Air Fryer Crispy Breaded Codfish

Name: Air Fryer Crispy Breaded Codfish
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 37 min
Ingredients: 1 pound cod fillets (1-inch thick); 1/4 cup whole wheat flour; 1 large egg (scrambled); 3/4 cup panko crumbs; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Ingredients and substitutions

Cod fillets - You'll need one pound of cod for this recipe. My cod pieces were about 1-inch thick. Depending on the thickness of your cod, you should be able to get 3-4 pieces from one pound.

Flour - I used whole wheat flour to coat the cod, but you can use all-purpose white flour if you prefer.

Egg - After coating the cod in flour, you'll want to dip it in scrambled egg. One egg should work for 3-4 pieces of cod.

Panko crumbs - This creates the crispy outer breading for the fish. I used white panko crumbs but you can also use whole wheat.

Seasonings - A mix of oregano, basil, salt, garlic and smoked paprika is mixed into the panko crumbs to add flavour to the breading.

Overhead view of ingredients to make air fried cod arranged individually and labelled.

How to cook cod in the air fryer

Cut your cod into 3-4 pieces. Pat them dry with paper towels and place them on a plate.

Add your flour to a pie dish or rimmed plate.

In a large shallow bowl, whisk your egg.

In another pie dish or rimmed plate, mix together the panko crumbs and seasonings.

To bread the fish, roll each piece in flour, dip it in the egg and then coat it in the panko crumb mixture.

Place the fish in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry on 400F for 18-22 minutes, flipping the fish after 10 minutes.

Overhead view of cod, scrambled egg, panko crumbs and flour arranged on separate plates/bowls.

Process of breading cod with pieces of cod being rolled in flour, dipped in egg and coated in panko crumbs.

Overhead view of two uncooked breaded cod fillets in an air fryer basket.

Overhead view of two air fried cod fillets in an air fryer basket.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know when cod is cooked?

The internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish should be cooked to 145F. I like to use a meat thermometer to be sure. The breading will be crispy and browned, and the fish should be opaque and flake apart easily.

Can you air fry frozen cod?

If you only have frozen cod, you'll want to defrost it first as the breading will not stick as well to frozen fillets. Thawed fish will be a little wet so make sure you pat it dry before starting the breading process.

Can you use another type of fish for this recipe?

While I've only tested this recipe with cod fish, haddock or tilapia are a similar texture so they should work well as a substitute.

How do you reheat leftover breaded cod?

The breading on the cod will soften in the refrigerator, so you'll want to reheat it in the oven in order to bring back the crispiness. Cod dries out quickly so you'll want to reheat it on a lower temperature until just heated through. I usually reheat it in the oven on 350F for about 5-7 minutes.

Overhead view of two bowls of breaded fish and wedge fries with peas and tartar sauce off to the sides.

What type of air fryer was this recipe tested in?

This recipe was tested in three different air fryers at a cooking temperature of 400F. Here are the main differences I found:

Philips 2.75 quart basket style: Since it's a smaller capacity air fryer, I had to air fry the fish in two batches. I also found it took longer to cook, taking the full 22 minutes per batch.
Cosori 5.8 quart basket style: This is a larger capacity air fryer with a preheat function, so I was able to air fry all of the fish in a single batch in about 18 minutes.
Cuisinart toaster oven style: This air fryer is also larger capacity and handled all of the fish in one batch and took about 18-20 minutes. I find this air fryer runs a little hotter, so the breading browned quicker.

Depending on the size, brand and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and cook time slightly. You may also need to air fry the cod in batches.