Air Fryer Tofu Recipe

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">400g extra-firm tofu</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 tbsp cornstarch</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tbsp olive oil</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp garlic powder</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp onion powder</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1/2 tsp smoked paprika</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1/2 tsp salt</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1/4 tsp black pepper</li></ul>

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Air fryer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Tofu press (or heavy books and kitchen towels)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Mixing bowl</li></ul>

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Press the tofu to remove excess moisture - this is crucial for achieving crispiness. Either use a tofu press for 30 minutes or wrap the tofu block in clean kitchen towels, place on a plate, and set something heavy (like a cast iron pan) on top for 30 minutes. The drier your tofu, the crispier the result will be.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Once pressed, cut the tofu into 2.5cm cubes. Try to keep them uniform in size to ensure even cooking. Larger cubes will remain softer inside while smaller cubes will be crispier throughout.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>In a medium bowl, mix together the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. The cornstarch is your secret weapon - it creates a thin, crispy coating when air fried by drawing out additional moisture and creating a barrier that crisps beautifully.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Add the tofu cubes to the bowl with the seasoned cornstarch and gently toss until all pieces are evenly coated. Drizzle the olive oil over the coated tofu and toss again until evenly distributed. The small amount of oil helps promote even browning without deep-frying.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Preheat your air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. Preheating ensures immediate searing when the tofu is added, which helps create a crispy exterior before the interior dries out.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Place the tofu cubes in a single layer in your air fryer basket, making sure they're not touching each other. You may need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer size. Overcrowding will create steam and prevent crisping.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Cook at 200°C for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking time. Look for a golden-brown exterior with visible crispy edges - this visual cue tells you when the tofu has reached optimal texture.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Serve immediately while hot and crispy. The tofu is delicious on its own, but also pairs wonderfully with dipping sauces, in bowls, or added to stir-fries. If you need to reheat leftovers, a quick minute or two back in the air fryer will restore the crispiness better than microwave heating.</li></ol>