugar: Used 1 Tb of brown monkfruit sweetener with 1/4 c soy and 1/4 c Eden brown rice vinegar. (I buy it by the case from Eden).Splashed in 1-1/2 Tb or so of chili garlic sauce from the Asian grocery. Thickened beautifully.Added garlic powder and almost too much cayenne to the potato starch. Yum!

sarah m

The crust was tough in our oven air fryer. Maybe I had coated the tofu too thick? Would not make again

Margarita

Good recipe for quick meal. Adding spices (garlic powder, five spice powder, cayenne and black pepper) to potato starch definitely helps with flavor. Foodie worked great- Tofu was nice and crisp .

Rebecca Fisher

Not a good idea to spray your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray — it ruins the coating on the basket

sam

gonna use paneer instead of tofu

Alex

Why not buy firm super-firm tofu instead of having to press medium-firm tofu? ?

LcTh

Instead of wasting a bunch of non-food grade paper towels, just cube the tofu and microwave it for a minute or two. Faster, less messy.

Janet

This didn’t work well for me. I substituted tapioca starch for potato starch, so this might be why I didn’t get the golden, crunchy potato nugget appearance. The tofu cubes puffed up, but were tough on the outside and rather deflated on the inside. Any thoughts?

el Hefa

Nothing I could do to make this recipe resemble anything like the picture. Amazing how we keep trying to get deep fried texture without deep frying.

Saj

Great quick recipe! In addition ti playing it by the book, it also turns out great without the sauce and using it for tofu sandwhiches with the tofu sliced into inch thick patties. Also experimented by doing a nice of potato starch and flour so that the tofu catches a bit more brown while cooking. Both ways are fantastic!

Gary

I spray olive oil when using my air fryer. I'd be hesitant to use "non stick cooking spray." I won't use it on teflon or ceramic non stick frying pays or on my carbon steel pans.

emily

Mine did not look like the photo and it was still kind of powdery and dry after 20 min the air fryer. Will try again with more spray oil and higher temp. Used my own sauce! Was still perfectly crispy.

Emily

I added this tofu to an orange chicken sauce (no chicken!). It wasn't crispy and seemed more hard/dense.

Ann

We loved it. Added some paprika potato starch helps with cover. Dipping sauce makes a great dish. Added steamed bok choy and rice. Will make it again.

Al G

Rice flour(starch) can be used in place of potato starch. Asian markets will have it, as well as on the internet.

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Air-Fryer Tofu Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long do you put tofu in the air fryer? ›

Air fry at 400°F for 11-15 minutes, tossing halfway so that the tofu cooks evenly on all sides. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and browned around the edges. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking, as the exact cooking time will depend on your specific air fryer. That's it!

How do you know if tofu is cooked enough? ›

Here are some signs to look out for: Texture: Cooked tofu should have a firm and slightly springy texture. When you press it gently with a fork or your finger, it should offer some resistance but still feel tender. If it feels too soft or mushy, it may need further cooking.

Is air-fried tofu unhealthy? ›

Air-frying is an excellent alternative to traditional frying methods, as it delivers the same delicious flavor and crispy texture without the added oil. This results in a product that is much healthier, containing significantly less fat and calories.

What can you use instead of cornstarch for air fryer tofu? ›

You can easily make air fryer tofu without cornstarch! Simply sub another starch like arrowroot starch or tapioca starch. You can also follow our recipe for Air Fryer Sriracha Tofu for a completely starch-free method.

Why is my tofu not crispy in the air fryer? ›

A quick soak in boiling salted water, plus the well-circulated high heat of the air fryer combine for the best crispy, chewy, and flavourful tofu. The salt water soaking step draws excess moisture out of the firm or extra firm tofu, making for a crispy-crunchy and well-seasoned end result.

Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

While tofu is delicious pan-fried or deep-fried, it's even more delicious made in an air fryer. Besides the fact that the tofu comes out super crispy, it's super easy to make and has minimal cleanup. The secret to making tofu extra-crispy in an air fryer is to coat the tofu with cornstarch.

How long does it take to fully cook tofu? ›

Add a small amount of oil to a non-stick skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add tofu to pan and brown on each side for about 1-2 minutes for a total of about 15 minutes.

Can tofu be undercooked? ›

Can you eat raw tofu? It's not dangerous, as long as you take care to observe good hygiene. As we mention below, just like any other food, if tofu is not stored and prepared correctly, you run the risk of bacterial contamination, and you could get sick. But that's not specific to eating raw tofu.

Is it OK to undercook tofu? ›

Compared with eating raw meat or eggs, eating raw tofu poses minimal risk of foodborne illness due to the fact that tofu itself is a cooked food. Still, eating raw tofu may increase your risk of certain foodborne illnesses, depending on how it was prepared.

What is the downside of tofu? ›

Contains antinutrients

Like most plant foods, tofu contains several antinutrients. These compounds are naturally found in plant foods and lower your body's ability to absorb nutrients from food ( 6 ).

Why is air fried food not healthy? ›

Some things about air frying may not be better for you, though. In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking.

Are there any negatives to air frying? ›

Air fryer health risks

Studies show that using an air fryer can increase the levels of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) in fish. COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions.

Is cornstarch or flour better for air frying? ›

An equal amount of all-purpose flour and cornstarch provides both structure and crunch to the batter. Cornstarch is a go-to ingredient for many fried foods (think crispy chicken wings), and using it to bolster the crisping power of flour resulted in a thinner, crispier, and sturdier (yet still delicate) breading.

What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

What does cornstarch do in air fryer? ›

Mixing corn starch into your seasoning is the key, because corn starch coats the wings easily and absorbs any excess moisture– making the crispiest chicken wings you've ever had. Then the air fryer does the rest of the work!

How many minutes do you put in the air fryer? ›

Air-Fryer Cooking Chart
FOODTEMPERATUREAIR-FRYER TIME
Burgers350°F8-10 minutes
Chicken Breast375°F22-23 minutes
Chicken Tenders400°F14-16 minutes
Chicken Thighs400°F25 minutes
42 more rows
Mar 2, 2022

How long do you put in air fryer? ›

Air Fryer Cooking Times: Meat, Fish, and Vegetables
PoultryTimeTemp (C)
Drumsticks20-25 mins200c
Boneless Chicken Breasts15-18 mins190c
Boneless Chicken Thighs15-20 mins200c
Bone-in Chicken Thighs25-30 mins200c
45 more rows
Dec 12, 2022

How many minutes should I cook tofu? ›

Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy. Step 2: Flip the tofu pieces and season the cooked side with salt. Allow the second side to cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the second side is golden brown and crispy.

Can you dry tofu in an air fryer? ›

Pressing the tofu removes extra water, but since the air fryer will dry out the tofu anyways, pressing it is just an extra step that isn't needed for this recipe.

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