Air fryer tofu is the quickest and easiest way to make crispy tofu, and you don’t even need to add oil thanks to the magic of the air fryer.
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Super basic recipes have consistently been your favorite posts over the years, and this air fryer tofu most definitely fits into that category. It is such a great little trick to know, and one you will hopefully use over and over like I have.
Before you start
If you’ve never had tofu before, the first thing you should know is that you are going to need to press the water out of it. This ensures the crispy texture that we are going for.
I did this for years by placing the tofu on a plate lines with a clean kitchen towel and placing a heavy cast iron skillet on top. That works just fine. However! I recently broke down and finally bought this tofu press (affiliate) from Amazon, and I love it.
Whatever method you use, make sure to let the tofu press about 20 to 30 minutes to get the most water out of it.
The second thing you should know about tofu is that, much like chicken, it is very bland on its own. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
You want to be sure and season it well. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered from the flavor angle. 😉 I have the perfect all-purpose marinade that can take your flavor profile in many different directions.👌🏻 But more on that in a minute.
Dicing tofu for uniform(ish) size
After your tofu is well-pressed, you want to cut/ dice it into cubes. This helps it to cook evenly. Here is how I do mine.
First I cut it in half.
Next you want to cut those halves in half, resulting in quarters.
Next, flip each of those quarters on its side, and cut each section in half, length-wise like so.
Now that you have eight long pieces, you are going to shift your knife ninety degrees to make cubes.
For the cubes, I cut the it in half. Then I eyeball the two halves into thirds, if that makes sense. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just somewhat close to the same size.
Marinating tofu for maximum flavor
I use a super simple marinade: Tamari (or soy sauce) + Dijon mustard + garlic powder.
Sriracha is really good too, if you have any. If you don’t or if you don’t like spicy food, it’ll still be very good without it.👌🏻 I add the ingredients to a freezer bag, and give it a little stir.
By the way – the measuring glass is simply to help the bag stand up. You can use a bowl, or just hold the bag with your other hand. It was tricky to do that and take pictures, though. Hence the measuring glass.
Anyway! Next, add the tofu cubes.
Seal the bag, and rotate to coat all the pieces.
Last, let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. I have let mine go overnight before too. The longer it marinates, the more flavorful.👌🏻
How to air fry tofu
After the tofu has marinated, take it out and drain off any excess marinade. I just used my hands, but you could use tongs or a slotted spoon.
Place the tofu in the air fryer basket. You can spray it first with nonstick spray, if you wish.
Arrange the cubes evenly, so that the air has room to circulate.
Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until crispy, about 10 minutes. Note: give the tofu a toss about half way through cook time.
If the tofu sticks a little, you may need to use a flipper. Otherwise, just give it a little shake.
When it is done, it will look like this. 😍
Enjoy air fryer tofu with dipping sauce, in salads, with rice, or in noodle bowls like this.😋 Full recipe for this bowl of goodness is coming soon, FYI.😉
I hope you enjoy air fryer tofu! Let me know if you try it.👌🏻
Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
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Air Fryer Tofu
Air fryer tofu is the quickest and easiest way to make crispy tofu, and you don't even need to add oil thanks to the magic of the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 14 ounces tofu (one block, extra firm)
- 3 Tablespoons low sodium Tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- optional: 1/4 teaspoon squeeze or sriracha I love it if I have some, but it will still be good without it.
Instructions
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Start with drained and pressed tofu, and dice into bite sized cubes. See photos and tips in blog post above for helpful tips.
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Add marinade ingredients to a freezer bag, and give it a little stir.
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Add diced tofu to bag, seal and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 30, and up to overnight.
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After the tofu has marinated, take it out and drain off any excess marinade. I just used my hands, but you could use tongs or a slotted spoon.
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Place the tofu in the air fryer basket. You can spray it first with nonstick spray, if you wish. Arrange the cubes evenly, so that the air has room to circulate.
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Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (no need to preheat) until crispy, about 10 minutes. Note: give the tofu a toss about half way through cook time. If the tofu sticks a little, you may need to use a flipper. Otherwise, just give it a little shake.
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Serve immediately with dipping sauce, on salads, in rice bowls, or with veggies, rice noodles + your favorite sauce if desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator. Calculation was for two large, 7-ounce servings. This recipe can also serve 4 small servings.
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