Summary: The air fryer is perfect for cooking cod: it comes out crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and with much less oil. Here are 5 air fryer-adapted recipes: gratinated, breaded, with vegetables, lemon, and a healthy fish & chips. All in under 20 minutes.
At Bacalalo, we have been selecting each piece of cod at Mercat del Ninot since 1990.
Why the air fryer works with cod
Cod is a lean fish (low fat), which means it tends to dry out with long cooking times. The air fryer solves this because:
- Cooks fast: 10-15 minutes for most recipes.
- Enveloping heat: cooks evenly without needing to be flipped.
- Crispy with little oil: a tablespoon of oil spray is enough to achieve a golden crust.
The result: cod that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, without the oil bath of traditional frying.
🐟 The ideal cod for air fryers
Skinless and boneless desalted cod fillets from Iceland — ready in 5 minutes, perfect texture for air fryers.
€21.45 (500g, ~3 servings)
1. Gratinated cod in an air fryer
The fastest version of gratinated cod.
- Place the desalted cod fillets in the basket.
- Cover with a tablespoon of aioli or grated cheese + breadcrumbs.
- Spray with cooking oil.
- 180°C, 12 minutes.
Result: perfect golden crust, juicy interior.
2. Crispy breaded cod
- Cut the cod into strips or medium pieces.
- Dredge in flour → beaten egg → panko (Japanese breadcrumbs).
- Spray generously with cooking oil.
- 200°C, 10-12 minutes (turn halfway through).
- Cut zucchini, red pepper, and onion into medium pieces.
- Mix with oil, salt, and Herbes de Provence.
- Place the vegetables in the basket. 180°C, 8 minutes.
- Open, place the cod fillets on top of the vegetables.
- 180°C, 10 more minutes.
- Marinate the fillets for 10 minutes in: juice of half a lemon + grated garlic + olive oil + dill or parsley.
- Place in the basket on perforated baking paper.
- 180°C, 12 minutes.
- Serve with lemon slices and the marinade on top.
- Potatoes: cut into sticks, mix with 1 tablespoon of oil, salt, and paprika. Air fryer 200°C, 15 minutes (shake halfway through).
- Cod: dredge the pieces in flour + egg + panko. Spray with oil.
- Remove the potatoes, place the cod. 200°C, 10 minutes.
- Serve with tartar sauce and a quarter lemon.
- Gratinated Cod: 4 Oven Recipes
- 15 Recipes with Desalted Cod
- Cod with Potatoes: 5 Easy Recipes
- Where to Buy Quality Cod
- 400g desalted cod (fillets or thick chunks)
- 50g panko breadcrumbs
- 30g flour
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- Olive oil spray
- Cut the cod into 2x8 cm sticks. Dry thoroughly with kitchen paper.
- Mix the panko with paprika on a deep plate.
- Dredge each stick in flour, then beaten egg, and finally in the panko mixture.
- Place the sticks in the air fryer basket without touching each other. Spray with oil.
- Cook at 200°C for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
- Serve with lemon, aioli, or tartar sauce.
- 2 desalted cod fillets (180-200g each)
- 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
- 1 onion, cut into wedges
- 8-10 cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- Smoked paprika (sweet or bittersweet)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Mix the vegetables with 2 tablespoons of oil, salt, and sliced garlic.
- Place the vegetables in the basket and cook at 180°C for 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, sprinkle the cod fillets with paprika and a drizzle of oil.
- Open the air fryer, place the fillets on top of the vegetables (skin side down).
- Cook at 180°C for 10-12 more minutes.
- The cod should be juicy on the inside and lightly golden on the outside.
- Immediately after: remove food residues and wash the basket with hot water, soap, and a splash of vinegar.
- For persistent odor: place a bowl with water, the juice of half a lemon, and a tablespoon of vinegar in the basket. Set to 180°C for 5 minutes. The steam cleans and deodorizes.
- Prevention: place perforated baking paper at the bottom of the basket before cooking fish. It collects most of the grease and residue.
- Bread trick: After washing, place 2-3 slices of bread inside the closed basket for a few hours. The bread absorbs residual odors.
Crispy like fried but with a fraction of the oil.
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Refrigerated shipping 24-48h throughout the Peninsula
3. Cod with vegetables
Complete dish in 18 minutes, no messy pans.
4. Lemon and herb cod
Light, fresh, and perfect for summer dinners.
5. Healthy fish & chips
The same old fish & chips with a fraction of the fat.
Temperatures and times
| Recipe | Temperature | Time | Flip over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gratinated | 180°C | 12 min | No |
| Breaded | 200°C | 10-12 min | Yes, halfway |
| With vegetables | 180°C | 8 + 10 min | No |
| Lemon | 180°C | 12 min | No |
| Fish & chips | 200°C | 15 + 10 min | Yes (potatoes) |
Note: Times may vary depending on the air fryer model and cod thickness. Adjust +/- 2 minutes based on your experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cook frozen cod in the air fryer?
Yes, no need to thaw. Add 3-5 extra minutes to the cooking time. For breaded cod, it's best to thaw first so the breading adheres well.
Do I need parchment paper in the air fryer?
For gratinated or lemon cod, perforated air fryer parchment paper prevents sticking. For breaded cod, it's not necessary if the basket is clean and greased.
Does the cod turn out the same as fried?
Not exactly the same: the texture is crispy but lacks that "deep-fried" feel from abundant oil. For many, it's better because it's lighter. The fish flavor is more noticeable as it's not soaked in oil.
How many calories do I save with an air fryer?
Breaded cod fried in oil has about 250 kcal/100g. In an air fryer, it's about 150 kcal/100g. You save approximately 40% of calories, mainly from the oil fat.
What size air fryer do I need?
For 2 cod fillets: 3-4 liters. For 4 fillets: 5-6 liters. Do not stack the pieces or they won't brown evenly.
Related Guides
The perfect cod for your air fryer. Discover our premium desalted cod from Iceland at Bacalalo.
Recipe: Crispy Breaded Cod in Air Fryer
This recipe transforms desalted cod into crispy fish & chips-style sticks with almost no oil. Perfect for a quick dinner or tapas.
Ingredients (2 servings)
Preparation
Recipe: Paprika Cod with Vegetables in Air Fryer
A complete meal cooked all together in the air fryer. Healthy, fast, and full of flavor.
Ingredients (2 servings)
Preparation
Time and Temperature Guide by Cod Cut
| Cut / Format | Temperature | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thick fillet (3-4 cm) | 180°C | 12-15 min | Flip halfway; skin side down first |
| Thin fillet (2 cm) | 190°C | 8-10 min | Do not flip; watch carefully to prevent drying |
| Regular chunks | 185°C | 10-12 min | Shake the basket halfway through cooking |
| Breaded sticks | 200°C | 10-12 min | Flip halfway; oil spray before and after flipping |
| Cod croquettes | 190°C | 12-14 min | Directly from frozen; generous oil spray |
| Fritters / pavías | 200°C | 8-10 min | Works but less fluffy than deep-fried |
Key tip: each air fryer is different. These times are guidelines for 1400-1800W models. If your air fryer is more powerful, reduce by 1-2 minutes. Always better to check early than risk it drying out.
Air Fryer Cleaning Tips After Cooking Fish
Cod can leave a persistent odor in the air fryer. These tricks will remove it:
Frequently Asked Questions about Cod in an Air Fryer
Does the air fryer dry out cod?
It can, if you overcook it or use too high a temperature. The key is not to exceed 180-185°C for unbreaded fillets, and to use a drizzle of olive oil on top before cooking. Desalted cod already has enough internal moisture to stay juicy if not overcooked.
Can I cook frozen cod directly in the air fryer?
Yes, add 3-5 extra minutes to the cooking time. Set the temperature to 170°C for the first 5 minutes to defrost, then raise to 180-185°C to finish cooking. No prior thawing is necessary.
What air fryer capacity do I need to cook cod for 4 people?
For 4 cod fillets, you need an air fryer of at least 5-6 liters. If your air fryer is smaller (3-4 liters), cook in two batches to avoid crowding – the hot air needs to circulate around each piece.
Can I make cod croquettes in an air fryer?
Yes, and they turn out very well. Spray the croquettes with oil on all sides. Cook at 190°C for 12-14 minutes (if frozen) or 10-12 minutes (if fresh), flipping halfway through. They won't be as crispy as deep-fried, but they are much lighter.
Is cooking cod in an air fryer healthier than frying it?
Yes, significantly. A serving of traditional fried cod absorbs 15-30g of oil. In an air fryer, with a light spray, you use barely 3-5g. This means a caloric saving of 100-200 kcal per serving without sacrificing much in crispy texture.
