Air Fryer Tofu

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4.96 from 23 votes

No healthy meal repertoire is complete without a versatile tofu recipe—great for plant-based dinners, pastas, wraps, bowls, and more. This Air Fryer Tofu is just that! Ready in a few simple steps, made with pantry staples, and easily adapted to suit your tastes, it's my MVP of tofu recipes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Jenné Claiborne

Equipment

air fryer

Ingredients

1 15-oz block extra firm tofu drained, pressed*, and cubed
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch or all-purpose flour optional for extra crispy tofu
2 tsp avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Add the tofu cubes, soy sauce, cornstarch or flour (if using), oil, and garlic powder to a mixing bowl. Gently toss well to coat.
Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, then add and evenly spread out the tofu.
Air fry for 15 minutes at 350°F, stir and cook 5 minutes more, or until golden and crispy on the outside.

Video

Notes

Storage Directions

Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Let the air fried tofu cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. The texture may soften slightly after thawing, but the flavor will still be delicious.
Reheating: For the crispiest results, reheat tofu in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes. Alternatively, warm gently in the microwave until heated through.

Recipe Pro-Tips

Preheat the air fryer. And do not add parchment paper to the machine while it is preheating. It will catch on fire 🔥 Line the basket with parchment only when you are adding the tofu.
Season Evenly: For consistent flavor, gently toss the tofu with the oil, soy sauce, flour, and seasonings until evenly coated.
Adding Cornstarch: One tablespoon of cornstarch (or flour) helps absorb excess moisture and makes the tofu extra crispy. If you don’t have cornstarch, all-purpose flour works too.
Prepare the Air Fryer Basket. Prevent sticking by lining the basket with parchment paper or brushing it lightly with avocado oil.
Turn Halfway. Gently stir or turn the tofu midway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
Checking the Tofu for Doneness. You will know it's ready when it's golden and crispy on the outside.
Using Different Tofu Varieties: Don't have extra firm tofu? Firm tofu works too—just press it between a few sheets of paper towels with a heavy skillet on top for 20–30 minutes before cubing.
Adjust the Seasoning: You can adapt the air-fried tofu recipe to your tastes by experimenting with different marinades or seasoning add-ins (ideas in the blog post above!).

* How to Press Tofu: To press tofu, place it on a paper towel-lined dinner plate or cutting board. Layer on more paper towels (or a clean kitchen towel) before topping the tofu with another dinner plate, cutting board, or heavy skillet––I used a heavy cast iron dutch oven in the example photo. Press for 15-30 minutes or longer or until firm.

* How to make crispy tofu in the oven (no air fryer): Press the tofu for at least 20 minutes, then season as directed by the recipe. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Transfer the seasoned tofu to a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes, flipping 20 minutes in.

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