Easiest Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
The perfect crispy tofu to dip or toss in your favorite sauces. It comes together quick and easy thanks to the air fryer.
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Servings: 5 servings
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Equipment
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 (14 or 16 oz) block firm or extra-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil of choice
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (use a little less if you're going to use a very salty dipping sauce)
- black pepper to preference
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
Instructions
Press Tofu
- Ahead of time, use your favorite method to press your block of tofu for at least 10 minutes. (A tofu press is my favorite method, but you can also simply wrap your block of tofu in a clean, lint-free kitchen towel and gently weigh it down with something flat, such as a cutting board.)
Season Tofu
- Once your tofu has been pressed, cut it into roughly 1" cubes, or tear it into bite-sized pieces. (I prefer to tear mine, because the irregular pieces develop a nice crispy, craggy texture that holds sauce even better.)
- Place the tofu pieces in a mixing bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil, then sprinkle over the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Give the pieces a toss to coat — try to be gentle so the tofu pieces don't crumble. A flexible rubber spatula can be really helpful here. (Or, if you have a container with a lid, you can simply give everything a gentle shake to coat.)
- With the tofu pieces coated in oil and seasonings, now add the cornstarch and give the tofu another gentle toss to coat.
Air Fry Tofu
- Transfer the tofu pieces into the basket of your air fryer. (You can spray or lightly brush the bottom of the basket with oil if it isn't nonstick.) It's best if you can keep the pieces in one layer with just a little bit of space in between them (so they don't stick together), but it's okay if they overlap a little.
- Air fry for 18-20 minutes at 400°F, or until golden brown and crispy. Give the air fryer basket a shake at around the 8 minute mark. Then give it another shake after 5 more minutes. This will help the tofu to brown and crisp evenly.
- An important note: Each model of air fryer will work a little differently. The first time you make this recipe, I recommend checking on the tofu periodically as it cooks, just to make sure it doesn't overly brown. I tested this recipe with my Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer and 20 minutes is perfect for us.The tofu may also cook a little faster if you pressed it longer. More excess moisture = longer cook time. Feel free to add extra cook time (1-2 minutes at a time) to achieve the perfect level of crispiness.
- Serve immediately. Toss with any of your favorite sauces or serve with your favorite dips. Some of my favorite ways to enjoy are:-Tossed in buffalo or BBQ sauce to enjoy as a snack with a side of ranch.-Tossed with sweet chili or orange sauce and stir-fried vegetables, and served with steamed rice for dinner.
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