Well, I did it. I kind of got an air fryer. I say “kind of” because I actually got a new oven with a built-in air frying function. I’m super psyched about it though, and I chose my oven specifically for the air fryer element. I’ve been playing around with it for a bit and so far this air fryer tofu recipe is my favorite. As much as I love good old baked tofu, nothing really compares to the crispy texture you get when you air fry tofu. And, best of all, this method requires very little oil. It’s the crispiest tofu you can make without having to deep fry. This is my new favorite way to prepare tofu! Let’s talk about how this easy recipe comes together!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need four simple ingredients to make this recipe!
Tofu. I like super firm tofu best for this recipe. Extra-firm tofu will also work, but you’ll need to press it in order to remove any excess water. I don’t recommend using silken tofu or soft tofu.Cornstarch.Oil. Just about any high-heat oil will work. I like peanut oil for this recipe, but olive oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil are all good choices as well!Soy sauce. Feel free to substitute tamari or liquid aminos.
Optional Seasonings
The recipe will work out just fine and be totally delicious with just the ingredients listed above, but if you’d like to add some extra flavor, try one or more of the following seasonings.
Cumin.Smoked paprika.Ginger.Onion powder.Garlic powder.Cayenne pepper.Black pepper.Toasted sesame oil.Liquid smoke.
How It’s Made
The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you’d like to skip right to the recipe!
Cut your tofu into bite-sized pieces. The recipe asks you to cut 1-inch cubes, but feel free to make them larger, smaller, or of a different shape.Place the tofu pieces into a bowl with the cornstarch, oil, soy sauce, and any spices you’d like to add. Stir everything up to evenly coat the tofu.
Place the tofu pieces in your air fryer basket. Be sure to arrange them in a single layer, so they’re not touching. This might require you to cook your tofu in batches.
Air fry the tofu for about 15 minutes at 425°F, until the pieces are browned and crispy.
Now enjoy your super flavorful tofu! Try serving your air fryer tofu with some chopped fresh chives (or green onions) and your favorite dipping sauce. I like to enjoy mine with some hot sauce or vegan barbecue sauce.Even tofu haters will love this dish!
Leftovers & Storage
Air fryer tofu is best served right away, when it’s at it’s crispiest! If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Tofu Recipes
Savory Lemon & Herb Baked TofuGrilled Tofu with Mango SalsaTofu BaconCrispy Baked Tofu NuggetsEasy Salt & Vinegar TofuSesame Ginger Marinated Tofu
Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!
title: “Crispy Air Fryer Tofu” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-30” author: “Rochelle Spencer”
🌱 What Makes This Recipe So Good
The air fryer is definitely the best way to get ridiculously crispy tofu, so if that’s what you’re going for, you’re in the right place. I’ll walk you through the whole process beginning to end, including how to press a block of tofu so you set yourself up for air fryer tofu success. Even if you’ve never cooked tofu before, I guarantee you’ll end up with perfectly cooked, restaurant-quality tofu cubes every time you use this method. The whole process is really easy. Yes, even pressing the moisture out is really easy, and super hands off if you’ve got the right tools. Once the prep’s done, the actual cooking takes as little as 10 minutes, depending on just how crispy you like your tofu cubes. Think of this like a building-block recipe. An intro to air fryer tofu, if you will. See, tofu is sort of magical in that it takes on the flavor of whatever you marinate it in, or however you season it. We only used salt and oil in this recipe, which I love because it gives it a really delicious “deep fried” flavor, like you’d find with fried tofu in a Chinese restaurant. It’s great for tossing in a sauce or serving with something to dip it in. The method doesn’t change if you use other seasonings or if you marinate the tofu first, though. That means don’t hesitate to get creative and change things up every time you make it!
👩🏼🍳 Chef’s Tips
Do NOT skip the press! I know it takes a little bit of time, which isn’t ideal if you need air fryer tofu like RIGHT NOW. But believe me, pressing the tofu makes a massive difference in the end results. If you don’t squeeze out all that excess moisture, you’ll end up with soggy tofu that doesn’t crisp up and is all-around unpleasant. Make sure you’re not using silken tofu. Silken tofu is very soft and will absolutely fall apart on you if you try to press it at all. It’s not interchangeable with regular tofu and it won’t work in this recipe. Save the silken for when you need a creamy texture, like in a sauce or dessert. We’ve talked about this in our other air fryer posts, but it bears repeating: every air fryer is different. Even two of the exact same make and model sitting right next to each other in the same kitchen can behave totally differently. Make sure you keep an eye on your tofu and check the doneness frequently, especially the first couple of times you use this method. You may need a shorter or longer cook time than I did to get the same results.
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