Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy air fryer? ›

If the cubes are too crowded in the basket, they won't crisp up as they cook. Feel free to work in batches if necessary! 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.

2) Squeeze out as much moisture as possible.

Water-logged tofu never gets super crispy. The key here is to slice the tofu into pieces before pressing it. Have you ever tried pressing a whole block, or even two halves? They just sit in soggy puddles.

This recipe is easy to make, has terrific crunchy texture, and is done in about 12 minutes—so quick! For best results, use firm or extra firm tofu and press the tofu before cooking. I resisted buying the oh-so-trendy air fryer for a looonngggg time.

Your fry temp is too low. You can start in slightly cold oil but a minute max but after that you're doomed to soggyness. Less time than that ND the heat will eventually push the oil out and make it crispy.

Spread your Tofu on a Silicone Baking Mat, leaving enough space between each cube. Bake at 425F for 20 minutes, then carefully flip the Tofu and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

Step 3: Press the tofu by placing paper towels, and something heavy on top. I usually use a sheet pan, and put heavy cans on top. Press for at least 30 minutes if you want super firm tofu. You should see a pool of water that has come out, and it should look and feel very dense.

While you can use various techniques to make tofu crispy (for example, I use freezing and boiling in this Crispy Tofu cooking guide and pressing dry plus pan-frying in this reader favorite Tofu Stir Fry, and in the oven with Baked Tofu), the best method that I've found is using the air fryer.

Place tofu pieces in one layer in the basket of your air fryer. You might need to work in batches. Air-fry at 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 6 minutes. Turn tofu pieces over and air-fry until crispy, about 6 more minutes.

What happens if you don't press tofu? ›

And if tofu is vacuumed packed or firm already, you definitely don't need to press it. Here's why: moisture in tofu is a good thing. Tofu is over 80% water, and that moisture is what makes it such a succulent, juicy source of protein. Pressing it can make the tofu unnecessarily dry and strip it of its intended texture.

If you want a nutty flavor, she suggests trying semi-refined peanut oil (such as Lion & Globe), or blending unrefined peanut oil one-to-one with a neutral cooking oil. Cook the tofu over medium to medium-high heat, searing it for one to two minutes on each side.

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.

After the hot water soak, it's still important to completely blot the pieces of tofu dry so that they don't stick to the air fryer. Combining the soak, thorough blot drying, and a good dusting of arrowroot powder will get you nicely crispy results! It only takes about 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why did chips not brown in the air oven fryer? The most common reasons would be moisture or wrong temperature. Potatoes contain a lot of moisture so you should dry the chips with paper towel before cooking. Also, if the temperature you're cooking at is too low, this could cause the chips to look a little pale.

It's essential that you spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and that you leave a little space between each one. If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches.

If these pieces are too large, they won't cook through by the time the zucchini and peppers are tender. Don't crowd the air fryer basket. The #1 rule of air frying! In order for the vegetables to become caramelized and crisp, the hot air must be able to contact them on all sides.