Air frying is a quick and dynamic way to prepare fish, whether for a casual lunch or for a special occasion dinner. It’s a simple cooking method that can help new seafood chefs get more comfortable with preparing fish at home. But an air fryer is also a great appliance for any home cook because it has the unique ability to add crispy texture to even a simple fillet of fish.
Many of us may primarily associate air fryers with convenience and health, but it’s actually one of our top picks for cooking high-quality fish from Alaska. Whether you’re preparing wild-caught sockeye or a mild white fish like Pacific halibut, the air fryer will help you enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals any day of the week.
Preparing Fish for the Air Fryer: Tips and Tricks
Before you start cooking fish in an air fryer, it's important to prep the fillets properly. These tips and tricks will ensure that you get the best results:
- Pat the fish dry: As with many other cooking methods, it’s important to gently pat fish dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to prep. This will absorb any excess moisture from the exterior of the fish so that you can get the crispiest crust. Excess moisture on the surface of the fillets inhibits browning and crisping.
- Add oil or fat to the fish: Lightly brushing the fillet with oil will help create a golden, crispy exterior on air fryer fish. Extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil work well, but melted butter is also a delicious option. A light coating is all you need. If you’re air frying fish in a breading, it helps to spray the breaded fillets with cooking spray to help enhance browning.
- Season the fish: Even the simplest seasoning blend works wonders for air fryer fish. Try seasoning wild salmon or white fish with a homemade spice rub, or even go as basic as salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The convection heat of the air fryer will enhance the flavors and texture of any spices that you use.
- Sauce the fish: Some air fryer recipes call for a sauce, glaze, or marinade. Shake off any excess before air frying the fish to help limit cleanup later, as excess sauce can leak out of the basket and create a mess.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Cooking Fish in an Air Fryer
Once your fish is prepared, it’s time to cook! Follow these simple steps to air fry wild-caught Alaskan fish to perfection:
- Preheat the air fryer: Start by preheating your air fryer, if recommended for your model. This step will help the fish cook more evenly and develop a crisp texture.
- Arrange the fish in the basket: Place fish fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure not to crowd the fillets, as this can prevent the fish from cooking evenly and inhibit an all-around crisp.
- Set the cooking time and temperature: Generally, we recommend a temperature of 390-400°F unless otherwise stated in the recipe. The cook times will range from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the species, the thickness of the fillet, or the type of cut.
- Flip halfway through: If recommended by your air fryer, flip the fish halfway through cooking. This will ensure the best texture.
Recommended Cook Times for Air Fryer Fish
Use the range of cook times below as a guide, depending on how your fish is portioned or prepared. Expect thinner fillets or smaller cuts of fish to cook more quickly than thicker, chunkier cuts of fish.
- For wild salmon fillets: 6 to 10 minutes
- For white fish fillets like halibut, cod, or sablefish: 8 to 10 minutes
- For thinner fillets and smaller cuts of white fish like rockfish or Wild Alaska Pollock: 5 minutes or less
Can you air fry fish from frozen?
Yes, fish can be air fried from frozen. In fact, it’s a great method for cooking fish from frozen, because convection can distribute heat evenly around a frozen fillet, allowing for more even results. Here’s a step-by-step guide for how air fry frozen fish without defrosting it: How to Air Fry Fish from Frozen
