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No cornstarch is needed to make this flavorful air fryer tofu! Drying the tofu well before marinading in a next-level seasoning blend is all it takes to get crispy tofu in your air fryer (no cornstarch needed here – just five simple ingredients).
Pair it with my Marry Me Chickpeas or toss them on a Veggie Wrap for a complete meal!
save this recipe!It’s the conundrum every tofu-eater has had at some point…“How do I make my tofu taste better?”
Well wonder no more, friends! I’ve unlocked the secret to the very best tofu…air frying! I’ve been cooking tofu in the air fryer multiple times per week for years, so you can be sure this tofu will turn out perfectly for you!
Not to be dramatic but this air fryer tofu is life-changing
- It’s a bit crispy on the outside but pillowy on the inside
- It doesn’t rely on cornstarch to make it crispy (I’ve got three tricks that help give it that perfect texture!)
Reader rating
“I started an air fryer tofu recipe before realizing I was out of corn starch…so I landed here. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of crisp I got without a starch! Easy and delicious!” —Lola
Here’s what you’ll need
This crispy tofu has two main components: the tofu (of course) and the marinade (big yum). Jump to the recipe card for measurements!
- Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu, which has more water squeezed out of it than the soft or silken varieties. Less water = more crisp!
- Soy sauce: Soy (or tamari for gluten-free) adds a rich and salty flavor that levels up your tofu. Feel free to use a low-sodium soy sauce.
- Oil: We’ll use a blend of sesame and olive oil to add flavor and enhance the crispiness. I wouldn’t recommend cutting out the oil completely, but you could use sprayable oil if you’re looking to reduce fat.
- Garlic: I use this for quick and simple flavor in the marinade. Feel free to go crazy with it and at your own blend of spices or herbs!
Secrets to air fryer tofu
There are actually three secrets to making crispy tofu without cornstarch or bread crumbs.
Secret 1 – Press the tofu: Pressing your tofu before cooking with it removes excess moisture (which would otherwise make for soggy, not-at-all-crispy tofu). I recently got this tofu press and absolutely love it, but you can also press your tofu by setting a heavy pan (like a cast iron) on top of your tofu and letting the moisture drain out.
Secret 2 – Air frying: My cooking obsession and the ultimate way to cook anything that needs to be crispy, air frying! I use this air fryer which has held up well with the many (many) kitchen experiments I’ve thrown in it.
Secret 3 – Freeze your tofu: This is optional but highly recommended. Freezing and then thawing your tofu before cooking with it improves the texture and allows it to soak up even more flavor from the marinade!
Want to skip pressing?
You can skip pressing the tofu altogether by buying vacuum-packed tofu! This is the firmest variety and the pressing has already been done for you. Just cut into tofu cubes, flavor, and fry!
The Very Best Air Fryer Tofu (No Cornstarch!)
Ingredients
- 1 16-oz block extra-firm tofu, 453 g
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 30 mL
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil*, 15 mL
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, 15 mL
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Press: Press 1 16-oz block extra-firm tofu for at least 15 minutes, using either a tofu press or by setting a heavy pan on top of it and letting the moisture drain. When finished, cut tofu into bite-sized blocks and transfer to a bowl.
- Flavor: Combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil*, 1 Tbsp olive oil, and 1 clove garlic (minced) in a small bowl. Drizzle over tofu and toss to coat. Let tofu marinate for an additional 15 minutes.
- Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Add tofu blocks to your air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to promote even cooking.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Just made today, and had some marinade leftover and used it as a salad dressing. Will be using this recipe again, so good!
So happy to hear it, Maggie! And an awesome reuse for the marinade!
This recipe gives excellent results, I got good results using ‘Bisto’, onion gravy, instead of soya sauce.
I’m not sure what went wrong but I’m so disappointed. Followed the recipe exactly and ended up with nothing close to crispy tofu and it popped and stuck to my basket horribly, despite frequent shaking, leaving me with an absolute disaster inside my air fryer. The flavor is delicious but next time I’ll go back to using corn starch. I’m not sure how the tofu is supposed to get crisp without something on the outside to crisp. Tonight I just have wet, squishy tofu cubes. 🙁
So strange! I would recommend adding only half the amount of tofu to your basket, they might just need more space around each cube to help them crisp up. This is especially a problem to watch out for in air fryers with baskets (as opposed to the racks).
Absolutely delicious & super easy. I will definitely be making this again
I added hot honey and baked at 400 for about 15 -2 0 minutes and it was great!
My extra firm tofu didn’t crisp. 🙁 I put it in a tofu press overnight, draining the liquid three times. Question, does the marinade use a tablespoon of BOTH oils or is this supposed to be one or the other? I used both because there wasn’t an “or” in the ingredient list.
The recipe uses both oils. Sorry to hear it didn’t crisp up though! You might try lowering the temp on your air fryer and leaving them in for longer.
I made this recipe for three people and we all loved it. Crunchy on one side, moist and juicy on the other. I’m very new to cooking, so this recipe was very easy to follow. Will be making it again real soon!
Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah,
If I cover pan with foil so I don’t have to clean after each time, will that prevent the hot air from covering all sides of vegetables, so less crisp?
That’s a great question, Annie! Yes, this will prevent the air from fully circulating, which will probably make the tofu less crispy.
I did it in my Instapot air fryer- 400 for 15 minn and it was DELISH!
Thank you, Sarah. I just found your website and I’m thrilled with it! I am new to eating Vegetarian. I’ve been struggling with what to cook. I did a batch of Tofu in a frying pan last week and mixed it with spaghetti sauce and other vegetables and it was fine. But, using my Ninja Foodie Air Cooker was easier and it came out super delicious using your recipe. I could eat them just as they are they are so good. Nice and crispy. I think I’m your friend for life. 🙂 God bless you. Can’t wait to try everything you suggest.
So happy to hear it, Lucy! Enjoy! 😀