I love to cook fish at home. But a deep fryer is a huge mess. It uses way too much oil. The cleanup takes forever. So, I tried an air fryer panko crusted fish recipe. It is a game changer for my busy nights. I want to share my honest thoughts with you. It is fast. It is easy. The crunch is truly great.

The Good and The Bad

Let us look at what works well. This method is very fast. The crust gets crisp and brown. You do not use much grease. Cleanup is an absolute breeze. You just wash the basket and you are done.

But, there are a few snags. You must spray the top of the fish with oil. If you do not, the panko stays dry. It will taste like plain dust. Your fish must also be very dry from the start. If the fish is wet, the crust falls right off in the pan. I learned that fact the hard way!

My Go-To Air Fryer Panko Crusted Fish Recipe

Recipe by MahbubCourse: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

This fast and easy air fryer fish gives you a huge, golden crunch with very little oil. It uses simple white fish and crispy panko breadcrumbs for a perfect family dinner. Cleanup is an absolute breeze!

What You Will Need

White fish: Get one pound. Cod works very well.
Panko: You need one cup. This makes the loud crunch.
Flour: Half a cup of plain white flour.
Eggs: Two large eggs, mixed well in a bowl.
Spices: A pinch of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Oil spray: You must have a good cooking spray.

How to Cook the Fish

Dry the fish: Use a paper towel. Dry the fish fillets well. Cut them into small strips.
Set up bowls: Use three wide bowls. Put flour and spices in bowl one. Put the mixed eggs in bowl two. Put the panko in bowl three.
Coat the fish: Roll a piece of fish in the flour. Next, dip it in the egg. Last, press it hard into the panko bowl. Make sure it is completely coated on all sides.
Prep the fryer: Spray your air fryer basket with a light coat of oil.
Fry the food: Put the fish in the basket. Do not let the pieces touch. Spray the top of the fish lightly with oil. Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the pieces gently at the five minute mark.

Recipe Video

Notes

Always pat the fish dry before you cook it. Wet fish makes the crust fall off in the pan.
Do not crowd the air fryer basket. Leave space between each piece. This helps hot air move around the food and makes it extra crispy.
Spray the panko with cooking oil before cooking. If you skip this step, the breadcrumbs can stay dry and taste unpleasant.