The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Cooking tofu in the air fryer is a great simple way to get it crispy! In this recipe, extra firm tofu cubes are tossed in a simple marinate.
You’ll end up with tofu cubes that are flavorful, crispy, and pretty versatile. You can enjoy them as a snack or use them as an ingredient in another dish (such as an Asian-inspired dinner)!
Ingredients
- Extra Firm Tofu – It’s important to use extra firm tofu if you want it to get crispy.
- Soy Sauce – We use regular all-purpose soy sauce. You can use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the salt content.
- Oil – A neutral-tasting oil of your choice. We use avocado oil, but canola, vegetable, or sunflower oil also work well. If you like the taste of sesame oil, you can also use that. Avoid extra virgin olive oil since it has a distinct flavor.
- Garlic Powder – For extra flavor. Feel free to skip if you don’t like garlic.
- Sriracha or Tabasco – Optional addition for a bit of spice.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to use extra-firm tofu if you want the tofu cubes to get crispy. You can make this recipe with firm tofu, but it likely won’t be as crispy.
- Don’t use extra virgin olive oil for this recipe since it has a distinct flavor that doesn’t work well with this recipe.
- If you have one, you can use a tofu press to squeeze out extra liquid and help the tofu get even crispier.
- Marinate the tofu for the specified time (or longer), otherwise, the tofu can taste quite bland!
- The tofu will crisp up more as it cools, so don’t overcook it or the outside may end up being quite tough.
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Step by Step Instructions
If you want to see visuals for how to make air fryer tofu, you can find the step by step process photos in this section.
First, open the tofu package and squeeze the excess water out of the tofu. If you have a tofu press, you can also use that.
Then remove the tofu from the package and cut it into approximately 3/4 inch sized cubes.
Next, place the tofu cubes into a bowl or container with a lid. Also add the soy sauce, oil, garlic powder – and sriracha or tabasco sauce if you want a little bit of spice.
Of course, you can change up the marinade slightly to suit your tastebuds.
Toss until the tofu is evenly coated.
Cover the bowl with a lid or dishtowel and let the tofu marinate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it is hot, move tofu pieces from the bowl to the air fryer with a straining spoon (you don’t want extra liquid to get into the air fryer).
Cook the tofu at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 13-16 minutes. Shake the air fryer basket every 4 minutes for even cooking. The longer you cook the tofu, the crispier it will get.
However, keep in mind that the tofu will get a little bit crispier/harder after you remove it from the air fryer and it cools slightly – so don’t overdo it!
Remove the cooked tofu and use it as part of another recipe or enjoy it as a snack.
Storage Tips
Air-fried tofu is best enjoyed fresh. You can store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The tofu might get a bit softer and lose its crunch when stored in the fridge, but you can place it back into the air fryer to reheat it and draw out some of the excess moisture.
What to Serve Air Fryer Tofu With
You can eat the tofu cubes on their own as a snack as long as they are well seasoned/marinated.
Another way we like to use our crispy tofu is by adding it to Asian-inspired dishes. This air-fried tofu works perfectly with the noodles and steamed vegetables.
Related Recipes
Looking for more great air fryer recipes? Try out these recipes:
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Air Fried Tempeh
- Air Fryer Fava Beans
- Homemade Falafel in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Edamame
- Homemade Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 12 ounces extra firm tofu
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil, neutral-tasting
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- sriracha or tabasco, to taste
Instructions
- Open the tofu package and squeeze the excess water out of the tofu. You can also use a tofu press if you have one.12 ounces extra firm tofu
- Remove the tofu from the package and cut it into approximately 3/4 inch cubes.
- Add the tofu cubes to a bowl with soy sauce, oil, and garlic powder and toss until evenly coated. You can also add a little bit of sriracha or tabasco sauce if you want some spice.1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, sriracha or tabasco
- Cover the bowl with a lid or dish towel and let the tofu marinate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When it is hot, move the tofu pieces from the bowl to the air fryer with a straining spoon (you don’t want the extra liquid to get into the air fryer).
- Cook the tofu at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 13-16 minutes or until crispy to your liking. Shake the air fryer basket every 4 minutes for even cooking. The longer you cook the tofu, the crispier it will get. However, keep in mind that the tofu will get a little bit crispier/harder after you remove it from the air fryer and it cools slightly – so don't overcook it!
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the tofu can cook and crisp evenly.
- Make sure to use extra firm tofu for this recipe. If you can’t find any, you can try making it with firm tofu (squeeze out as much liquid as possible) but it likely won’t get as crispy as extra firm tofu.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
This recipe was first published in February 2021 and updated in June 2024.
This Tofu was an especially tasty (and healthy) addition to my home made Pad thai!