How to Cook Tofu in an Air Fryer
If you haven’t tried tofu in a while, or think it’s a food that you would never eat – I invite you to try again. For the longest time I never would come near tofu because of my perception it was gross and something I wouldn’t want to eat. Today I can’t wait to show you my recipe on how to cook tofu in an air fryer!
Fast forward and my son Mark who has been vegan for a long time now frequently started making tofu and it started to appeal to me. Now I make and eat it all the time. And lucky for me, tofu is a zero point food on my Weight Watchers plan!
What type of tofu should I use in this recipe?
When looking for tofu – you will see a few varieties. For this recipe and what I use most for stir fries or making air fried tofu – is extra firm tofu. You will see another variety – silken tofu – that’s more for baking, I’ve used silken tofu in muffin recipes, pies, etc…
Do I need to press tofu before cooking?
Yes! Tofu comes in a liquid that needs to be drained so you get a crispier end product. I personally don’t have a tofu press – that’s a gadget that can press the liquid out. I place the tofu I want to use on a plate lined with paper towels. Add the tofu on top, another layer of paper towels, and then I’ll add something heavy like a pot to squeeze out the extra liguid.
Generally – I’ll press it for at least an hour before cooking to get the results I want.
What air fryer should I use?
There are tons of different air fryers on the market. I’ve been using one pretty much on a daily basis is the Cosmo Official 2.3 quart size. Currently on Amazon at $48 dollars. It’s the perfect size for 1-2 people and since most days I used it to make just my breakfast and lunch – it’s super easy and it cleans so great too!
How to Cook Tofu in an Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 block tofu – pressed for at least 30 minutes (16 oz. package)
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tbsp corn starch
Instructions
- After the tofu is pressed – cut it into cubes.
- Add the tofu to a bowl, add the olive oil and shake to coat.
- Add the spices and corn starch and stir well to coat each tofu piece with the seasoning.
- Prejeat air fryer at 400 for 5 minutes.
- Spray the basket with cooking spray. Add the tofu and spray the tops of the tofu with cooking spray.
- Bake for 10 minutes, shaking the basket occossionally.
Notes
Other recipes of mine you might like!
20 minute ramen with chicken and broccoli
Stir fry – homemade potsticker dough
Have you tried tofu yet? Let me know if you try this! Tag me on Instagram @jenncooks!