If you’re looking for easy and satisfying meat-free recipes that the whole family will love, try my Air fryer tofu recipe! Air frying is so simple: pressed tofu is tossed with flavorful seasonings, cornstarch, and sesame oil before being air-fried in less than 15 minutes. The results are hot, crispy, and savory tofu bites with fluffy and light centers.
Enjoy this tofu as a meat replacement, sprinkle it on salads or rice bowls, tuck it into sandwiches and wraps, and more! There’s hardly a bad way to enjoy it. For more air fryer recipes, check out my air fryer egg rolls, air fryer chicken thighs, and air fryer salmon.
Ingredients
Extra Firm Tofu — you need one 14-ounce or 16-ounce block of tofu. You can find it in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores’ produce or dairy department, next to other plant-based protein products. If you can’t find extra-firm tofu, you can substitute firm tofu, but the cubes may crumble slightly when you’re seasoning them.
Soy Sauce — adds a savory umami flavor to the crispy bites. I like to use traditional soy sauce, but you can substitute low-sodium soy sauce for a lower-sodium variation or tamari to make this recipe gluten-free.
Garlic Powder — this common pantry staple is a super easy way to add deep flavor to the tofu and eliminates the need to chop fresh garlic.
Cornstarch — cornstarch is sprinkled on the pressed and seasoned tofu cubes before air-frying to absorb excess moisture and create a light crust on the outside.
Sesame Oil — helps the tofu crisp up and adds a nutty flavor. Choose standard sesame oil or toasted sesame oil, depending on your preference.
Sriracha — stir in ½ teaspoon of this optional ingredient for a light heat and zesty finish. You can substitute your favorite hot sauce or a few shakes of cayenne pepper, too.
How To Make Air Fryer Tofu
1. Cut the tofu into 1-inch pieces.
2. Place the tofu cubes in a single layer on a paper plate double-layered with paper towels. Cover with two layers of paper towels and place a heavy skillet on top to press the excess water out of the tofu.
3. In a medium or large bowl, whisk the garlic powder, soy sauce, and sriracha, if using, until combined.
4. Gently stir the pressed cubes into the soy sauce mixture until evenly coated.
5. Sprinkle half of the corn starch over the seasoned cubes and mix gently to combine. Repeat this by sprinkling the remaining corn starch and gently mixing it once again to coat the tofu pieces evenly.
6. Drizzle the sesame oil over the cubes and gently stir until all of the oil is absorbed.
7. Place the cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece.
8. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket to turn the pieces over, and cook for another 6 minutes until the tofu is golden and crispy. Season with salt to taste and serve hot.
Do I Need to Press The Tofu?
Yes, it is important to press it. Doing so removes excess moisture from the cubes, helping the tofu get crispier on the outside and making it less likely to fall apart when it cooks.
To press tofu, you don’t need a tofu press! Simply lay paper towels on a baking sheet or tray, add the tofu, and top with more paper towels. Then, place another tray on top with a large heavy object like a skillet or several cans of beans on top to add weight, pressing liquid out of the tofu. For best results, press it between paper towels for at least 30 minutes, but even a quick press of 15 minutes is better than not doing it at all.
Use Cornstarch For Crispy Tofu
Cornstarch is the magic ingredient in this recipe. Not only does it help the exterior of the cubes to get nice and crisp, but it also helps to absorb and lock in moisture, keeping the tofu’s interior pillowy and light.
If you don’t have cornstarch, you can substitute arrowroot powder, potato starch, or all-purpose flour. Using all-purpose flour will make the texture less crunchy, but the inside will still be soft and fluffy.
Ways to Serve Air Fryer Tofu
Air fryer tofu makes a great protein replacement in your favorite meat recipes, such as Air Fryer Orange Chicken or Bourbon Chicken. You can also serve it hot out of the air fryer sprinkled on salads, folded into wraps or sandwiches, or on top of steamed rice or Coconut Rice. Make a full rice bowl by adding Vegetable Stir Fry or Air Fryer Green Beans, a sprinkle of green onions or cilantro, and drizzle on peanut sauce or sriracha.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Air fry in a single layer. Leave plenty of space between the cubes. This allows the hot air to circulate evenly around the cubes, evaporating the extra moisture and developing a crisp exterior, preventing soggy tofu. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may want to cook the tofu in batches.
- Shake the basket. About halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket to turn over the pieces before cooking the remaining time for even cooking and browning.
- Don’t worry about breakage. Pressing helps prevent the pieces from falling apart as they cook, but if little pieces break off while stirring, that’s okay! Once air-fried, they give the final dish a great texture.
- Doubling the recipe. If doubling the recipe for a larger crowd or meal prep, cook the tofu in batches to prevent crowding the basket. If you have an oven with an air fryer, you can cook in one batch if it can accommodate a full baking sheet of spread-out cubes.
- Optional seasoning variations. Play around with the seasonings and use spices like onion powder, smoked paprika, dried herbs, or your favorite spice blend. You can switch up the oil, too, for avocado or olive oil or cooking spray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can bake the seasoned tofu cubes. If you have a convection oven, that will provide the most similar texture to air frying, but this recipe can also be made in a conventional oven. Press and season as the recipe directs, then spread the cubes out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes in a convection oven or 25-30 minutes in a conventional oven, turning the cubes halfway through.
Though technically you can freeze the tofu, I do not recommend it as the texture of the tofu degrades upon thawing. If you’d like to make this recipe in advance, you can freeze the uncooked seasoned cubes and air fry them from frozen. Keep in mind the tofu will still have a different texture when thawed, but that won’t affect the taste.
To freeze the cubes, spread the seasoned tofu cubes on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours or until solid. Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. To cook it, air fry from frozen as directed for 16-18 minutes.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat the tofu in an air fryer preheated to 375°F for 3-5 minutes or until heated through and re-crisped.
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Tofu recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
Equipment
- 6-quart air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce, 397g) package extra firm tofu
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sriracha optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
Instructions
- Cut the tofu into 1-inch pieces. Place it in a single layer on a double-layered paper towel-lined plate. Cover with another two layers of paper towels, then set a heavy skillet on top. Let drain for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk to combine the garlic powder, soy sauce, and sriracha, if using.
- When the tofu is drained, add it to the bowl with the soy sauce mixture and gently stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle half of the cornstarch over the top of the tofu and mix gently to combine. Repeat by sprinkling the remaining cornstarch, and gently mix once again to coat all the tofu pieces evenly.
- Drizzle the sesame oil over the tofu and gently stir until all of the oil is absorbed.
- Place in a single layer in the basket of an air fryer, leaving space between each piece.
- Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket to turn the pieces over, and cook for another 6 minutes until the tofu is golden and crispy. Season with salt to taste.
Notes
- Air fry in a single layer. Leave plenty of space between the cubes. This allows the hot air to circulate evenly around the cubes, evaporating the extra moisture and developing a crisp exterior, preventing soggy tofu. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may want to cook the tofu in batches.
- Shake the basket. About halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket to turn over the pieces before cooking the remaining time for even cooking and browning.
- Don’t worry about breakage. Pressing helps prevent the pieces from falling apart as they cook, but if little pieces break off while stirring, that’s okay! Once air-fried, they give the final dish a great texture.
- Doubling the recipe. If doubling the recipe for a larger crowd or meal prep, cook the tofu in batches to prevent crowding the basket. If you have an oven with an air fryer, you can cook in one batch if it can accommodate a full baking sheet of spread-out cubes.
- Optional seasoning variations. Play around with the seasonings and use spices like onion powder, smoked paprika, dried herbs, or your favorite spice blend. You can switch up the oil, too, for avocado or olive oil or cooking spray.
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