Air Fryer Tofu Recipe: How to Make and Serve Air-Fried Tofu

An air fryer cooks food in the same way that a convection oven does. Convection cooking uses a fan, an exhaust system to control air flow, and a heating element that work together to heat your food. An air fryer is a small, cylindrical countertop home appliance that has a vented heating basket that evenly filters in hot air. The appliance is similar in size to a coffee maker.

Convection heating applies lots of heat to the surface of your food, making it crispy, which is why air-frying appears to "air-fry" your food. Despite its name, an air fryer doesn't fry your food: The appliance bakes it using convection heating. Air fryers are good to cook foods like French fries and chicken wings because of the way it simulates the crispiness of fried food. Air-frying your food uses a fraction of the amount of oil that you’d use to deep fry your food.

Cooking tofu (also known as bean curd) by air-frying it rather than by another heating method can result in a few advantages:

1. 1. Air-frying adds fewer calories. Deep-frying food requires copious amounts of oil, which can add calories and fat. If you are looking for a lower calorie count or low-fat option, then air-fried tofu may be a healthier appetizer or main course alternative. To ensure crispiness, lightly use a vegetable oil cooking spray on the tofu before you air-fry it.
2. 2. Cleanup is simple. Air-frying eliminates some of the mess that you may otherwise associated with deep-frying, such as multiple dirty dishes for the breading process, oil splatter on the stovetop, and used oil to discard.
3. 3. Breading is not required. Traditional frying uses eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs (or cornstarch) to coat the food and encourage a crispy exterior. Air-frying doesn’t require any of that—the rush of hot air is enough to crisp up the tofu, resulting in a crunchy, gluten-free dish.

A block of tofu comes from coagulated soy milk, a liquid made from soybeans. Here are six common types of tofu—some of which work better in air fryer tofu recipes than others—listed from softest to firmest.

1. 1. Silken tofu: You can use undrained and unpressed silken tofu in vegan sauces, dips, and dressings. It has a custard-like texture, so you can’t easily cut the delicate tofu into cubes for frying.
2. 2. Soft tofu: Soft tofu is not as smooth or as silky as silken tofu but performs the same purpose, making it an unlikely choice for crispy air fryer tofu.
3. 3. Medium tofu: Dense but delicate, medium tofu is the prime choice for dishes like miso soup or other brothy soups. Sometimes medium tofu and firm tofu can be very similar or even the same—it depends on the brand or manufacturer.
4. 4. Firm tofu: Firm tofu cubes absorb flavor well and hold up the best in dishes like a stir-fry. Firm tofu can be pan-fried or air-fried, and it crumbles well for a tofu scramble or fried rice dish.
5. 5. Extra-firm tofu: This is a great choice for fried tofu of any kind because extra-firm tofu holds its shape when sliced or cubed. Extra firm tofu does not readily absorb flavor, so keep that in mind when choosing marinades and seasonings; however, it does crumble well.
6. 6. Super-firm tofu: The firmest of the tofu varieties, super-firm tofu has the highest protein content but is prone to drying out at high heat because of its very low water content.

Here are a few seasonings that tofu absorbs well, regardless of its level of firmness:

1. 1. Soy sauce: You have the option of using low-sodium soy sauce, gluten-free soy sauce (called tamari), or a soy sauce substitute like coconut aminos. Asian flavor combinations are common in tofu dishes, since tofu itself originated in China. Marinate the tofu in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic for an Asian-inspired dish.
2. 2. Garlic and onion powders: Garlic powder and onion powder can add a lot of flavor and contribute to many different cuisine types, ranging from Asian to Italian to Greek and others. Mix the powders with olive oil to create a seasoning paste and rub it over the tofu cubes before you cook them.
3. 3. Smoked paprika: Smoked paprika adds a color you might find appealing, and it mimics the smoky flavor found in cured meats. Combine smoked paprika with chili powder or cumin for a taste similar to taco seasoning, a possibly appealing choice if you plan to use the air-fried tofu as a meat replacement in tacos.