Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy in the air fryer? ›

If the cubes are too crowded in the basket, they won't crisp up as they cook. Feel free to work in batches if necessary! Air fry at 400°F for 11-15 minutes, tossing halfway so that the tofu cooks evenly on all sides. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and browned around the edges.

It's crunchy, super flavourful, protein-packed, and simple to make. And you don't have to do any chopping! I do prefer this air fried tofu over pan fried tofu. The cooking method itself is just easier and it doesn't make as much of a mess.

Olive oil: Helps to coat the tofu and promote crispiness during baking or air frying. Any neutral oil can be used as a substitute. Garlic powder: Adds a subtle garlic flavor without overpowering the tofu. Cornstarch: The key to achieving a crispy exterior.

Air-frying is an excellent alternative to traditional frying methods, as it delivers the same delicious flavor and crispy texture without the added oil. This results in a product that is much healthier, containing significantly less fat and calories.

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.

After pressing, try tossing the tofu with a little soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil — or any other seasonings that sound good to you. Let the tofu sit for a few minutes to absorb the seasonings, then carry on with pan-frying.

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

Let the marination magic happen

You should aim to marinate tofu for at least 2 hours in the fridge. To infuse more flavour, you can leave it to marinade for up to 2 days before cooking up.

I love to serve it up with some rice and broccoli to make a sort of buddha bowl, but you can also serve it in a stir fry or with my vegan fried rice. Tofu does not contain sesame as it is just made with soy beans, but this recipe contains sesame oil for a delicious sesame flavor.

Can you eat raw tofu? ›

How to safely eat raw tofu. While tofu comes in a variety of textures — silken, firm, and extra firm — technically any of them can be eaten raw. Before enjoying raw tofu, drain off any excess liquid from the packaging. It's also important to store tofu properly to prevent germs from growing on any unused portions.

Marinate tofu slices for as long as you can. Just before frying coat it in flour on all sides. Once floured, dip it in activated flax and finally in seasoned breadcrumbs – pressing the tofu into the breadcrumbs for better adherence.

3) Toss your tofu in oil, soy sauce and starch.

Cornstarch is a more processed ingredient, but it yields the crispiest results. Arrowroot is less processed and works well, but the outer covering can turn a little slippery and strange if you're adding the tofu to a dish containing a lot of moisture (like curry).

If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can try a substitute such as potato starch or arrowroot starch. Salt and pepper: You can also add additional seasonings like garlic and onion powder, paprika, nutritional yeast, etc.

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.

Add a Small Amount of Oil and Place in Basket

While we wish it were possible to fry without any oil, air fryers do need a little oil to make your food crispy (but you'll use a lot less than a traditional fryer).

Why Are My Air Fryer Potato Chips Not Crispy? If your potato chips aren't crispy, it's likely because your potatoes were not completely dry before you started cooking, or you did not soak and rinse them long enough. Using too much oil could also make your potato chips less crispy.