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    Home » Tofu Recipes

    Air Fryer Tofu

    Lindsay Moe

    17 shares

    This air fryer tofu recipe will give you crispy tofu in just minutes! Add to your favorite salads and stir fries, serve as an appetizer, or make it a main dish.

    Crispy tofu in a white square bowl garnished with parsley next to a small bowl of dipping sauce.
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make air fryer tofu
    • Top tips
    • Tips for customizing
    • FAQ
    • More air fryer recipes
    • More tofu recipes
    • Recipe

    Even though tofu is a naturally soft and moisture-filled ingredient, it seems that everyone wants to make it crispy. 

    I’ve already shared my favorite way to make crispy fried tofu, but there’s a new favorite in town! The air fryer is one of the fastest, easiest ways to get super crispy tofu without using cornstarch.

    Air frying is kind of like pan frying or deep frying, except you’re not cooking your food in a bunch of oil. Instead, hot air is circulated around the food to make it just as crispy and delicious as it would be straight out of a traditional fryer.

    This recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free if using tamari (double check your spices), making it suitable for a lot of different people and diets. Let me show you how to do it!

    Ingredients

    • Extra firm tofu
    • Tamari or soy sauce
    • Olive oil
    • Garlic powder
    Ingredients used to make air fryer tofu.

    How to make air fryer tofu

    1. Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
    2. Drizzle tofu cubes with tamari, olive oil, and garlic powder. Toss with your hands or a spoon to coat.
    3. Add the tofu to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
    4. Stir or shake the pan and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

    Top tips

    What kind of tofu to use for air fryer tofu

    I recommend using extra firm tofu to make air fryer crispy tofu. Anything softer will not get as crisp and may even fall apart and crumble when cooking.

    two slabs of tofu on a bamboo cutting board

    How to press tofu

    Pressing tofu is easy. You can press tofu with a press, or press tofu without a press.

    All presses vary in their design. The one I use has screws to tighten the plates together. Continue to tighten your press every few minutes if necessary until the flow of liquid slows or stops, roughly 15-30 minutes.

    To press tofu without a press, stack the block of tofu between several paper towels on a plate and place something heavy on top to squeeze the water out for 15-30 minutes.

    You can press the tofu a little or a lot, it’s up to you. The tofu should feel firm and look drier than when you started.

    Tofu in a tofu press in a shallow bowl.

    How to cut tofu for air fryer tofu

    You can cut the tofu however you’d like to cook it in the air fryer, but small cubes will give you the crispiest result. I like to cut the block of tofu in half like a book, then cut each slab into fourths the long way. From there, cut each long strip into an even cube.

    Bowl of uncooked cubes of tofu.

    Don’t crowd the air fryer

    An air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food. If your tofu cubes are too close or are touching, they won’t get crispy on that side. 

    My air fryer was big enough to cook the entire package of tofu without the individual pieces touching each other, but if you need to, work in batches.

    How to store

    Air fryer tofu is best enjoyed soon after cooking, but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will lose most of its crispiness in the refrigerator, but you can reheat it in the air fryer to make it a little crispy again.

    You can also freeze this recipe in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that freezing may change the texture of the tofu.

    The best air fryer

    I’ve had the Ninja Foodi (affiliate link) for years, which has several functions including air frying and grilling. I find it works really well but is a bit bulky for a kitchen appliance.

    If you prefer a more affordable appliance that only air fries, I would recommend Ninja’s 4qt Air Fryer or this Corosi Air Fryer. Keep in mind that all appliances vary, and you may need to adjust your cooking temperature or time.

    A cube of tofu being dipped into a creamy orange dipping sauce.

    Use a light marinade

    I’ve included instructions for a basic tofu marinade, but you could also use my best tofu marinade to make this air fryer tofu recipe. I recommend staying away from thick or heavy marinades in this case because it would interfere with making the tofu crispy.

    The secrets to tofu success

    If tofu just feels too intimidating, I have a free 4 day crash course all about cooking tofu successfully. Don’t be scared, let me hold your hand through picking out the right kind of tofu, pressing, marinating, and cooking!

    a bowl of tofu

    Tips for customizing

    • Adjust the flavorings to your taste and what you have on hand (more or less tamari, olive oil, garlic powder)
    • Skip the oil altogether for an oil free recipe
    • Add a pinch of salt before air frying
    • Drizzle with a little sriracha when marinating for a spicy version
    • Toss with your favorite store bought sauce after cooking, such as bbq sauce, sweet and sour, gochujang, or even chili crisp

    FAQ

    Can you fry tofu in the air fryer?

    Yes, tofu is delicious in the air fryer. The inside stays tender while the outside gets crispy. Technically it isn’t “fried”, it’s “air fried”!

    Do you have to press tofu before air frying?

    Yes, I definitely recommend pressing your tofu before air frying. If you don’t press your tofu it will likely be too squishy at the end.

    Should I add cornstarch to make tofu crispy?

    When I was testing this recipe I tried adding cornstarch a few times because that’s how I get my crispy tofu to have such a great, crisp coating. Unfortunately, it did not work in the air fryer, and I actually got it much crispier without the cornstarch.

    Using cornstarch on air fried tofu left it powdery and bland. I do not recommend using it.

    A fork holding up a piece of air fryer tofu above a bowl full of air fryer tofu.

    More air fryer recipes

    • Air Fryer Zucchini
    • Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
    • Frozen Curly Fries in the Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Asparagus
    • Loaded Air Fryer Waffle Fries
    • Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
    • Air Fryer Home Fries

    More tofu recipes

    • Pesto Tofu
    • Scrambled Tofu
    • BBQ Tofu
    • Kung Pao Tofu
    • Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Thai Tofu Sauce
    • Balsamic Tofu
    • The Best Marinated Tofu Recipe
    • Crispy Fried Tofu
    • Cajun Tofu
    • Crispy Peanut Tofu
    Crispy tofu in a white square bowl garnished with parsley.

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

    a bowl of tofu

    Recipe

    Crispy tofu in a white square bowl garnished with parsley.

    Air Fryer Tofu

    The best crispy air fryer tofu recipe that’s ready in just minutes! Simple to make with pantry ingredients and plenty of flavor.
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    Prep Time: 16 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 26 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 152kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • 14 ounces extra firm tofu, drained, pressed, and cut into 1 inch cubes
    • 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
    • Drizzle tofu cubes with tamari, olive oil, and garlic powder. Toss with your hands or a spoon to coat.
    • Add the tofu to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
    • Stir or shake the pan and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

    Notes

     

    Tips for customizing

    • Adjust the flavorings to your taste and what you have on hand (more or less tamari, olive oil, garlic powder)
    • Skip the oil altogether for an oil free recipe
    • Add a pinch of salt before air frying
    • Drizzle with a little sriracha when marinating for a spicy version
    • Toss with your favorite store bought sauce after cooking, such as bbq sauce, sweet and sour, gochujang, or even chili crisp

    Nutrition

    Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 628mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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      How to Press Tofu With a Tofu Press
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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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    17 shares