Air Fryer Tofu

The air fryer has made all things crispity, crunchity easy to re-create in home kitchens everywhere. This tofu recipe is a perfect example! To get crispy tofu, you'd typically need to heat up a bunch of oil, worrying about overcooking, or a messy cleanup. But an air fryer makes getting perfect golden brown tofu a cinch. The basic steps of this recipe go like this: Marinate the tofu, dredge in cornstarch, air fry, and toss in sauce. The marinade and sauce are entirely up to you, but I happen to love this particular soy marinade and the spicy sauce (it might remind you of bang bang shrimp). But you could just as easily toss the tofu in Thai peanut sauce, BBQ sauce, or a sauce of equal parts ketchup and gochujang. The options are endless!

How To Make Air Fryer Tofu

INGREDIENTS

• Tofu: I went with firm tofu because it has just the right density to hold up in the air fryer without falling apart.
• Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce: Why reduced-sodium? Because there’ll be plenty of salt in the cornstarch dredge later on.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Roasted sesame seeds give this oil gobs of complex, nutty sesame flavor and aroma. Don’t confuse it with its untoasted sibling, which only has a subtle nuttiness and is better used as a cooking oil.
• Spices: I chose a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika for a Lawry’s vibe, but by all means feel free to take things in a different direction. Tofu is the ultimate blank canvas.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the king of light, crispy crusts (see Korean fried chicken for further proof). It doesn’t turn gummy like wheat flour, it absorbs less oil than other starches, and it forms a thin, crisp layer.
• Mayonnaise: Mayo is the tie that binds the sauce, the unctuous vehicle for all its sharp, spicy, pungent flavors.
• Thai Sweet Chile Sauce & Sriracha: I decided to give syrupy chile sauce a little extra kick from sriracha. Together they set a sweet-spicy-tangy tempo for the tofu sauce.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, we need to prep the tofu. Drain the tofu well and pat it with paper towels to absorb excess water. Remember that water is antipathetic to crisp crusts, and a crisp crust is what we’re after.

Now let’s make the marinade. Whisk the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder in a large bowl to combine.

Toss the tofu in the marinade. But be gentle! You want the cubes to remain intact. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour to give tofu time to soak up the marinade.

Meanwhile, make the cornstarch dredge. Whisk the cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the tofu and toss gently to coat.

Okay, we’re ready to air fry! Lift the tofu out of the dredge, shaking off the excess, and arrange, evenly spaced, in your air fryer basket. No one likes to be crowded, and that includes tofu; so work in batches if needed. For even browning, it’s important to leave some room between the cubes so hot air can flow freely around them. Spray the tofu with cooking spray and fry at 400° until crisp and golden, turning with tongs halfway through. This should take 15 to 20 minutes total.

While the tofu is frying, make the sauce. Whisk together the mayonnaise, chile sauce, garlic, and sriracha in a large bowl. Taste and add more sriracha if you want a little extra kick.

Add the fried tofu to the sauce and toss to coat. And with that your air-fried tofu is done!

I like to serve fried tofu over rice with some slice scallions and sesame seeds sprinkled over the top to, you know, make it fashion.

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Give it a shake: Cornstarch is the secret to a thin, crisp crust. Just make sure you shake off the excess when adding the tofu to the fryer, so it doesn’t have a dusty exterior.
• Make space: Not to be a wet blanket, but air fryers don’t fry—they roast. They just do it exceptionally fast. And as always when roasting, it’s important to leave room for the hot air to circulate and do its job. So, for even browning, make sure the tofu cubes are spaced evenly apart in the fryer basket and work in batches if needed.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Tofu

How To Cook Rice

Air Fryer Broccoli

Thai Peanut Cucumber Noodles

Storage

Fried foods are, ipso facto, best the day they’re made, but this fried tofu should hold up better than most. If you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They’ll lose their crunch but maintain their flavor.