Delicious and crispy air fryer tofu for snacking or adding to your favorite meals!
Learn how to make delicious air fryer tofu that's crispy on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside. It is lightly seasoned with garlic, turmeric, cayenne and lemon, and it is easy to tweak the flavoring to your taste. You can snack on this tasty tofu as is, or toss it into salads, stews, curries, bowls, wraps and more. The recipe takes under 15 minutes from start to finish.
To make tofu crispy and delicious there really is no better way than to air fry it.
Air-frying tofu for just 12 minutes is enough to make it crispy on the outside while keeping it soft and chewy on the inside. This not only makes for a delicious interplay of textures when you snack on the tofu, it also helps the air-fried tofu soak up flavor from other ingredients when you toss it into curries, stews and more.
This air fryer tofu recipe couldn't be simpler or easier, and anyone can do it. All you need to do is season the tofu lightly with a few ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Place it in a single layer in an air fryer basket, and let it cook for around 12 minutes. Open, and voila! You will never look the same way at tofu again. 🙂
Why you'll love this air fryer tofu
- It's extra crispy and delicious. You won't be able to stop snacking on it once it's done.
- It's so, so easy to make. And it's ultra quick as well, needing all of 15 minutes from start to finish.
- It's versatile. You can add all sorts of seasonings to this air fryer tofu and you can use it in a number of dishes, from making a delicious Indian vegetable biryani to a restaurant style General Tso's chicken. You can also layer it into bowls and your favorite salads.
Why air-fry tofu?
If you aren't familiar yet with an air fryer, this is a contraption designed to emulate frying with oil without actually using much oil. In other words, it is a healthier way to get foods that taste almost as if they were fried in lots of oil, but aren't.
The way it works is by blowing hot air, using an inbuilt fan, around the food you are air frying. The food items should preferably be placed in a single layer in the perforated air fryer basket, with a little distance between the pieces, so all sides get cooked, or air-fried, evenly.
Air-fried food usually tastes like, and has the texture of, something halfway between oven-roasted foods and deep-fried foods. It makes tofu far crispier in far less time than an oven would, in about the time it would take to preheat your oven. That is pretty darn good.
I often get asked about the model of my air fryer: it is a Crux 2.6 quart touchscreen, which, I think has since been discontinued (although Crux has newer models). I picked it up at a sale at Macy's a couple of Christmases ago for around $35, which was a pretty good deal.
I have shared with you recipes for air fried foods since I bought my air fryer, including these air fryer French fries, air fryer vegan meatballs, air fryer chickpeas and this air fryer tofu recipe, which I've updated here with more process photos. I've also tweaked the recipe since I last shared it with you to make it even tastier.
The reason you should air fry tofu, if you have an air fryer, is that it not only makes it incredibly easy to bake tofu, compared to using a regular oven, but it also makes foolproof crispy tofu each time that you can add to your recipes or just snack on.
Jay adores baked tofu, and I make this crispy tofu at least once a week. We snack on it, toss it into stews, salads, curries and wraps...in other words, we can't get enough of it.
If you have an air fryer, what are you waiting for? I'm sure you have a block of tofu sitting in your refrigerator, and you can't put it to a more tasty use. Be sure to come back and let me know how it turned out for you.
Tips and steps for making the best air fryer tofu
- Type of tofu: Use the firmest tofu you can find. Both super form tofu and extra firm tofu are fine here, but don't use anything softer, like soft tofu or silken tofu. If you use extra firm tofu be sure to squeeze as much moisture out of it as you can using a tofu press or by placing the tofu slab, swaddled in paper towels, in a colander and placing a heavy weight over it.
- How to cut the tofu: Cut the tofu block into four slabs lengthwise, then cut each block into 12 cubes. If you make the tofu pieces bigger or smaller, adjust air frying time up or down.
- How to marinate the tofu: Toss the tofu cubes with the marinade ingredients. You don't need to wait for the tofu to soak in the marinade, but if you have the time it doesn't hurt to do so. Around 30 minutes is perfect.
- How to air fry tofu: Place the tofu cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You don't need to preheat the air fryer. Place the tofu cubes in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and the time to 12 minutes.
- How to get crispy air fried tofu: Don't crowd the air fryer basket--for the best results, make sure the tofu cubes fit in a single layer and there is enough room between the tofu cubes for the air to rush through. For a 16-oz block of tofu you might need to air-fry in two batches, unless your air fryer has a larger capacity than mine does. Leaving enough room between the tofu cubes will ensure that each cube cooks evenly and you have perfectly crisp tofu.
- It's a good idea to toss the tofu cubes about, around halfway through the air frying process. This will help the tofu "fry" evenly. Do this by pulling out the basket, which automatically pauses the air fryer, tossing the cubes by shaking it vigorously, and then insert the basket back in the air fryer.
- If you want your tofu crispier, you can increase the cooking time to up to 15 minutes. Around 18 minutes will yield chewy tofu, which is nice as a meat replacement in stews and curries.
Ingredients
- Super firm or high protein tofu (or extra firm). If you use extra firm tofu be sure to press out the excess water.
- Cayenne or paprika. Use cayenne for less heat, paprika for more. You can tweak the amount based on your taste.
- Turmeric. A dash of turmeric adds nice color to the tofu.
- Garlic powder
- Lemon juice
- Vegetable oil. Use any vegetable oil, I used avocado oil. Sesame oil, safflower oil and fractionated coconut oil are all fine and would work well here.
- Salt to taste
Other seasoning ideas for air fried tofu
- Ground black pepper, tamari or soy sauce and apple cider vinegar.
- Salt, ground black pepper, ginger powder, garlic powder, onion powder and liquid aminos.
- For an Indian-style marinade, add ginger powder and replace the paprika with cayenne in the recipe below.
Recipes to use this air fryer tofu:
Snack on this air-fried tofu by itself, it's healthy and delicious.
You can add it to salads, sandwiches, bowls and wraps. It would be particularly great as a meat replacement in vegan stews.
You can also use it in any recipe that calls for tofu, including Indian dishes like Vegan Palak Paneer with Tofu, Vegan Paneer Butter Masala and Vegan Butter Chicken.
Frequently asked questions
The oil helps make the tofu crispier, but if you are oil-free no worries. Just add a teaspoon or two of vegetable stock to help the spices adhere to the tofu, then proceed with the air frying.
All tofu, cooked or not, will change its texture when frozen and will become more sponge-like. This can actually work great if you want to add the tofu to curries and stews, because the tofu will better absorb the flavors of the sauce. So yes, freeze the tofu in an airtight container or bag for up to three months. If you plan on using the tofu as a snack, however, you should consume it within two to three days of cooking as the texture of the frozen, air fried tofu won't work well for snacking.
You can add up to a tablespoon of cornstarch to the bowl when you mix up the ingredients and it will help further crisp up the tofu. I am not a big fan of the flavor cornstarch adds here, but it doesn't spoil the recipe either, so if you want to use it go ahead and do so without any worries.
Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 16 oz super firm tofu (or extra firm tofu. Squeeze out the water from the extra firm tofu)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika (or cayenne, which will add more heat than paprika)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 teaspoon grated garlic)
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the tofu lengthwise into four slabs, then cut each slab into 12 cubes.
- Place the tofu and all marinade ingredients in a bowl, toss to mix. You can air-fry the tofu rightaway or, if you have the time, let it stand for 30 minutes.
- Place the tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a bit of space between each cube, and insert it in the air fryer. You might need to do this in two batches..
- Air-fry the tofu for 12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Halfway through air frying remove the basket and toss the tofu cubes around. This is not absolutely necessary but it helps ensure the tofu cooks evenly.
- Serve the air-fried tofu as a snack with a creamy mayo or other dipping sauce, or toss it into stews, curries, wraps, salads and more.
Recipe notes
- If you do not have an air fryer, you can simply fry these tofu cubes on a skillet. Make sure you oil the skillet first.
- Use the firmest tofu you can find. Both super form tofu and extra firm tofu are fine here, but don't use anything softer, like soft tofu or silken tofu. If you use extra firm tofu be sure to squeeze as much moisture out of it as you can using a tofu press or by swaddling the tofu in paper napkins and placing it in a colander with a heavy weight over it, like a pan.
- Cut the tofu block into four slabs lengthwise, then cut each block into 12 cubes. If you make the tofu pieces bigger or smaller, adjust air frying time up or down.
- Toss the tofu cubes with the marinade ingredients. You don't need to wait for the tofu to soak in the marinade, but if you have the time it doesn't hurt to do so. Around 30 minutes is perfect.
- Place the tofu cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don't crowd the air fryer basket--for the best results, make sure the tofu cubes fit in a single layer and there is enough room between the tofu cubes for the air to rush through. For a 16-oz block of tofu you might need to air-fry in two batches, unless your air fryer has a larger capacity than mine does.
- It's a good idea to toss the tofu cubes about, around halfway through the air frying process. This will help the tofu "fry" evenly. Do this by pulling out the basket, which automatically pauses the air fryer, tossing the cubes by shaking it vigorously, and then insert the basket back in the air fryer.
- If you want your tofu crispier, you can increase the cooking time to up to 15 minutes. Around 18 minutes will yield chewy tofu, which is nice as a meat replacement in stews and curries.
- You can make variations of this air fried tofu by using different marinade ingredients. For instance, use ground black pepper, tamari or soy sauce and apple cider vinegar; or make a marinade with salt, ground black pepper, ginger powder, garlic powder and liquid aminos. For an Indian-style marinade, add ginger powder and replace the paprika with cayenne in the recipe below.
- You can add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the tofu marinade for crispier tofu, but I don't really care much for the flavor and the tofu has a better texture without it, especially if you use it in other recipes.
Jocelyn
I love this crispy air fryer tofu! It is one of our family favorites for a snack and even the kids munch on it all the time. I vary up the spices sometimes for a change, and it never fails!
Anonymous
Will try this in a convection oven (which is essentially a larger slower air fryer) Looks good!
Hassan
are you sure about correctness of nutritional info?
Vaishali
I use an online calculator so I can’t guarantee it’s all accurate and all nutrition data should be treated as an estimate. You can also just do your own calculations based on the ingredients.
Dianne
May I ask what the dipping sauce with the air fried tofu is in the picture?
Thank you,
Dianne
Vaishali
It’s vegan Mayo mixed with some seasonings like garlic powder and nutritional yeast!
Anonymous
Thank you.
Sherwin
Hello,
I forgot to let it marinate for the 30 minutes, but it was still good. I recommend remembering that part so the flavors go all the way through the tofu. Thanks for posting a soy sauce free recipe.
Vaishali
Awesome, so happy you made it!
Ellie
Amazing! Tofu solved! It was hard not to just eat the whole block. Thank you!
Vaishali
So awesome to hear! Happy you enjoyed it. 🙂
Janet
Best tofu cubes I've ever made! I have a small air fryer with two trays and was able to do the whole block of tofu in one go. It came out a little crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Color me impressed.
Vaishali
Janet, that’s so awesome to hear! That sounds exactly as they are supposed to be. So happy you made them.
Wendy
Do I really have to use oil (I'm wfpb no oil)? And if I wanted to bake this in the oven, how would I go about doing that? Thanks!
Vaishali
You can leave out the oil, just use more lemon juice if the spices don’t stick to the tofu! To bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake around 50 minutes or until crispy outside. Flip the cubes over halfway through baking.
Kat Crafter
Thank goodness for you Recipe I had tofu from a Asian restaurant and I was craving that kind of texture so I found your this recipe and I tried it so happy with the results thanks you are a life saver!
Vaishali
So happy to hear!
Laura
OMG! These are sooo good! I can't stop eating them straight out of the air fryer! I have been struggling to get my protein intake since turning vegetarian, but these cubes are going to change that, they are addictive! Just one question, how much salt do you recommend using?
Vaishali
Hi Laura, about 3/4ths of a teaspoon, which is possibly a lot for some and not enough for others.? I use less if making just for myself — my son has a very salty tooth!
Tom
I tried the Indian style tofu. Although the texture was good, the flavor was overwhelmingly lemony. Maybe the 2 TABLESPOONS should be 2 TEASPOONS?
Vaishali
Hi, you can definitely reduce the lemon quantity--I find that 2 tbsp is just right for that quantity of tofu as the lemon flavor tends to dissipate during cooking.
Kathy
I laughed out loud when I read your story about purchasing an air fryer. I bought mine on November 9, really good pre Black Friday sale at Walmart and was planning to open it today until I read your story. In November I also had no counter space, but then my largest kitchen cupboards starting falling off the wall. We moved everything in and below them into the family room so the cupboards could be removed and the backing repaired. Before everything comes back into the kitchen, I'm ready to" fry" some tofu, but if I have to use oil and do it two batches, why not just do it in the oven all at once? I have never tasted anything made in an air fryer. Is it really worth it?
Vaishali
? thanks for sharing your story! I really love using the air fryer vs the oven because there’s no preheating involved and it’s quicker. I also think the tofu “fries” up more evenly than it would in the oven. Totally worth it, in my opinion.
Julie
Yes I would like to know also what brand and style of air fryer do you like and recommend? This recipe looks delicious and I want to try it!
Vaishali
I have a Crux air fryer--I am pretty sure the model's discontinued but here's an affiliate link where you can see it.
Erik B
Hello Vaishali,
Tried your air fryer tofu recipe and it came out great!
I own both a drawer style and a 3 tray air fryer. I tried your recipe in both and the cooking was definitely more even in the tray style air fryer!
Vaishali
Hi Erik, that's great feedback. Thanks for sharing, and so happy you tried it!
Shannon
What kind of air fryer do you have and do you recommend that one or have you learned of better ones?
Thanks!
Vaishali
Hi Shannon, I haven't tried any other air fryers besides the one I have. It works really well, and I think it's a pretty basic one. It's been discontinued, I think, but here's an affiliate link where you can see it.
John Virag
a bit confused. in the blog for the Indian style you state you use the spices and lemon juice as well...but in the recipe box no lemon juice for the the spicy style? Are you supposed to use the 2 TBLS of lemon juice for this as well? Thanks i find everything I have made so far from your blog has been delicious! And I'm new at this!
Vaishali
Hi John, yes, and added! Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
Pavani Nandula
My family loves crispy tofu and pan frying it until crispy is quite a task. I am definitely try this out very very soon. I love TJ's super firm tofu. Thanks for the recipe.
Vaishali
Hi Pavani, I love the TJ super firm tofu-- what a blessing it has been, no more squeezing and weighting tofu. 🙂
Radhovan
Hi Vaishali,
Thanks for another great recipe! A relative gave us an air fryer as a gift and she showed us how to use it once, with good results. But then she left and so it was stored in a closet. I wasn't thrilled with the small portions it makes, especially if you're trying to cook for a large group of friends and relatives. I'm bringing it out now to test this tofu recipe. I use a herb style tofu made by a local company that's already seasoned with Italian herbs and onion/garlic powder, so I think it'll work great.
Regards,
Radhovan
Vaishali
Hi Radhovan, I don't think I am ever going back to pan frying or baking tofu again. 🙂 I hope you try!