How do you cook tofu in an air fryer? Tofu can be tricky to cook, but don’t let that stop you! Air Fryer Tofu is a delicious recipe and a simple method for getting a crunchy outside and a soft light inside for all your airfryer tofu bites.
Air Fryer Tofu Bites
If you’ve been following me and reading some of my other air fryer recipes, then you know that I truly love using the Air Fryer. If there was ever a doubt of skepticism from me about if I would love the appliance or not, it’s 100% gone now.
The Air Fryer is a GREAT way to cook many things and tofu is one of them! You can serve these air fryer tofu bites with some air fryer broccoli or air fryer corn.
In our house, we eat tofu quite often. Being vegetarian, it’s a great way to supplement in something a bit different and healthy for us and our taste buds.
We’ve cooked it so many different ways that it’s hard to even truly remember them all now.
The one thing that I know for certain? If my family likes tofu, we’re going to keep finding super delicious recipes to make that let tofu be the star of the show!
That is pretty much how we developed our airfryer tofu recipe! Who would have thought that one of our favorite ways to cook tofu, would be to air fry tofu!
This air fryer tofu recipe is just awesome, simply awesome. The tofu comes out crispy on the outside and light and airy on the inside! It is simply perfect to enjoy “as is” or eat on top of a salad.
Not only is this recipe a quick and easy meal that the entire family loves, it truly is a great source of much-needed protein as well.
Finding a food that even the kids love can be a bit tricky at times, but when it comes to tofu, they love it too!
If you are new to the tofu world, then take some time to do a bit of research and get educated. You can check out our article on Understanding Tofu – A Beginners Guide or our Benefits of Tofu article.
Both have great information that will give you a little more info about the amazing benefits of tofu, (whether it’s airfried tofu or not!)
Truth be told, I’ve been playing with the Air Fryer quite a bit lately. It’s so hard not too! While I was thinking of new things to cook in it, I found that it can cook up tofu in a SNAP!
Like, super duper easy. No issues at all.
Don’t forget to Press that Tofu!
One little tip that I want to share with you is that before I do anything with this tofu recipe, I always press the tofu. I do this with my EZ Tofu Press.
If you’re unfamiliar with the pressing of the tofu, it’s basically a way to help remove the water and moisture that can be found in it.
It’s nothing new, and a lot of people do this as well. In other recipes pertaining to tofu, I’ve talked about the press many times before also.
If you find that you like tofu and want to start cooking with it more frequently, pressing is something that you should most definitely educate yourself on!
How to make Tofu in an Air Fryer (aka extra crunchy tofu)
I have played a lot with the cooking options associated with this Air Fryer Tofu recipe. I’ve made a crispy tofu version with cornmeal before. I’ve tried a crispy orange tofu version, even.
But I have found that when I add in a secret ingredient, it makes the tofu even more crispy than I ever thought possible!
Any guesses about what the secret ingredient is? Drumroll, please…
While many of you may have guessed that it’s gluten-free flour, it’s actually not. The secret ingredient to really give the tofu a crunch is corn starch!
Who knew that corn starch was such a lifesaver in the gluten-free world to help in adding that much-needed crunch to certain foods! I love to use corn starch with my power air fryer! It truly does make a lot of difference.
And that crunch….outta this world!
Not only does it taste amazing, but it helps to create a delicious crispy outer coating! And while I love the crunch on its own, for this recipe I mixed some cornstarch and some smoked paprika together for a truly winning combo.
How to make Air Fry Tofu
After I get the seasonings all mixed together, I add a bit of salt and pepper and gently toss with my hands to coat. Seriously, the prep work is minimal when it comes to this recipe!
You know me, right? I love cooking when it’s easy! This air fryer tofu is seriously the best. I am not joking when I tell you this airfryer tofu is super easy!
After those few simple steps, all that is left is to toss those tofu chunks into the Air Fryer basket! This is the best part because you know that in just a few moments you are going to have crispy and delicious bites of tofu just waiting for you to eat.
Think about the last time that you had a recipe that was truly this simple. If you are looking for a recipe that is so simple, anyone can do then this is the one for you!
Still wondering about the exact air fryer tofu steps? Let me break it down for you step by step.
Press your tofu to help remove extra liquid.
- After pressing the tofu, cut into squares or little bite sized pieces.
- Mix the cornstarch and smoked paprika together then sprinkle over tofu.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Put into Air Fryer basket.
Set temperature for 370 Degrees F. Turn on the Air Fryer for 12 minutes. (You may need to add a few minutes if you like crisper tofu) Your air fryer tofu is almost ready!
Every 4 minutes remove the air fryer basket and “shake” to stir up the tofu. Every air fryer is different, be sure to monitor how it is cooking.
Enjoy your air fryer tofu!
Please keep in mind that not all air fryers are 100% the same. If you find that during the cooking of this recipe that it isn’t quite as crisp as you would like, then give it a bit more time in the air fryer.
The beautiful part about cooking tofu is that you can play around with it a bit to make certain that it’s cooked exactly how you would like!
If you want it extra crispy, make it extra crispy! There is no true right or wrong way to make fried tofu and if you love vegan air fryer recipes, this tofu recipe should be right up your alley!
Pro Tip: To help crisp up your tofu and eliminate the powdery coating to your airfried tofu, you can give the tofu bites a quick spritz of oil. This helps the coating to crisp up! Then you will have crispy airfried tofu that will keep you coming back for more!
Tofu in the Air Fryer – Spice it up!
Also have a bit of fun with the seasonings for your tofu. If you like it spicy, make it spicy. I know that I can appreciate a hint of heat so if I’m making this tofu in the air fryer for myself, I’ll give it quite a kick that I know I’ll enjoy!
A little cayenne pepper never hurt anyone, right?
But seriously, adding spices to the fried tofu give it such a unique flavor each and every time. It’s 100% possible that you can make your fried tofu taste different each and every time.
pin this air fryer tofu for later:
Pro Tip: If you feel that your tofu is not crispy enough OR if the cornstarch is powdery you can spray the tofu with a spray oil in the that minute and that will fix the problem!
Side note: If you are in the market for an air fryer, I recently created a post about the best air fryers on the market. The post is based off of reviews from friends, family and online consumers! Be sure to check out the best air fryers on the market!
Air Fryer Tofu Tips – IMPORTANT – READ THIS
Based upon reader comment it seems that Air Fryers out there are varying widely and that is affecting this recipe.
*If your tofu is not crisping, consider adding time to your cook time. Just add in small amounts and remember to shake*
*If you are getting a chalky feeling to your tofu, be sure you are pressing the tofu for at least 10 minutes before hand in a tofu press. Then you can also lessen the amount of corn starch :)*
*You can also SPRAY a small amount of oil onto the tofu when you are shaking it mid way through. This will HELP your tofu to crisp up and get rid of any extra corn starch!*
Air Fryer TOFU Tips
- Be sure to press your tofu before adding your cornstarch and paprika.
- Be sure to coat your tofu on all sides so it cooks evenly.
- Be sure that you are using a firm or extra firm tofu for this recipe.
- Be sure to “shake” your air fryer basket during the cooking so that your tofu turns and cooks on all sides.
What to serve with Air Fryer Tofu:
Ready for this easy air fryer tofu recipe?
Air Fryer Tofu - with a touch of smoked paprika
Ingredients
- 1 block of extra firm tofu pressed
- 2-3 T cornstarch
- 1 T smoked paprika
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Press your tofu to help remove extra liquid.
- After pressing the tofu, cut into squares or little bite sized pieces.
- Mix the cornstarch and smoked paprika together then sprinkle over tofu.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Put into Air Fryer basket.
- Set temperature for 370 Degrees F. Turn on the Air Fryer for 12 minutes. (You may need to add a few minutes if you like crisper tofu) Your air fryer tofu is almost ready!
- Every 4 minutes remove the air fryer basket and "shake" to stir up the tofu. Every air fryer is different, be sure to monitor how it is cooking.
- Enjoy your air fryer tofu!
Notes
Air Fryer TOFU Tips
- Be sure to press your tofu before adding your cornstarch and paprika.
- Be sure to coat your tofu on all sides so it cooks evenly.
- Be sure that you are using a firm or extra firm tofu for this recipe.
- Be sure to "shake" your air fryer basket during the cooking so that your tofu turns and cooks on all sides.
Nutrition
All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Hungry for more gluten-free main dish recipes? Be sure to check out our recipe index.
You can also visit our Amazon store to see our favorite gluten-free products and kitchen equipment! This post contains an amazon affiliate link.
Let’s talk! Leave me a comment telling me if you’ve ever used an Air Fryer. What do you think you’d cook first?
We recently updated the photos in this post. The day we originally took these it was quite dark outside (ugh rain clouds!) So we gave them a fresh look! But here is a sneak peak at the old ones!
Lynndee says
I love tofu and I have this favorite tofu fried rice from an Asian restaurant that tastes heavenly. I would love to try this. Looks so good!
Cindy says
I hope that you enjoy!
Nancy L. says
I want an air fryer and this recipe makes me want one even more! I know what I’m asking for this Christmas and then I’m picking up some tofu and smoked paprika! 🙂
Cindy says
Fantastic! That sounds like a plan!
Rachel says
I keep reading things about air fryers. I am debating on getting one. These recipes are tempting me.
Cindy says
I think you should. Its such a nice addition to any kitchen!
Jomama says
You should we just got one, it’s amazing!
rika says
My husband and I love tofu! We don’ have air fryer. Sounds like a great cooking tool for healthier cooking.
Cindy says
Such a great tool!
Wendy Polisi says
Thanks for the tips on cooking tofu. I have never cooked it, nor have I been brave enough to use the air fryer.
Cindy says
No worries at all! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Carla Flaim says
Mine came out a bit chalky but I only had tapioca flour and probably used too much. I have discovered that I really don’t care for smoked paprika but otherwise it is definitely crispy! Thanks. Next time I will use Old Bay or just garlic, salt and pepper. thanks for sharing your recipe
Cindy says
You are so welcome. You can spray some oil on the tofu during one of the “shakes” this helps to get rid of that chalkiness! Other seasonings would work great too!
Nancy says
Yep, I had the same problem. Way too much corn starch leaving it quite pwdery. I would do no more than 1 tbsp corn starch. I thought it seemed like too much but it was my first time cooking tofu in my air fryer. Hopefully next time will go better!
Cindy says
Thanks for the feedback Nancy, I hope that next time goes well too. Here are some tips from the post on how to get it to be less powdery:
*If you are getting a chalky feeling to your tofu, be sure you are pressing the tofu for at least 10 minutes before hand in a tofu press. Then you can also lessen the amount of corn starch :)*
*You can also SPRAY a small amount of oil onto the tofu when you are shaking it mid way through. This will HELP your tofu to crisp up and get rid of any extra corn starch!*
I would lessen the cornstarch but also I would spray oil on the tofu too! That has helped me in other recipes such as air fryer pickles etc. It helps to brown it up as well as crisp it up so you don’t have any powder or chalkly texture left! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Christina says
The traditional Japanese dish Agedashi tofu is a fried tofu recipe. The tofu is also pressed but covered in potato starch. The recipe calls for soft tofu so I don’t know if it will work in an air fryer. But fried in oil, the tofu has a light crunch, lighter than tempura. So maybe potato starch might work in place of corn starch.
Cindy says
Thank you Christina! I appreciate the information and idea! I love the sound of a light crunch and also the use of potato starch! I am going to research that more!
akua lum-reeser says
i’m chinese and used to buying softer tofu. does this recipe call for extra firm to start? i don’t have a press. is using paper towels enough? or a towel? does spraying the airfryer grate with oil work to keep the tofu from sticking and breaking apart or should i add more oil in the beginning when coating the tofu. you are very helpful and i like your site! i’ll be coming back again and again to try more airfryer recipes. i’ so crazy about the airfryer i’ve bought them for gifts for friends that are too snobby for them (at the $40 on sale price for small ones). they can get a bigger one once they become hooked too!
Cindy says
Hello! Yes, this recipe needs a firm or extra firm tofu. 🙂 In this link they give some tips on how to press tofu without a press 🙂 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a18093/easy-tofu-cooking-tips-47012001/
Yes, you can give the air fryer basket a light spray of oil to help prevent any sticking 🙂 Then be sure to remove the basket part and give it a “shake” to stir it up mide way through the cooking 🙂
Thank you for the sweet compliment I appreciate it!! WE are crazy about the air fryers too! WE are hooked! I love that you are buying them for friends too!
What’s been your favorite thing to cook in it so far? Have you joined our Air Fry Newsletter Tribe? If not you can do so here: http://eepurl.com/ggDOaT
Olga says
Cindy!it looks perfect and tasty! Can’t wait to have this anytime of the day, love it!
Cindy says
Enjoy!
Heather says
I’m not such a fan of tofu but I have never had them air fried either. The method can make the difference.
Cindy says
I think this method will make a difference for you!
Melissa Dixon says
I have not tried this in my air fryer yet. I think this is a really cool idea and I may have to try it now.
Cindy says
When you try, come back and let me know!
Lisa Favre says
This tofu looks absolutely amazing! It’s so hard to get tofu looking great and I had no idea that the Air Fryer could make it look like perfection.
Cindy says
Perfection for sure!
Laura Dove says
I’ve been thinking of buying one of these but wasn’t sure whether they would be worth it. Now I am convinced I need one in my life!
Cindy says
I do not regret getting one, we love it!
Lisa Marie Heath says
I might actually try this out. I’ve had tofu and enjoy it, but I’ve never been the one preparing it. I’m intimidated by it for some reason!
Cindy says
Give it a try and let me know!
Pam says
That sounds yummy! I need to get an Air Fryer and try this recipe! I have only had tofu once and it was in the form on “scrambled eggs”. I think I would like it this way more!
Cindy says
I think you’ll like it this way!
Alyssa says
Cindy, thank you very much! I really liked the recipe, I took it to my recipe book)
Cindy says
Awesome, so glad you tried it and loved it! Thanks for letting me know!
Julia says
WOW! so simple, yet SO tasty! This is fantastic, yum. Thanks for the recipe.
Cindy says
You are so welcome, glad you liked it!
Susan Phillips says
Just found your page and am looking forward to trying your recipes. A note on crispy tofu, this is the recipe I use now and it is perfection. I’ll be trying it in the air fryer, too: 1 T oil, 1 T tamari, 1 T cornstarch (though I usually use a bit more). I’m only posting it because I’ve seen the comments from people thinking it needs a bit of oil.
Cindy Gordon says
AWESOME, thank you SO much!! I appreciate you sharing!!
Sheila says
I liked the texture but did not like the taste. I love smokey paprika but this tasted blah on the outside–too powdery. And needed salt or something else besides the paprika which we are very fond of. I used a whole 14 oz tub. It coated it all well, but just didn’t care for the flavoring. Like the texture inside and outside though. Does anyone else have some flavorings they like. btw I only used two tablespoons and not three of the corn starch.
Cindy Gordon says
Hi Shelia, thanks for coming back and letting me know that you didn’t like the taste but did like the texture. Yes, finding spices and combinations that work for your palette is key. You might try marinating your tofu in a sauce before coating it with the corn starch, that might be helpful. Tofu for sure isn’t flavorful it is what you add to it to make it tasty. You might want to try a spice such as chili powder or cayenne to up the flavor factor as well 🙂
Natasha says
Yes!!! CRISPY tofu!! Delicious. Thanks for sharing
Cindy Gordon says
So very welcome! Glad you enjoyed!
Alia says
I noticed that a lot of the comments are from people who haven’t actually made the recipe? Anyway, the tofu is flavorless and chalky from the corn starch. Needs to be marinaded to have any flavor. This recipe does not deserve almost 5 stars.
Cindy Gordon says
HI Alia, yes some people do come and comment and leave ratings before they try. I don’t have any control of that. I appreciate you coming back and leaving a comment after you have tried it. That’s a bummer it didn’t turn out like it does for us and so many others. You are right tofu is flavorless, it aborbs whatever you add to it. If you felt like it lacked flavor, you could increase the spices that you use or even add a dipping sauce. Here are a few tips (from the post) to help you get less chalk and more crunch, incase you didn’t utilize those trick and want to try it again
Based upon reader comments it seems that Air Fryers out there are varying widely and that is affecting this recipe.
*If your tofu is not crisping, consider adding time to your cook time. Just add in small amounts and remember to shake*
*If you are getting a chalky feeling to your tofu, be sure you are pressing the tofu for at least 10 minutes before hand in a tofu press. Then you can also lessen the amount of corn starch :)*
*You can also SPRAY a small amount of oil onto the tofu when you are shaking it mid way through. This will HELP your tofu to crisp up and get rid of any extra corn starch!*
I hope that helps! Hope your day gets better! Stay safe out there and keep spreading the kindness 🙂
Mason H says
I would suggest you follow the suggestions that was suggested. Air fryers all run different. It takes some learning to figure yours out. Also I often see so many people bad mouthing FREE recipes. What’s worse is when they don’t properly follow the directions or use exact ingredients. Flavorless? Yes tofu is flavorless. Add your own favorite spice or add a dipping sauce like they suggested. Be your own problem solver and not a complainer. Anyway, as you say…I did make the recipe. I’ve made it several times. To me it’s delicious. If you don’t like something keep on scrolling. Don’t come back to it. If you want to try it again because it didn’t turn out then politely ask for tips.