Air Fryer Tofu - The Plant Based School (2024)

Table of Contents

• Air fryer tofu video
• How to make air fryer tofu
• Serving suggestions
• Tips
• Storage
• More tofu recipes
• More air fryer recipes
• Air Fryer Tofu Recipe

This crispy air-fried tofu recipe is for health-conscious people who want a quick, protein-rich alternative to chicken and other meat.

The air fryer, with its hot circulating air, enables us to cook this crispy tofu in just over 10 minutes—it takes more than 30 minutes to achieve a similar result in a standard oven.

Also, because it’s so fast, the air fryer crisps up the tofu on the outside without drying it out inside.

The result is flavorful, crisp, and chewy air–fried tofu bites that can be used in as many preparations as chicken.

Think salads, grain bowls, stir-fries, soups, and much more! This healthy, satisfying, and delicious tofu recipe offers endless possibilities for enjoying it.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Tofu

Choose firm tofu or extra-firm tofu. Avoid silken tofu, as it will fall apart in the air-fryer.

Soy sauce

We use reduced-sodium soy sauce. You can substitute tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.

Oil

A little oil is necessary to help the tofu crisp up. We usually use olive or avocado oil, but your favorite vegetable or light-colored sesame oil can be used.

Salt

Tofu needs salt to taste good, so add a generous pinch of sea salt or kosher salt.

Spices

We use garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.

You can get creative and use your favorite spices. For example, if you use the air fryer tofu for a curry, you can season it with turmeric or curry powder. Onion powder works too.

Cornstarch

Optional, however, coating the tofu in a bit of cornstarch makes it crispier.

It also makes it tastier because the cornstarch helps the other ingredients stick to the tofu.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Remove the tofu from the package, drain it, and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess water. Please don’t press the tofu, as pressing it will make it dry inside.

With your hands, break the tofu into bite-size pieces.

Tip: we think it is better to break the tofu apart with your hands rather than cutting it into cubes with a knife. The rugged surface of the tofu pieces will grab onto the seasoning much better than clean-cut tofu cubes.

Transfer the tofu bites to a large container and add oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cornstarch.

Toss gently in the marinade, with a spoon, until fully coated.

Brush your air-fryer basket with a thin coat of oil to prevent the tofu from sticking.

Transfer tofu into an air-fryer basket. Arrange mainly on a single layer without too much overlapping.

Air fry the tofu at 400°F or 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes. Halfway through cooking, separate the tofu bits from each other with a fork, and shake the basket.

If you have a small air fryer, you might have to cook the tofu in batches.

Total cooking time may vary based on your air fryer model. The longer you cook it, the crispier and chewier it gets.

Think of air fryer tofu as a chicken replacement. You can add it to most meals as you would add chicken.

It’s excellent to boost the protein content of any meal or to serve on its own with a dipping sauce.

Salads and bowls

Add it to your favorite salad, rice dish, grain bowl, or Buddha bowl. Drizzle with our delicious peanut sauce for the best flavor combination.

Check out our tofu salad, Buddha bowl, or peanut noodles with peanut sauce.

Asian-style stir-fries

There’s nothing better than a quick, tasty, and fulfilling tofu stir-fry. You can make it with your favorite noodles, veggies (we love it with broccoli, mushroom, and pepper), and a delicious soy sauce seasoning.

Check out our tofu stir fry recipe.

Add it to our vegan butter chicken, tofu curry, vegan curry, eggplant curry, or sweet potato curry.

Its chewy texture is perfect with the creaminess of most curries and stews.

Make BBQ Tofu

You can use this recipe to make our finger-licking BBQ tofu with homemade BBQ sauce. It’s excellent in a sandwich with creamy coleslaw and a side of air fryer potatoes.

Check out our BBQ Tofu recipe and BBQ sauce.

Pressing tofu?

Honestly, we never press our tofu as it takes too much time, and we prefer tofu that hasn’t been completely dried out.

If you like firmer, chewier tofu, press it for 30 minutes before air frying it. To press it, either use a tofu press or wrap it in paper towels and put it under a heavy object.

Use your hands

We think breaking the tofu apart with your hands is better than cutting it into cubes with a knife.

The rugged and porous surface of handmade tofu pieces will grab onto the seasoning much better than clean-cut tofu cubes. It’ll also get crispier this way.

Single Layer?

Arranging the tofu on a single layer in your air fryer basket will produce slightly crispier tofu as the hot air is better distributed.

However, the difference is not huge. So if your air fryer is not big enough, you can overlap the tofu a little. If you do so, remember to shake the air fryer basket a few times to move the tofu around.

Cornstarch?

You can air fry tofu without cornstarch; however, the result will be slightly different.

The cornstarch creates a thin crispy layer on the outside of the tofu. Also, it helps the flavorings stick together and make the tofu tastier.

Cornstarch also creates a thin barrier that prevents moisture from escaping, so the tofu will be juicier. Don’t use cornstarch if you like drier, more jerky-like air-fried tofu.

Make ahead: air fryer tofu is best right after making it, so it’s crispy and juicy.

Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing air-fried tofu, although, if you want, you can certainly do so.

Interested in more tofu recipes? These are some of our favorite ones:

• Marinated tofu: packed with flavor, easy, and versatile.
• Baked tofu: with paprika, cumin, and extra virgin olive oil.
• Fried tofu is similar to air fried but made on a skillet instead.
• Tofu salad: with a creamy tahini sauce.
• Vegan tofu curry: creamy, aromatic, and so flavorful.
• Tofu soup: simple, healthy, Asian-inspired soup.
• Orange tofu: sweet and sour, better than Chinese takeout.

For many more tofu ideas, check out our tofu category page.

Get more easy and quick air fryer inspiration with these wholesome dishes:

• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer green beans
• Air fryer potatoes
• Air fryer chickpeas
• Air fryer cauliflower
• Air fryer Brussels sprouts
• Air fryer zucchini