How do I make proper crispy tofu in an air fryer?

[Suprima]

Every recipe I have tried had failed- I want spicy and sweet- crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside tofu.

Any suggestions or tips welcomed!!

Sorry to jump on when I don’t have an air fryer but I’ve just bought tofu for the first time - I’ve never tried it before- do you have any recommendations?
Thanks

Try baking it - I buy extra firm tofu, marinate in soy sauce, chilli, garlic and a little bit of oil for a few hours. Then toss in a couple of tablespoons of cornflour & bake for 30 mins in a hot oven (200). Makes it crispy on the outside & chewy inside - delicious.

Have managed that by shallow frying in a hot pan but never in an air fryer. Not helpful

@Brava

Try baking it - I buy extra firm tofu, marinate in soy sauce, chilli, garlic and a little bit of oil for a few hours. Then toss in a couple of tablespoons of cornflour & bake for 30 mins in a hot oven (200). Makes it crispy on the outside & chewy inside - delicious.

@brava, in one solid block or chopped into smaller pieces?

Sorry! Yes cut into bite size pieces first 😆

I do the same as @brava delicious!

I freeze mine, it gives it a more spongey texture

I buy the Tofoo extra firm, or their teryaki one if I can find it, cut into bite size pieces, blot on kitchen paper, and then spray with some oil. I then roll it in cornflour mixed with some garlic salt and air fry. Lush

Coat it in cornflour and fry with plenty of oil. Or bake with plenty of oil! That’s all I have managed and neither option is very airfryer friendly I imagine

I’ve tried so many times in various ways and either it spits like buggery or doesn’t get crispy. We buy it now frozen from the Chinese supermarket.

Thanks for all the tips.
Keen to give it a try over the weekend.

Don't you have to "press" tofu?

Don't know, but every thing I fry in my air fryer is better with tossed in a table spoon of oil.

I never knew that you can put the tofu in the oven!
I am trying this. Thanks!
The shallow frying is good, but I always end up with broken bits, and I do not like that.

I meant to add I always buy the firm tofu not the silken one.

Press it - at least half an hour but the longer the better. The more water you can squeeze out of it, the more flavour it will absorb when you marinate.

I've also heard of people pressing it, freezing it, and then pressing again before cooking.

I usually chop mine up (or tear it) into bite size pieces. Marinate, toss with oil and then coat with cornflour. I'll either air fry it or roast it in the oven if the oven is already on.

Make sure it’s the right type - firm is best. I also find brands stocked by Chinese supermarkets like tofuking much better than cauldron/tofoo etc.

Press for a solid half hour under something really heavy.
Cut into small cubes, coat with oil and cornstarch and pop in the airfryer for about 30 minutes

Buy firm tofu (ideally an Asian brand, not a supermarket one), press, pat dry, then either shallow fry until crispy or if you want it drier shallow fry until browned then put in oven on a tray.

Haven't had success with the air fryer.

Wrap it in a clean tea towel and put a couple of cook books on top of it to draw out moisture for an hour or so before cooking.

Cut into desired sized pieces and in a bowl toss in a bit of cornflour, it only needs to be a tbsp or two, just to give it a light coat,, and add any herbs or seasonings at this point.

You can spray/drizzle it with a little oil of your want but I don’t bother.

Throw in the air fryer or oven until crispy and golden, tossing it a couple of times to stop it sticking together and turn it.

Perfect tofu every time for us.

Sorry to jump on when I don’t have an air fryer but I’ve just bought tofu for the first time - I’ve never tried it before- do you have any recommendations?

Unfortunately my recommendation is throw it in the bin and buy something else I bought some a while back as I kept seeing it on cooking videos and it looked delicious. I made it with panko breadcrumbs, it was beautiful and crispy. Unfortunately, it turns out tofu really doesn't taste very nice. I tried a couple of good brands, but no... bleurgh. And I eat virtually anything!

@crazyjinglist

Sorry to jump on when I don’t have an air fryer but I’ve just bought tofu for the first time - I’ve never tried it before- do you have any recommendations?

Unfortunately my recommendation is throw it in the bin and buy something else I bought some a while back as I kept seeing it on cooking videos and it looked delicious. I made it with panko breadcrumbs, it was beautiful and crispy. Unfortunately, it turns out tofu really doesn't taste very nice. I tried a couple of good brands, but no... bleurgh. And I eat virtually anything!

It needs to be marinaded overnight first lol.

@crazyjinglist

Sorry to jump on when I don’t have an air fryer but I’ve just bought tofu for the first time - I’ve never tried it before- do you have any recommendations?

Unfortunately my recommendation is throw it in the bin and buy something else I bought some a while back as I kept seeing it on cooking videos and it looked delicious. I made it with panko breadcrumbs, it was beautiful and crispy. Unfortunately, it turns out tofu really doesn't taste very nice. I tried a couple of good brands, but no... bleurgh. And I eat virtually anything!

It doesn't taste of anything if you don't marinate it!

It took me a few tries but now I could live off tofu, I bloody love it

It needs to be marinaded overnight first lol.

Hmmm.... ok. What do you marinate it in?