Brush the air fryer grate with a little oil. Place the coated fish fillets in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Air fry at 390°F (199°C) for 12-15 minutes. Halfway through, gently flip the fish fillets to ensure they don't stick and all sides get cooked well.
Coat each fish fillet in the seasoning breadcrumbs, and remove any excess breading before you cook in the air fryer. Cook in the air fryer at 200°C (390°F) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through at 8-10 minutes. Serve hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Air Fry the Fish Fillets. Place the fillets in a single layer in the basket and mist with cooking spray. Air fry fish at 390 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it reaches 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. Serve air fryer fish with garnishes and ENJOY!
Frying fish at home is easier than ever with an air fryer. You can fry frozen or fresh seafood in an air fryer that tastes like it's straight from your favorite seafood restaurant's kitchen. You don't have to worry about getting minor burns from hot oil splashes or added calories from cooking it in fat.
Air fry tilapia at 400 ̊F for 10 to 12 minutes. It should flake easily with a fork without any resistance. Or until the internal temperature is 140 ̊F when checked with a meat thermometer. For thick fillets, you'll have to cook for a few minutes longer.
You can bake fish at a variety of temperatures, but my go-to method is 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until you can flake the fish with a fork and the flesh is opaque.
In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.
Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.
Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. This allows the fish to get crispy all over. If you don't have an air fryer, you can achieve similar results in a convection oven (see directions in the recipe), but I found that the air fryer delivers a crisper finish faster.
Add fish to air fryer (skin side down if applicable). Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then cook per species times listed below: COHO or SOCKEYE: 13 to 15 minutes (120F to 125F internal temp.) PACIFIC HALIBUT: 12 to 14 minutes (125F to 130F internal temp.)
Spray the Basket Lightly with Vegetable Oil Spray
The next protective measure you can take is an obvious one: spraying the basket lightly with vegetable oil spray. We recommend doing this with foods that are prone to sticking, including fried chicken, chicken Parmesan, and our better-than-boxed fish sticks.
Avoid consuming raw or undercooked seafood, especially if you have a compromised immune system.
Fresh, untreated tilapia tends to have a pink vein (the bloodline) running down the center of the filet. Carbon monoxide treated tilapia has a red and almost orange vein. Check out the color of recently filleted tilapia. It's more of a faded red and dark pink.
By Melissa Clark. Constantine Poulos for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Christine Albano. Cooking fish for 10 minutes per inch of thickness is an old rule of thumb that works perfectly when roasting fillets or steaks.
Tilapia is one of the best fish for frying, but you can try cod or catfish for tacos, too.
Grill, broil, or bake the fish. Let the fat drip off during cooking. Avoid using the fat for gravy or sauces. See our fish fillet demonstration and get more tips on reducing exposure to contaminants in fish.
The best way to tell if your fish is done is by testing it with a fork at an angle, at the thickest point, and twist gently. The fish will flake easily when it's done and it will lose its translucent or raw appearance. A good rule of thumb is to cook the fish to an internal temperature of 140-145 degrees.
The Bottom Line
The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil and parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. If it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work fine in an air fryer.