You might also like air fryer chickpeas and air-fryer French fries. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about tofu, just try this easy air fryer tofu recipe! It takes just 12 minutes for the air fryer to turn the tofu 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 by itself, it also helps the air-fried tofu soak up flavor from other ingredients when you toss it into soups, stews and wraps. This is a simple and easy recipe that anyone can make. All you need to do is season the tofu lightly with a few pantry ingredients. Place the tofu in a single layer in an air fryer basket and let it cook for around 12 minutes. Open, and voila! The best tofu ever!

Why you’ll love air fryer tofu

Extra crispy and delicious. You won’t be able to stop snacking on this air fryer tofu. It’s so, so easy to make. The recipe is ultra quick as well, needing just 15 minutes from start to finish. Healthy snack. The air fryer tofu is low in calories and tofu is a really good protein to include in a vegan diet. It’s great to add to kids’ lunch boxes too! Meal-prep friendly. You can use the air fryer tofu to dial up the protein content in your favorite meals, 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 a delicious Indian vegetable biryani to a restaurant style vegan General Tso’s chicken. You can also layer it into vegan bowls and your favorite salads!

Why air-fry tofu?

Making air fryer tofu is not only foolproof and easier than baking tofu in the oven, it also gives you more delicious results in less than half the time! Air fried tofu is also healthier because you need very little oil to coat the tofu. The tofu cubes are perfect for meal prep – make a batch and keep them in the fridge to add to your favorite dishes! -Laura

How to make air fryer tofu

Expert tips

Choose extra firm tofu. Both super firm 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. Let the tofu stand 30 minutes to an hour. Cut the tofu into bite-size cubes: 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. 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 the air fried tofu cubes will be even tastier! Around 30 minutes is perfect. Place tofu cubes in a single layer in air fryer basket. Make sure there is some room between each cube so the air circulates freely. For a 16-oz block of tofu you might need to air-fry in two batches, unless your air fryer has a larger capacity. Toss the tofu cubes halfway through. This will help the tofu air fry evenly. To do this pull out the air fryer basket, shake it vigorously to toss the cubes around, then reinsert and continue cooking. Customize the texture. Around 15 minutes will yield extra-crispy tofu and around 18 minutes will yield chewy tofu, which is great as a meat replacement in stews and curries.

Store

Refrigerate: Refrigerate the air fryer tofu for up to four days. Freeze: Freezing tofu is not recommended because it completely changes the texture. If you do freeze, keep in mind that the tofu will be far chewier. This can be nice in some dishes, like curries. Reheat: Reheat the tofu in the air fryer set to 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes or until crispy again.

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