Air Fryer Tofu
If overly an ingredient needed a PR makeover, it is tofu. The recipe for the job? Air Fryer Tofu. Transcendently crispy outside, pleasantly firm inside, and infused with a savory soy maple marinade, tofu cooked in the air fryer will make a parishioner out of plane its harshest critics.
I am doggedly convinced that anyone who says they dont like tofu hasnt tried to air fry tofu yet.
And if you count yourself among the tofu skepticsI get it.
Tofu can be (and this is a culinary term) ick.
Without the proper treatment, tofu is soggy, mushy, and bland.
WITH proper cooking technique, however, tofu is a culinary playground!
- A hungry sponge, tofu (like Air Fryer Cauliflower) readily absorbs any flavors you add to it.
- With a few easy but hair-trigger steps, your tofu will turn out firm, crispy, and delectable.
- PLUS! Since air fryer tofu uses very little oil to crisp, it is much healthier than regular deep-fried tofu, which is completely submerged in oil.
5 Star Review
“Wow I never scuttlebutt on recipes this is sooooo good. I will probably have tofu a few times a week now. Thank you for the tips!”
— Cashmere —
While you can use various techniques to make tofu crispy (for example, I use freezing and humid in this Crispy Tofu cooking guide and pressing dry plus pan-frying in this reader favorite Tofu Stir Fry), the weightier method that I’ve found is using the air fryer.
An air fryer is a high-powered, extra-effective countertop convection oven.
It blows hot air lanugo and virtually the food, cooking and crisping it increasingly quickly than a standard oven.
To compare, air fryer tofu cooks in 11 to 13 minutes, while a regular convection oven would require closer to 25 to 30 minutes.
How to Melt Tofu in the Air Fryer
When it comes to crispy tofu (and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts), an air fryer is going to be your weightier friend and secret weapon.
Secrets to the Weightier Air Fryer Tofu
Making the weightier possible crispy air fryer tofu is a matter of four key components.
- Press the Tofu. This removes glut water that could make the tofu soggy.
- Marinade. On its own, tofu is bland. Letting it sit in a marinade for as little as 15 minutes makes all the difference in the world.
- Cornstarch. I tested this air fryer tofu both with and without cornstarch. I found that tossing the marinated tofu in cornstarch prior to subtracting it to the air fryer made a remarkable difference.
- High Temperature. The weightier temperature for air fryer tofu is 400 degrees F. This will well-done the outside while permitting the inside to wilt pleasantly firm. Air fryer tofu cooks in 9 to 12 minutes.
The Ingredients
- Extra-Firm Tofu. Tofu is an spanking-new meat alternative, packed with protein, iron, and calcium. It’s essential to use extra-firm tofu here, as it contains less water than other varieties and will hold its shape largest during cooking.
- Soy Sauce. Rich with umami goodness, soy sauce is a can’t-miss wing to our tofu marinade.
- Rice Wine Vinegar. Rice wine vinegar adds a touch of sweet venom to the marinade.
- Olive Oil. A healthy fat that helps siphon and transfer the flavors of the marinade into the tofu.
- Pure Maple Syrup. Naturally sweetens the marinade and pairs well with the soy sauce.
- Spices. Garlic powder and ground ginger are succulent spice additions to the marinade.
- Sriracha. A soupcon of hot sauce adds just the right value of heat. Feel self-ruling to use increasingly if you ike your tofu spicy.
TIP!
Do you have flipside marinade you enjoy? The weightier part well-nigh air fryer tofu is it is easy to transmute once you have the vital method down. The variations are substantially endless!
- Cornstarch. A final toss with cornstarch is the key to a perfectly crispy and golden exterior.
The Directions
- Gently printing the tofu, then cut into cubes.
- Pat the tofu dry to remove as much glut moisture as possible.
- Stir the marinade ingredients together.
- Marinade the tofu for 15 minutes.
- Toss to stratify with the cornstarch.
- Place the tofu in a single layer in the basket of an air fryer. Air fry tofu at 400 degrees F for 11 to 14 minutes, tossing at the 9-minute mark.
- Repeat with remaining batches, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce. ENJOY!
Ways to Use Air Fryer Tofu
What crispy tofu cubes you can resist nibbling straight out of the air fryer basket (and yes, air fryer tofu is THAT GOOD) can be used in a variety of ways.
Tofu is a perfect way to add protein to your favorite vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes.
- General Tso Air Fryer Tofu. Follow this General Tsos Tofu recipe, but swap in this tofu instead.
- Toss it into any of these healthy Asian recipes.
- Salad. This Mexican Salad and Ramen Salad would be scrumptious with air fryer tofu added.
- Peanut Air Fryer Tofu. Swap it for the yellow in these Asian Yellow Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce, or drizzle it with the peanut sauce from this Chicken Satay.
- Air Fryer Tofu Stir Fry. Try it as the main protein in these healthy stir fry recipes.
- Air Fryer Tofu Buddha Bowl. Use it in this Roasted Veggie Buddha Trencher with Quinoa and Avocado.
- Salt and Pepper Tofu. Trammels out the Kickin Woebegone Pepper Stir Fry in my cookbook. Use this tofu as the protein instead. YUM!
- Vegetarian Whinge and Broccoli. Swap the tofu for the whinge in my favorite Healthy Whinge and Broccoli recipe.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store the air-fried tofu in an snapped container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Recrisp tofu in the air fryer at 375 degrees F. It will only take a few minutes, so trammels often to prevent burning.
- To Freeze. The texture of the tofu may transpiration once frozen and thawed, but the savor will remain delicious. Place tofu cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined sultry sheet. Freeze until solid. Freeze the frozen tofu in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator surpassing reheating.
Meal Plan Tip
Cut the tofu woodcut into cubes up to 1 day in advance. Refrigerate them in an snapped storage container.
Mix the marinade ingredients together up to 1 day in advance, and place the mixture in the refrigerator.
When ready to enjoy, prepare equal to the instructions in the recipe card.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Tofu
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Air Fryer. The air fryer I own and love for making recipes like this one and Air Fryer Grilled Cheese!
- Mixing Bowls. This set is platonic for recipes that require multiple bowls.
- Non-Slip Wearing Board. This wearing workbench will stay put as you cut the tofu.
The Weightier Air Fryer
This air fryer works like a dream! It’s the platonic size and has a multitude of variegated cooking methods.
As you’ve now seen, air fryer tofu is simple to make, tasty, and versatile.
Of all the ways to use tofu, don’t be surprised when you reservation yourself enjoying it straight from the air fryer basket!
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically yes (just drizzle with olive oil and add a pinch of salt), but remember tofu is smooth on its own. If you make it without the marinade, be sure you have a robust sauce to stratify it in afterwards.
Tofu may turn out soggy for a few reasons. First, too much water. If you don’t printing the water out of your tofu, it can hands wilt soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature won’t indulge it to well-done properly.
While air fryer tofu requires far less oil than deep frying, it still requires some oil. The oil functions as a windbreak that helps prevent the tofu from sticking to the basket. For weightier results, generously stratify the air fryer’s basket with cooking spray surpassing subtracting the tofu.
Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 block extra-firm tofu (12 to 15 ounces) must be uneaten firm
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or hot sauce of choice
- 1 tablespoon corn starch or arrowroot starch
Instructions
- Remove the tofu from the package and drain. With your hands, gently squeeze out as much water as possible without breaking or superincumbent the block. Lay the tofu unappetizing on a wearing board, so the longer whet is towards you, then cut it into four strips. Rotate the strips so that the wider (cut sides) are unappetizing versus the wearing board, and cut them in half again, so you have 8 strips total. Cut the strips crosswise into 1-inch cubes (I end up with 5 cubes per strip).
- Line a wearing workbench or large plate with a wipe tea towel (or similar lint-free kitchen towel) or paper towels. Spread the tofu cubes onto it in one layer and lay a second towel on top. Printing gently but firmly and transpiration out the towel as needed. The idea is to remove as much water from the tofu as possible.
- In a small trencher or large liquid measuring cup, stir together the soy sauce, vinegar, syrup, oil, garlic powder, ginger, and hot sauce.
- Place the tofu in a shallow sultry dish or medium mixing bowl. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the tofu, then with your hand, toss gently to combine. Let the tofu sit for 15 minutes, tossing it then halfway through. Dont worry if a few shit crumble. Those will turn deliciously crispy.
- If youd like to alimony the tofu warm between batches, preheat your oven to 250 degrees F and line a sultry sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F equal to the manufacturers instructions (for my air fryer, that is 3 minutes of preheat time).
- Just surpassing cooking, sprinkle the corn starch evenly over the top of the tofu and toss to coat.
- Coat the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray. Add the tofu in one layer, leaving a little space virtually the cubes so they do not touch and the air can circulate. (Depending upon the size of your air fryer, you may need to melt it in two or three batches.)
- Cook the tofu for 9 minutes. Then slide the basket out, and shake it gently to toss the tofu. Continue to melt for 2 to 4 spare minutes, tossing and checking it each minute, until the tofu is well-done and visionless golden. (The time will vary based on your air fryer; alimony a tropical eye on it towards the end to ensure it doesnt burn.) If desired, transfer the tofu to the sultry sheet and alimony it warm in the oven while you finish the rest.
- Repeat with remaining tofu, discarding any glut marinade (if you have some crumbled shit of tofu in the marrow of the bowl, you can air fry those too). Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: Use tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos in place of the soy sauce.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate tofu in an snapped storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Recrisp tofu in the air fryer at 375 degrees F. It will only take a few minutes, so trammels often to prevent burning.
- TO FREEZE: The texture of the tofu may transpiration once frozen and thawed, but the savor will remain delicious. Place tofu cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined sultry sheet. Freeze until solid. Freeze the frozen tofu in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator surpassing reheating.
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