Yes, Tilapia can be made in the air fryer.
The air fryer tilapia is the easiest and healthiest fish to try. It is an affordable yet delicious meal for busy weeknights, but its taste also makes it a special happy meal too. Overall it’s keto friendly.
Making your own fried fish at home is easier and healthier, and with an air fryer, tilapia fish may become your favorite meal too.
Here I am going to guide you through everything about the air fryer tilapia so that you can easily make it without any confusion.
So, let’s start.
What is Tilapia fish?
Tilapia is a flaky white fish with having mild flavor which is affordable, easy to cook, and eaten globally.
China is the largest producer of tilapia fish. However, It is produced all over the world.
Tilapia fish is an excellent protein source and contains nutrients like phosphorus, Vitamin B12, niacin, lean, and potassium. It can be consumed as baked, grilled, air-fried, and in many other ways.
Tilapia fish is considered to be the 4th most consumed fish in the United States.
Air Fryer Tilapia
The air fryer tilapia recipe is simple but delicious, flavorful, and flaky.
Making Tilapia in the air fryer is one of the easiest cooking methods, which doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to cook and turns out perfect. Once you put the fish in an air fryer, the cooking process is hands-free.
Air fryer tilapia doesn’t need long preparations too. It’s just the season, fry, and service process.
Another good thing about making Tilapia in the air fryer is there is no waiting time as it gets done quickly, which makes it a perfect quick meal that you can serve in less than 30 minutes.
Only a few common ingredients are required to season this fish which are already present in most people’s pantries, and is natural and healthy, and do not require preservatives or coloring.
I see people getting skeptical about putting raw fish in an air fryer, whether they can cook it or not! But, it is completely safe to cook raw fish in the air fryer. In fact, it is quick and easy, and if you follow a good recipe, you will get perfectly cooked and tender fish.
Now, let me guide how tilapia fish is done in the air fryer.
Recipe
Seasoning: The seasoning of Tilapia is simple. The herbs and ingredients which flavor well in Tilapia are used in this recipe. All you have to do is, mix them and season them on fish. You can also store the ingredients for later use.
Ingredients :
- Parsley
- Garlic powder
- Tilapia’s fillet
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Salt
- Lemon
- Olive oil
Instructions
Step 1- Take a bowl and mix salt, black pepper, paprika powder, garlic powder, parsley, and oil.
Step 2 – Put the seasoning on the fish with the help of a brush.
Step 3 – Now, put the fish fillet in the air fryer and brush olive oil on top of it and season it again on top.
Step 4 – Set the temperature of the air fryer at 380° F, and the fish cooked for 5-10 minutes until cooked through and flaky.
Step 5 – Once it is done, take out the fish fillets with the help of a spatula as it would help to lift the fillet without breaking it.
Serve and Enjoy!
How to make frozen Tilapia in an air fryer?
You can easily and quickly cook frozen Tilapia in an air fryer without even thawing with simple steps.
Step 1. Add salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and parsley to a bowl and mix well until combined.
Step 2. Now put frozen Tilapia under tap water and deglaze it.
Step 3. Season the fish with a mixture of combined ingredients.
Step 4. After seasoning, put the frozen fillet in the air fryer and let it cook for 15 minutes or until fully cooked.
Step 5. Once it is done, take it out and serve.
Frozen Tilapia should be arranged in a single layer in the air fryer and cook them at the temperature of 175° C for 10-12 minutes. Additional time can be needed depending upon the model of the air fryer and the thickness of Tilapia’s fillets.
You can also check if the Tilapia is cooked with the help of a thermometer. If the internal temperature is reached 145° F, then it is safe to eat.
Check out the following video to learn about the air fryer tilapia.
Nutritional Chart
Note: This nutritional information of air fryer tilapia fish is for one fish fillet.
| Fat | 63g |
| Sodium | 150mg |
| Cholesterol | 34mg |
| Protein | 17g |
| Potassium | 110mg |
| Calcium | — |
How long does tilapia fish take to cook in an air fryer?
The cooking time of tilapia fish in an air fryer also depends upon the size of tilapia fish, if it is frozen or fresh, whether it is fillet or whole fish as whole fish and frozen tilapia would require a longer time to cook than fillet and fresh Tilapia.
The difference in cooking time is a couple of minutes only as making an air fryer tilapia fish fillet takes 8-10 minutes while cooking whole tilapia fish takes 10-15 minutes.
Other factors, such as the air fryer model, size, and voltages, affect the cooking time.
Tilapia fish is cooked when it starts appearing flaky from the outside, while from the inside, it is tender and ready to eat when its internal temperature says 145° F or more. It is better to keep a check on tilapia fish so that it is not overcooked, or else it would be dry and chewy.
Can you make this recipe with frozen tilapia fillets?
You can make this recipe with frozen tilapia fillets.
One advantage of using an air fryer is that your food can stay frozen until you’re ready to cook! Tilapia is a lean fish, so it transitions more easily from the freezer to the air fryer than a fattier fish would.
No matter whether you air fry frozen or thawed fillets, make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
How do you ensure that the tilapia in the air fryer cooks evenly?
Because each air fryer is slightly different, follow the manufacturer’s instructions while cooking your fish for the best results.
Regardless of the machine, make sure your fillets have enough room to cook and are not overlapping. Turn them if one corner of the fillet becomes darker than the others, but avoid flipping them to avoid losing any of the delectable toppings to the basket.
Conclusion
You can easily make tilapia fish in an air fryer with an easy method and quick cooking process.
- Tilapia fish takes hardly 5-10 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
- You can also cook raw fish in the air fryer.
- The internal temperature of air fryer tilapia fish must be 175°F or above it to eat.
- The cooking time of air fryer tilapia fish depends on many factors, such as the size of the fish, if it is frozen or fresh, and many other factors.
- Overcooked fish can be dry and chewy.