How to Fry Tilapia Outdoors? - The Ultimate Guide

Tilapia is a freshwater fish known for its sweet, mild flavor and irresistibly delicate texture.

Cooking fish can be quite intimidating and there is nothing worse than undercooked or overcooked fish, especially when it comes to something as delicious as tilapia.

Ever since the air fryer hit the markets, a lot of people have started experimenting with cooking these difficult items like fish, and to our surprise, air fryers can actually cook your fish to perfection!

It gives it a super soft and flaky texture and doesn’t add any flavor or burnt bits.

So how do you cook tilapia fillets in an air fryer?

Just season the tilapia fillets with salt, pepper, and any other additional seasonings you’d like, and place them inside your preheated 400°F air fryer. Next, set the timer for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, take out the tilapia fillets, let them cool and enjoy!

In today’s article we’ll take a look at what tilapia is, how to cook it with fresh, thawed or frozen fillets, and finally, how air-fried versions compare to more traditional cooking methods.

What is tilapia

Tilapia is a very common and affordable type of fish that can be found all over the world.  It’s known for its delicate texture and mild sweet flavors, which means it doesn’t have that ultra-fine taste!

This makes it especially good for those looking to increase their omega 3 intake without having to take fish oils.

In the US, tilapia is the fourth most consumed type of shellfish. The most common type of wild tilapia (or pole-caught tilapia) is found in African countries.

However, there is a massive industry of farmed tilapia that spans over 135 countries.

Many species of fish are very difficult to farm, but tilapia, on the other hand, is one of the easiest, which contributes to its popularity.

This fish lives on a vegetarian diet, does not mind being crowded and grows very fast. In terms of money, this means that you can farm a ton of fish with very few (and cheap) resources.

However, recent discoveries have shown that not all tilapia farming practices provide the ideal product. China supplies the United States with most of the Tilapia fish. They produce more than 1.6 million metric tons per year.

Unfortunately, some flags have been raised regarding the breeding practices used in China. Reports have shown that some farms often feed Tilapia fish with animal feces, which can lead to contamination such as Salmonella bacteria.

Between 2007 and 2012, more than 800 tilapia shipments from China have been rejected due to possible risks. Some of them included possible contamination with harmful chemicals, such as veterinary drug residues and other unsafe additives.

Lucky for us, knowing that shipments were rejected means that the quality of the fish we buy is being carefully monitored.

So where can we get this amazing fish? Your local supermarket or fish vendor will be able to help you sell your fish or know where you can find high-quality, healthy fish.

Tilapia fish buying guide

When buying any type of fish, there are a few things to look out for to ensure that the fish is super fresh and has been handled correctly.

• Make sure the eyes are bright and bulging. They should not be cloudy, bruised, sunken, or bloody.
• Check that the fish is not slimy or smelly. It should smell fresh and not fishy. If it smells fishy, it’s no longer fresh.
• The gills should be bright red or pink. They must not be bruised in any way.
• If the fish is frozen, it must be properly sealed and have no traces of ice or blood inside the container. Excess moisture contributes to rot.

When buying Tilapia fish, make sure it’s fresh by first checking the list above for the most obvious signs. Try to avoid Tilapia from China as we now know that some farming practices are not up to standard and why take any chances?

Rather look for Tilapia from other parts of the world, such as Canada, Ecuador, Peru, the Netherlands or the United States.

Wild-caught Tilapia fish is like a dream come true, but unfortunately, it’s not that easy to come by! So if you get the chance, do yourself a favor and experience it at least once! It is incomparable!

When buying fresh fish, it’s always important to store it properly so it stays fresh until you prepare it. Always rinse fresh fish under cold water and pat dry with paper towels or a clean cloth.

We prefer to use paper towels because the cloth or dish towels will end up smelling fishy.

Wrap the washed and dried fish in wax paper or plastic wrap and store in the fridge with ice until you plan to use it.

If you don’t plan to cook the fish right away, be sure to change the ice regularly to prevent it from melting.

If you don’t have access to as much ice, you can also just store it in the freezer, but make sure you use the fish as soon as possible then.

If you plan to freeze the fish for long-term storage, which is a great option if you can’t use it immediately, repeat the same procedure by washing and drying the fish, but instead of wrapping it, place the fish inside freezer bags.

Be sure to label the fish so you know how long you’ve frozen it for. Fresh fish freezes well, but loses its intense fresh flavor after about two weeks. Be sure to thaw the fish completely before cooking.

How to air fry tilapia

Air frying tilapia fish is a great way to ensure that your fish is cooked to perfection without having to constantly watch it with a hawk’s eye.

Ingredients

• 2 medium tilapia fillets, cleaned
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) cooking oil
• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) fish spice
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• ½ small lemon
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) butter

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
2. Drizzle the tilapia fillets with oil and fish spices and place a crushed garlic clove on each one.
3. Set the air fryer timer for 8 minutes. Place the fillets in the preheated basket and fry them for 8 minutes.
4. Squeeze a good amount of lemon over the fish and divide the butter between the two fillets. No need to butter; simply spoon a tablespoon over each fillet. It will melt and spread on its own.
5. Fry the fish for another 2 minutes and check the internal temperature of the fish to make sure it is cooked through. The temperature should be 145°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, use a fork to make sure the fish comes off easily and has a soft, flaky texture.

Can frozen tilapia be air fried?

It is always recommended to safely thaw food before cooking; however, sometimes there just isn’t enough time!

Luckily, thanks to the design and operation of air fryers, they can produce extremely high temperatures very quickly, as well as distribute them evenly throughout the chamber.

This basically means that some items can be cooked in an air fryer from frozen, but does this include tilapia?

You are right! To air fry tilapia fillets from frozen, follow the same steps as for fresh tilapia fillets. The only difference is that you have to cook them for 6 more minutes.

Make sure steaks reach an internal temperature (in the thickest part of the steak) of 145°F to ensure they are safe and fully cooked.

Tips for Air Frying Breaded or Unbreaded Tilapia

Breading tilapia fillets is a great way to add texture and crunch to tilapia fillets, as well as other spice flavors.

And if you have a picky eater among you (including kids who aren’t fishy fans), it’s a great way to distract them from the flavors of fish!

When air frying regular (unbreaded) tilapia fillets, be sure to add enough oil to the fillets so they don’t stick to the pan or each other and remain crisp.

Excess oil will drip into the basket, so you don’t have to worry about that.

When air frying breaded tilapia, make sure not to add too much oil to the fillets, as this will prevent the crumbs from becoming crisp.

Breading tilapia fillets is very easy and can be done at home. Season some all-purpose flour with your favorite spice or dried herbs and simply coat the fish in the seasoned flour. 

Next, dip the coated fish into a mixture of beaten eggs (egg wash) and lastly into some breadcrumbs.

You can also add some dried herbs or spices to the breadcrumbs for a visual effect. Add the breaded fillets to the air fryer and follow the instructions as usual.

The air fryer versus other methods

When cooking fish there are many ways to do it. You can choose to fry it, pan fry it, fire roast it, bake it or grill it and of course air fry it.

Air frying is by far our favorite when it comes to convenience, but let’s take a look at how air frying stacks up against some of the other common cooking methods.

Air fryer

First up, the aforementioned air fryer. This method is a super quick and easy way to make delicious fried tilapia.

Time

The air fryer can get your beautiful fresh tilapia fillets fully cooked in about 8-12 minutes, depending on the size, thickness, and whether the fish has thawed properly.

Frozen tilapia fillets can be cooked using this method and will take about 14 minutes, again depending on the size and thickness of the fillets.

Taste and texture

As we all know, air fryers are known for using less oil, that’s what makes them so special! So first of all, you will have a perfectly cooked fish without that excessive oily taste.

Air fryer technology also helps maintain moisture within food as it cooks. You just have to make sure you don’t overcook the fish.

Air frying doesn’t necessarily add any flavor, but it does help to preserve it somewhat. And when it comes to texture, especially when making Breaded Tilapia, it definitely helps to make the fillets nice and crisp.

Convenience

When it comes to convenience, the air fryer is everything! Since you can set a timer (after which the machine will turn off), you don’t have to constantly keep an eye on the progress of your steaks.

You can simply program it, leave it for a minimum amount of time, check it once, and see if it needs another minute or two.

The air fryer also heats up much faster compared to many other kitchen appliances, and it has a very stable temperature.

Fry in the pan

Pan frying tilapia is an amazing way to introduce amazing crust to this fish, while keeping the inside perfectly cooked and juicy!

Time

Pan-frying tilapia can take 8-10 minutes, usually 4 minutes per side.

However, keep in mind that you will probably be frying the fish in a pan, which can take up to 3 minutes to preheat (an essential step).

Taste and texture

Pan frying the tilapia fillet helps give it a flavor that air fryers don’t have. This is mainly due to the Maillard reaction.

This is a chemical reaction that takes place that basically means that the fish browns when heat is applied, producing its own unique flavors.

Caramelization (the Maillard reaction) definitely takes place in a skillet rather than an air fryer.

Convenience

Pan frying may not seem like a huge inconvenience, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

A skillet is harder to clean, you have to constantly monitor the heat to make sure you don’t overcook the fish, and you still have to make sure the heat is high enough to help brown it. 

To bake

Baking is a very convenient way to cook tilapia, although it is a slightly longer process than other options. There are many ways to use this method to cook tilapia, so feel free to get creative.

Time

Baking tilapia is a lot like air frying fillets, except it takes a little longer. Bake the fillets for about 10-12 minutes or until the meat is fork-tender.

You need to preheat the oven for about 15 minutes, which obviously takes longer.

In total, you will spend about 30 minutes from start to finish. And, if you’re baking frozen tilapia fillets, be sure to add a couple more minutes.

Taste and texture

Baking doesn’t change the natural flavor of the fish, but it also doesn’t add a ton of new flavors. Although it is browned and there are hints of sweet flavors, it is not as intense as that of the pan.

When baking fish, it is very important to keep a close eye on it, as ovens tend to overcook fish, mostly because people aren’t paying attention, but it can also be due to hot spots in the oven.

Hot spots cause some parts of the steaks to be overcooked while others are still undercooked.

Convenience

Using an oven to prepare tilapia fish is quite convenient, but the biggest drawback (compared to an air fryer) is that you have to keep a close eye on the fillets. 

However, you can make deliciously crispy breaded tilapia fillets and even cook the fillets from freezing.

Deep fry

Prep for frying can take a bit of practice (especially if you batter the fish, which we highly recommend), but the cooking process itself is super quick, easy, and will leave you with very flavorful fish.

Just remember to be careful when cooking with hot oil!

Time

When it comes to cooking time alone, this might be the quickest method for preparing tilapia fillets (but only if you exclude oil preheat time).

These steaks will only take about 2 minutes per side, even when battered or breaded.

Taste and texture

Frying your fish adds a ton of delicious flavors and textures, even without batter.  The hot oil helps the outside crisp while the inside stays flaky and juicy. The batters or crumbs also crisp perfectly.

Comfort

Aside from making the batter and cleaning the fryer afterwards, deep frying is pretty convenient! Once you have the right temperature for the oil, you just have to fry the fish and wait for it to be well browned.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over the best way to cook tilapia in an air fryer, let’s take a look at some related questions!

Can you use aluminum foil in the air fryer when cooking tilapia?

You can put aluminum foil in the air fryer ; however, check your air fryer manual before putting anything inside! Not all models work the same and some even have specific warnings to avoid aluminum foil.

Always make sure to use as little aluminum foil as possible, as it will limit airflow in the fryer.

What can you do with leftover Tilapia from the fryer?

Tilapia leftovers can be used in many ways. Use the leftover fillets and process them in a food processor to make a fillet pate. The shredded fillets can be used to make fish cakes or even fish tacos.

The options are endless!

What is the best way to defrost fish?

The best way to defrost fish is to place it in a container in the refrigerator to thaw overnight or throughout the day. Be sure to get them out of the freezer early, as they can take time to thaw.

Always place frozen fish on a plate or in a container to ensure that no fish juices spill in the fridge.