Fish is widely considered to be one of the trickier meats to cook due to its delicate texture and fast cooking time. If you’re worried that you could accidentally burn your fish or dry it out, you’re in the right place.
Learning how to cook fish at home starts with a mindset shift. This meat is actually quite easy once you learn a few basics around cooking varieties, temperature, and different fish types! Let’s go on a journey so you can finally start enjoying low-fat, high-protein fish recipes at home.
Before we dive into a few air fryer and baked fish recipes, let’s take a look at the main cooking methods. Each one comes with its own perks, so we recommend experimenting a little!
You don’t have to master all of these right off the bat. Many people who love to eat fish often gravitate to one or two of their favorite cooking methods based on the results or their lifestyle.
Do you ever wish you could simply press a button and have a delicious fish dinner ready to go? Air fryer fish is crisp and juicy, using high heat and pressure to cook fish quickly without sacrificing its texture.
All you need to do when using an air fryer is to flip your fish over to make sure it’s cooked through. When it comes to beginner-friendly tools, the air fryer takes the cake (or fillet, if you want to be consistent).
If you want a hands-off way to enjoy tender, flaky fish, you can’t go wrong with baking in the oven. Most fish will fully cook in 10 to 15 minutes on higher settings, while slow roasting settings may take 30 to 40 minutes.
You can pair your fish with diced vegetables to cut down on back-and-forth prep. This method is a must for dinner parties or holidays if you don’t want to constantly ‘babysit’ your meal.
(Even better, baking is also one of the healthiest methods to cook fish.)
Do you like to brown your meats or vegetables to bring out their flavor? Sautéed fish comes out with a more crisp texture and juicy interior, which could be just what you need to fall in love with fish dishes.
Fish cook well in neutral oils like vegetable and canola oil, protecting their flavor while still creating a mouthwatering result.
Boiling fish is one of the most beginner-friendly methods because there’s very little prep or oversight. Simply choose your recipe, toss in your fish, then let hot water and time do the rest.
Boiled fish recipes frequently include soups and chowders, though you can also try boiling fish for noodle dishes.
Grilling fish is a little trickier since it’s easy to have the meat stick to the grill if you’re not careful. With some prep and some practice, though, this cooking method could become your absolute favorite.
Many home chefs love the smoky notes of grilled fish, especially when paired with grilled vegetables and an ice cold drink.
Ready to start cooking fish at home? Make sure you have these popular tools so you can enjoy a huge variety of recipes (or just save time).
If you’ve been debating whether or not to get an air fryer, take this as your sign to make the plunge. Air fryers have become incredibly popular for fast, tasty recipes made in a matter of minutes.
Air fryers leave your fish hot, crispy, and ready to be paired with just about any side, sauce, or garnish you can think of.
While you can technically use any spatula to flip fish on a pan or in an air fryer, you should consider getting a specialized fish spatula. They come with a more ergonomic design and slimmer surface area to easily slip under delicate fillets.
Feel like dicing up your fish for a salad, pasta dish, or breading? A fillet knife is sharp, narrow, and just the right design to slice through a delicate fillet.
These knives are also useful for parsing apart fish meat to find stray bones. It never hurts to be careful!
Who wants to rub or wipe a fish fillet down with their fingers? With an oil sprayer, all you need are a few quick spritzes on either side of your fish to get it ready for cooking.
Want to try your hand at a few homecooked recipes? Start off with an air fryer so you can build your confidence quickly and still enjoy some delectable meals.
There’s nothing quite like sticking a fillet into an air fryer and smelling the delicious aroma within minutes. With one of our flavored tilapia fillets, we’ll take even more work off your hands.
Start by preheating your air fryer to around 360 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes, spritz your fillet down with your cooking oil of choice, and set it in the air fryer. We recommend using parchment paper to prevent your fish from sticking. Cook for 8 to 12 minutes or until your fish easily flakes apart with a fork.
You can toss this fillet onto a rice bed, pair it with panfried green beans, or shred onto a spinach salad.
If you’re in the mood for a hearty and filling meal, you can’t go wrong with a salmon burger. Since salmon fillets are a little thicker and fattier, we recommend preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Air fry thinner cuts for 7 to 8 minutes, while thicker cuts may need 8 to 10 minutes. When it’s juicy and flaky, slap it onto your favorite burger buns with your go-to toppings. You can try an avocado spread, mustard, or tartar sauce to add a little extra creaminess.
Do you miss classic breaded fish? You can easily make your own by tossing your fish of choice (such as Pacific cod or tilapia) into a bag with breading and seasoning, then shaking it.
Once everything is nicely coated, spritz oil on the first cooking side, then preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Make sure to flip at the halfway point and spritz the other side to encourage thorough cooking (and prevent sticking).
Cooking fish is one of the easiest tasks in the world. Once you get comfortable with their fast cooking time and delicate texture, you’ll be amazed at how many meals you can whip up in a flash. Air fryer fish and baked fish are beginner-friendly, while grilling will take a little more practice.
Want to see what else you can make? Check out our blog for recipes, fun facts, and more.