Air Frying Crappie and Bass Fillets

[the reel ess]

I've been experimenting with cooking bass and crappie in my air fryer. They aren't the usual fatty fish like salmon that are best in the fryer. I've tried just putting a cornmeal based fish fry ion them and cooking them. The coating won't brown. It still tastes OK, but it's not optimal. I gave the fish a light coat of olive oil, then applied the fish fry. Still not really "good". I haven't tried panko or bread crumbs yet. I suppose I could just do them like I do salmon, just season and cook them. But they'll be dry and I'll feel I wasted them. Has anyone come up with a good method for bass and/or panfish fillets? Thanks.

[Patrick Reif]

The air fryer is a great invention but it has its limits.  If I plan on cooking fish, I'll just pan fry them.  Nothing is going to be able to touch the old fashion way.

[jimmyjoe]

6 minutes ago, Patrick Reif said:

The air fryer is a great invention but it has its limits.  If I plan on cooking fish, I'll just pan fry them.  Nothing is going to be able to touch the old fashion way.

 

   I'll second this. I'm VERY picky about how my fish are cooked. I've never found any method that doesn't involve adding oils or fats that is good ... although at my age I don't use too much oil or fat.

   Conversely, I have the opinion that an air fryer works best with meats that are naturally fatty.       jj

[the reel ess]

36 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   I'll second this. I'm VERY picky about how my fish are cooked. I've never found any method that doesn't involve adding oils or fats that is good ... although at my age I don't use too much oil or fat.

   Conversely, I have the opinion that an air fryer works best with meats that are naturally fatty.       jj

Agree on both counts. I'm just trying to get my $$$ worth out of the fryer. I'm the only one in my family that eats fish that I catch and don't want the hassle of the deep fryer. Also, don't want to stick up the house with fish.

 

BTW, they actually do taste good. They just haven't been golden brown yet.

I think the answer is just to season and cook them without a coating. Or bust out the deep fryer for just myself. I can give the extra to my next door neighbor. But only after they're cooked. He doesn't want to catch, clean or cook any. ?

[Crappiebasser]

No air fried is as good as fish fried in oil but Louisiana air fryer fish batter is the best I have had. I spray it it a couple times while it’s cooking with olive oil and it’s not bad. 
 

https://louisianafishfry.com/products/air-fry-fish-coating-mix-5-oz/

 

[the reel ess]

10 minutes ago, Crappiebasser said:

No air fried is as good as fish fried in oil but Louisiana air fryer fish batter is the best I have had. I spray it it a couple times while it’s cooking with olive oil and it’s not bad. 
 

https://louisianafishfry.com/products/air-fry-fish-coating-mix-5-oz/

 

That is promising. Just one question. I used the Louisiana regular this last time and it was so spicy I had to cover it in ketchup to get it down. It was good, just too spicy. Is this one the same?

[Catt]

8 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

That is promising. Just one question. I used the Louisiana regular this last time and it was so spicy I had to cover it in ketchup to get it down. It was good, just too spicy. Is this one the same?

 

You add your seasoning ?

 

 

[Crappiebasser]

12 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

That is promising. Just one question. I used the Louisiana regular this last time and it was so spicy I had to cover it in ketchup to get it down. It was good, just too spicy. Is this one the same?

It is a little spicy but wasn’t too hot for me. I like a spicy food though.

[the reel ess]

16 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

You add your seasoning ?

 

 

Traditional fish fry breading isn't working in the air fryer. It won't brown, nor will it stick to the fish, even after I coated the fish with oil.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

Traditional fish fry breading isn't working in the air fryer. It won't brown, nor will it stick to the fish, even after I coated the fish with oil.

 

Which is why I gave my air fryer away ?

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Which is why I gave my air fryer away ?

I don't even bother with frying - broiled, baby...it's the only way to go.

[flyfisher]

4 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I've been experimenting with cooking bass and crappie in my air fryer. They aren't the usual fatty fish like salmon that are best in the fryer. I've tried just putting a cornmeal based fish fry ion them and cooking them. The coating won't brown. It still tastes OK, but it's not optimal. I gave the fish a light coat of olive oil, then applied the fish fry. Still not really "good". I haven't tried panko or bread crumbs yet. I suppose I could just do them like I do salmon, just season and cook them. But they'll be dry and I'll feel I wasted them. Has anyone come up with a good method for bass and/or panfish fillets? Thanks.

I have yet to do fish in my air fryer but the salmon intrigued me.  Mind sharing how you prepare it?

[VolFan]

Mix a couple tablesspoons of milk with a couple egg whites. Dredge in your coating, then egg white mixture, then your coating again. Spritz with a little oil if you feel like it. If you can get your filets super dry, skip the first dredge and go straight to the eggs.

[Mobasser]

My wife sold our air fryer at a garage sale years ago. We realized we just never used it. We have a cast iron kettle we've used to fry crappie fillets. I try and have a good stash to cook up on 4rth of July. I bread them, and drop them in the hot oil. When they float, leave them floating untill they're golden brown. And I always make sure I've got a bottle of Zatarains Cajun hot sauce on hand. A couple of shots of your favourite hot sauce makes em perfect!

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I have yet to do fish in my air fryer but the salmon intrigued me.  Mind sharing how you prepare it?

I spray the basket with PAM, season the non-skin side of the salmon fillet and cook it skin-down on air fry setting, about 375 degrees for maybe 12 minutes. It takes longer than grilling. A booklet came with my air fryer with some recipes. But I basically just used it to get the temp and time.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I think 10mins then flip, then 10 more. Breading is no good on there. Just season heavy and mix butter and lemon. 

 

Kinda like oven baked fish. But I do it with good results. Alot healthier that way 

[slonezp]

Nothing like deep fried

[flyfisher]

i use my air fryer a bunch for chicken and i do use breading but it is different than normal.  I usually just brush it with olive oil and then bread crumbs or whatever, crushed cheezits work really well actually as a breading.  I have learned the key is to flip it about every 4 minutes so you can get a good  crunchy coating.

[slonezp]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I don't even bother with frying - broiled, baby...it's the only way to go.

Try grilling on a cedar plank with a little bit of smoke and a blackened spice mix

2 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

i use my air fryer a bunch for chicken and i do use breading but it is different than normal.  I usually just brush it with olive oil and then bread crumbs or whatever, crushed cheezits work really well actually as a breading.  I have learned the key is to flip it about every 4 minutes so you can get a good  crunchy coating.

Don't know it it will work in an air fryer but try crushed potato chips as a coating

[the reel ess]

3 hours ago, flyfisher said:

i use my air fryer a bunch for chicken and i do use breading but it is different than normal.  I usually just brush it with olive oil and then bread crumbs or whatever, crushed cheezits work really well actually as a breading.  I have learned the key is to flip it about every 4 minutes so you can get a good  crunchy coating.

That sounds awesome. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Cheezits do sound good lol. Dont throw away your air fryer because you dont know how to use it. Experiment and try things, I use mine a ton.

 

Of course everything deep fried is better. America's obesity epidemic attests to that, I just personally think limit deep fried a bit and try the air fried fish! You can even use your air fried fish in a fish soup. (Dont knock it lol)

[the reel ess]

11 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Cheezits do sound good lol. Dont throw away your air fryer because you dont know how to use it. Experiment and try things, I use mine a ton.

 

Of course everything deep fried is better. America's obesity epidemic attests to that, I just personally think limit deep fried a bit and try the air fried fish! You can even use your air fried fish in a fish soup. (Dont knock it lol)

I wouldn't throw it away. It was my Christmas gift. It makes the crispiest chicken skins I've ever had. I like to do whole wings in it and sometimes I'll whip up some frozen fries or tots. I haven't made a pizza in it yet, but I will. I'm just looking to expand how I use it. The wife is on a low carb kick at the moment and I don't want to tempt her too much. It's also the only toaster we have now. It's this one. It has a lot of settings, so it gets used for much more than frying.

https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/airfryers/toa-60

[looking45]

Here's a way to get your fish to come out nice and brown and crunchy. You need 3 small bowls. One with a couple of beat up eggs, one with Panko bread crumbs, and one with RICE flour, NOT everyday flour. Mx a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning in the rice flour.

Rinse your fillets and pat dry with a paper towel. Coat them with the rice flour mix. Make sure you cover everything. Dredge the fillet in the egg wash, again making sure you cover everything. Cover the fillet with the Panko. Pat it down so it sticks. 370 degrees, 6-8 minutes per side. Make your own tartar sauce.

It will be brown and crunchy when they're done