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There’s no cornstarch needed and no pressing tofu to make this ridiculously easy and crispy Air Fryer Tofu recipe. This tofu is golden brown on the edges while soft on the inside, delicious, and will go well in any dish you want to make.
I’ve left the tofu plain, with no spices, so it can work in any recipe. But feel free to spice it up before cooking by adding some onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, paprika, or even ranch powder.
Also, you’ll want to use a high smoke point oil with neutral flavor for this tofu. High smoke point (400° F and higher) oils that are great for air fryer tofu include: canola oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and peanut oil. These oils are better suited for cooking at higher temperatures.
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Sauce it with
Crispy tofu goes well with so many sauces. From Asian flavors to Mexican flavors. Toss this cooked tofu with some sauteed veggies, rice or pasta, and some sauce and you have a delicious and easy dinner.
Some great sauce ideas: Peanut Sauce, Enchilada sauce, Buttermilk ranch dressing, Chimichurri, and Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce.
Serve these instead of the salmon in my Teriyaki Salmon Bowl.
I’ve used the air fryer tofu in my delicious Orange Peel Tofu Recipe (photo above).
Serve the cooked tofu on Pasta Fresca for an easy dinner as well.
What is tofu?
I suspect that if you’re looking at this recipe, you probably already have an idea that tofu is a great plant-based protein. It contains all the essential amino acids, and is neutral in flavor. One of the things I love about tofu is that it goes so well with so many other flavors.
Tofu is curdled soybeans that are pressed into blocks, kind of like making cheese.
It comes in many different varieties including silken, regular, and extra firm. For this recipe, you want to make sure you’re buying extra firm tofu. It’ll keep its shape better and have a better texture for this recipe than the other varieties.
How to make crispy tofu
I’ve recently discovered how easy it is to get great crispy tofu from the air fryer, and this is now my preferred method for cooking tofu.
Detailed printable recipe card lower in the post with all ingredients and detailed instructions.
No more pressing tofu with paper towels and heavy objects for a long time. No more tofu stuck to the pan, or burned edges. It’s so easy to get great tofu from the air fryer! Here’s how to make crispy air fryer tofu! And this takes just 15 minutes of cooking time.
Cut the extra firm tofu into cubes. I suggest about 1-inch cubes. But it can be cut smaller as well if you’d like. Anywhere from about ½-inch to about an inch.
Gently toss the cut tofu with a little oil in a medium bowl.
Preheat the air fryer. Place the oil & cubed tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket, so that all the tofu has a little bit of space around each piece. Cook at 400° F for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. You’ll get golden brown tofu, with nice crispy edges that’s perfect for tossing in all kinds of dishes.
If you have a smaller air fryer, you’re going to want to cook this in two batches; you don’t want to crowd the tofu. If it’s too crowded in there, it won’t brown nicely.
Want the tofu a little darker? Simply cook it a little longer, maybe 5 more minutes. Want it a little lighter and softer, just take off a little cooking time.
Can this be made ahead?
Yes, tofu is great for meal prep and you can make it ahead.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 to 5 days.
To reheat, pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes. Reheat it in the microwave as well, though it may not be quiet as crispy. But that makes it great for lunches at work.
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Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
Air Fryer Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon oil
- 16 ounces extra firm tofu cut into 1″ cubes
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400° F.
- In a medium bowl, gently toss cubed tofu with ½ tablespoon oil. If you want to add spices to your tofu, now’s the time. Gently toss in any spices you want.
- Once air fryer is hot, place the cubed tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400° F for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, cook this in two batches.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Min
I love fried tofu but really don’t like deep frying them, so this air fryer method is perfect! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. LOVE IT! Thanks for the recipe!