Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy air fryer? ›

First, too much water. If you don't press the water out of your tofu, it can easily become soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature won't allow it to crisp properly.

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.

If you want to make the crispiest, crunchiest air fryer tofu possible, I recommend pressing your tofu before you cook it. This step adds some extra time to this recipe, but it's totally worth it. Pressing the excess water out of the tofu helps it cook up extra-firm and crisp.

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 in olive oil. It gives it a crispy crust when you coat 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.

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.

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories, up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer? ›

Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.

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.

You're not pressing out excess moisture.

Before frying, tofu should be pressed to eliminate any excess water. Sometimes, in a hurry to get dinner done, I skip this step. But I always regret it. The still-sort-of-wet tofu never gets as golden brown or as crisp.

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.

Firstly, if your potatoes are still wet before being placed into an air fryer, this can cause your potatoes not to crispen up. You can avoid this by thoroughly patting dry your potatoes before you place them in the air fryer. Secondly, you might be putting in too many potato chips so they aren't cooking evenly.

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. When I use 2 russet potatoes, I cook 3 batches of fries.

Air Fryer Vegetables Tips

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.