Air fryer tofu with teriyaki sauce is an easy way to cook tofu and add it to soups, noodles, rice, stir fry, potatoes, or eat by itself.
Never cooked with tofu before?
This is a crispy tofu air fryer recipe with homemade teriyaki sauce that’s so delicious! Air frying tofu is very easy once you have the steps of preparing tofu down.
This is also a how-to that helps you learn what tofu is, how to prepare it, and how to cook it in your air fryer.
1. What is Tofu Made of?
Tofu is made of coagulated soymilk which makes curds (kind of like cheese). The curds are then pressed and compacted into the white bricks we often see.
Can’t find any tofu at the store? Try this homemade tofu recipe from Alpha Foodie.
2. What Does Tofu Taste Like?
Tofu does not have a distinct flavor. It’s mostly flavorless which makes it great for marinating, seasoning, and adding it to dishes like Asian cuisine.
Why add it to food if it tastes like nothing? Tofu is packed full of protein, gluten-free, low in calories, and makes a great substitute for meat.
3. Silken, Soft, Firm, Extra-Firm
There are different textures for tofu: silken, soft, firm, and extra-firm. All of these vary in how much water is retained in the tofu.
Silken resembles closely to a gelatin-type consistency that does not hold a shape very well. It’s often still in a block but falls apart easily because it is not curdled like the others.
Silken is easily used as a substitute for dairy in yogurt, ice cream, pudding, ice cream, smoothies, and sauces. It’s also great for replacing cream, milk, butter, and eggs in cooking and baking. Try this 5-minute silken tofu green onion recipe.
Soft tofu is in a brick form and is great for adding to soups or pho. Because it is softer, offers a unique texture in heartier soups. Try this Korean stew recipe made with soft tofu.
Firm tofu is of course prepared into a block form as well and has had extra liquid drained from it. It can be pressed into extra-firm tofu if more water is drained from it, which makes it more permeable to absorbing liquids around it.
Extra-firm tofu is the most permeable of the types and is great for marinating, frying, and baking. It’s probably the most commonly used among tofu-eaters simply because it’s like a sponge that can absorb the flavors of whatever is added to it or it is cooked with.
Extra-firm tofu is what I recommend using in this teriyaki tofu recipe because it can soak up all of the delicious flavors of the teriyaki marinade.
4. How to Press or Drain Tofu Without a Press
There are actual tofu presses you can purchase like this one that you can set and place in the fridge or on the counter while it presses the water out.
However, if you are not interested in spending money on one, you do not have to. There are ways to do it with items from around the house.
- Place the tofu in a large enough colander in the sink or a roasting pan that allows for dripping and then place a heavy pan, casserole dish, or wood cutting board on top of the tofu to press it. It’s important to have holes underneath the tofu for the liquid to drain.
- Another option if you do not have something with holes to drain is wrapping the tofu in a cheesecloth or paper towel to collect the liquid and placing it between two hard surfaces, with the heavier being on top to press it down. (ie. place the wrapped tofu in a dish and place a heavy wood cutting board or frying pan on top.)
Once you have the tofu pressed, allow it to apply pressure for 15-30 minutes. You’ll notice the tofu is slightly smaller and excess water is draining out of it.
Air Fryer Teriyaki Tofu Ingredients
- Firm or Extra-Firm Tofu
Teriyaki Marinade/Sauce Ingredients
- Soy or Tamari Sauce
- Water
- Garlic Powder
- Light Brown Sugar
- Honey
- Corn Starch + Water, optional thickener
How to Make Crispy Tofu in the Air Fryer
The trick to getting crispy tofu is by pressing as much extra liquid out of it as you can. Less liquid means it can brown, which is just like cooking with meat.
How to Air Fry Tofu
- Press the tofu block to remove excess water by placing a heavy pan or cutting board on top of the tofu for 15-30 minutes.
- While it sets, make the marinade by combining all of the teriyaki marinade ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat.
- * If desired to have sauce to pour on the tofu after it cooks, pour half of the marinade on the tofu and reserve the other half in the saucepan. Bring it to a simmer again. Mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and ¼ cup cold water in a small dish, then add to the saucepan. Continuously stir as it thickens and set aside.
- Drain excess liquid from the tofu being pressed. Slice tofu into cubes and coat in marinade. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and add tofu with a slotted spoon so that extra marinade is not added to the basket.
- Set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, shake the basket to keep it from sticking.
- Avoid stirring as the tofu can be delicate and tear apart. Cook an additional 5-7 minutes until it begins to turn golden brown on the edges of the tofu.
Is Teriyaki Sauce Vegan?
The recipe for teriyaki sauce in this post may be considered vegan to some, while others feel that honey, being a byproduct of bees, should not be consumed.
The honey can of course be omitted from this recipe. Ultimately, it is your decision and what you feel is comfortable and safe to eat.
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Air Fryer Teriyaki Tofu
Ingredients
- 16 oz Firm or Extra-Firm Tofu
Teriyaki Marinade
- ¼ cup Soy or Tamari Sauce
- 1 cup Water
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 5 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Honey
- Toasted Sesame Seeds, optional
Instructions
- Press tofu to remove excess water by placing a heavy pan or cutting board on top of the tofu for eat least 15 minutes.
- While it sets, make the marinade by combining all of the teriyaki marinade ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat.
* If desired to have sauce to pour on the tofu after it cooks, pour half of the marinade on the tofu and reserve the other half in the saucepan. Bring it to a simmer again. Mix together 2 tablespoons corn starch and ¼ cup cold water in a small dish, then add to the saucepan. Continuously stir as it thickens and set aside. - Drain excess liquid from tofu. Slice tofu into cubes and coat in marinade. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking oil and add tofu with a slotted spoon so that extra marinade is not added to the basket.
- Set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, shake the basket to keep from sticking. Avoid stirring as the tofu can be delicate and tear apart. Cook an additional 5-7 minutes until it begins to turn golden brown on edges of the tofu.
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