To cook fish cakes in an air fryer, preheat, spray, and air fry in a single layer until crisp and 145°F inside.
Fish cakes and an air fryer go hand in hand. You get crunch on the outside, tender fish inside, and you use less oil than pan frying. The trick is knowing the right time, temperature, and spacing so every batch turns out crisp instead of dry or soggy.
This guide shows how to make crisp fish cakes in an air fryer from start to finish, from basket setup to timing, doneness checks, and simple flavor tweaks.
Why Air Fryer Fish Cakes Work So Well
Air fryers push hot air around the food, so fish cakes cook from all sides at once. You still coat them with a little oil, yet you skip the deep pot of fat and the greasy splatter on the stove. The result is a crisp shell with juicy fish and soft potato or binder in the center.
Because the heat comes from a compact chamber, fish cakes often cook faster in an air fryer than in a standard oven, which helps the inside stay moist when you avoid crowding and flip the patties halfway.
How To Cook Fish Cakes In An Air Fryer
This section gives you a clear method for cooking fish cakes in an air fryer, whether your patties are homemade or store bought. The steps stay the same: preheat, prepare the basket, arrange the cakes, cook, flip, and check the internal temperature.
Set Up Your Air Fryer
Start by preheating the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 to 5 minutes. A warm basket helps the coating set and prevents sticking. If your fryer does not have a preheat button, simply run it empty at the cooking temperature during this time.
Lightly spray or brush the basket and the fish cakes with a high smoke point oil such as avocado, canola, or light olive oil. You only need a thin layer to help browning and keep crumbs from drying out.
Place Fish Cakes In A Single Layer
Arrange the fish cakes in a single layer with a little space between each one. Overlapping leads to pale spots and soft crust. In a small basket, that may mean cooking in two rounds instead of trying to fit every cake in at once.
| Fish Cake Type | Size Or Thickness | Cook Time At 375°F |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade, chilled | Small, 2 inch wide | 8–10 minutes |
| Homemade, chilled | Large, 3–4 inch wide | 10–12 minutes |
| Homemade, freshly shaped | Small, 2 inch wide | 10–12 minutes |
| Homemade, freshly shaped | Large, 3–4 inch wide | 12–14 minutes |
| Store bought, frozen | Thin patties | 10–13 minutes |
| Store bought, frozen | Thick patties | 13–15 minutes |
| Mini fish cakes | Bite sized | 6–8 minutes |
Cook, Flip, And Check Doneness
Slide the basket into the air fryer and cook for the time range that matches your fish cake style and size. Halfway through, pull out the basket and gently flip each cake with a spatula or tongs so both sides brown evenly.
At the end of the cook time, check a fish cake in the center of the basket. The crust should be golden and firm to the touch. The inside should be steaming, with flaky fish and no icy spots if you started from frozen.
Cooking Fish Cakes In An Air Fryer Step By Step
If you like a clear checklist, this section breaks the process into simple steps that you can use every time you want to know how to cook fish cakes in an air fryer without guessing on time or temperature.
Step 1: Chill Or Freeze The Fish Cakes
Fish cakes hold their shape better when the mixture is cold. After shaping, place them on a lined tray and chill for at least 30 minutes, or freeze for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2: Preheat And Oil The Basket
Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). While it heats, spray the basket lightly with oil so crumbs brown without drying out.
Step 3: Arrange The Fish Cakes
Lay the fish cakes in the basket with space around each one. For frozen store bought fish cakes, keep them in a single layer straight from the freezer.
Step 4: Air Fry And Flip
Cook the fish cakes for 4 to 6 minutes, then flip each piece. Return the basket and cook for another 4 to 8 minutes, checking at the lower end of the range.
Step 5: Check The Internal Temperature
Use an instant read thermometer to check the thickest part of one fish cake. The FDA safe food handling guidance notes that fin fish should reach 145°F (63°C) or have opaque flesh that flakes easily with a fork, and the same guideline works well for fish cakes.
If the temperature is under 145°F or the center still looks glossy and undercooked, return the basket and cook in 2 minute bursts. Check again until the safe temperature and texture are reached.
Ingredients And Ratios For Air Fryer Fish Cakes
Good fish cakes start with flaky cooked fish, a binder, and a few flavor boosters. You can use leftover baked fish, canned fish, or poached fillets, and aim for a mix that holds together yet still tastes like fish.
Choosing The Fish
White fish such as cod, haddock, pollock, or tilapia works well because it flakes easily and takes on seasoning. You can also use salmon for a richer flavor. Remove skin and any bones, then flake the meat into small pieces with a fork.
Binders And Texture Boosters
Most recipes use mashed potato, fresh breadcrumbs, or panko as the main binder. A beaten egg or a spoon of mayonnaise helps the mix set. Chopped herbs, green onion, lemon zest, and mustard add brightness without overpowering the fish.
Basic Ratio For A Firm Fish Cake
A simple starting point for a batch of fish cakes is:
- 2 cups flaked cooked fish
- 1 cup mashed potato or breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped herbs or onion
- Seasoning such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and lemon zest
Mix until everything holds together when pressed into a patty. If the mix feels wet and loose, add a little more breadcrumb. If it feels dry and crumbly, add a spoon of mayonnaise, yogurt, or a splash of milk.
Seasoning Ideas For Fish Cakes In An Air Fryer
Once you know the basic air fryer method, you can keep changing the flavor with new herbs and spices. Here are a few simple ideas.
Classic Lemon And Herb
Use chopped parsley or dill, lemon zest, and a squeeze of juice over the cooked fish cakes. Serve with tartar sauce or plain yogurt mixed with pickles.
Asian Style Fish Cakes
Use minced green onion, grated ginger, a little soy sauce, and sesame oil. Serve with a dipping sauce made from soy, rice vinegar, and a touch of honey.
Food Safety Tips For Air Fryer Fish Cakes
Safe handling matters as much as taste when you cook fish cakes. Raw and cooked seafood can carry bacteria if held at room temperature too long or if it never reaches a safe internal temperature.
The FDA and USDA both advise cooking fin fish to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), measured in the thickest part of the piece, or until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Safe minimum internal temperature charts confirm this target for home cooks.
Safe Handling Before Cooking
Keep raw fish in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder and use it within one to two days of purchase.
When forming fish cakes, work with clean hands and tools. Once the patties are shaped, keep them chilled until they go into the air fryer so bacteria do not have time to multiply.
How To Check Doneness Without Guesswork
An instant read thermometer takes the guesswork out of air fryer fish cakes. Insert the probe into the center of a patty that sits in the middle of the basket, since that spot often heats last. Wait a few seconds until the number steadies.
If you do not own a thermometer, look for moist, opaque flakes of fish, a hot center that steams when cut, and a crust that stays crisp when lifted with a spatula.
Common Problems With Air Fryer Fish Cakes
Even with a solid method, a batch of fish cakes can turn out dry, greasy, or patchy on top. Small adjustments in mix, oil, and spacing usually fix these issues.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Simple Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, tough texture | Cooked too long or too hot | Lower temperature by 25°F and shorten time |
| Pale, soft crust | Not enough oil or crowded basket | Add a light oil mist and leave more space |
| Center falls apart | Mix too dry or not chilled | Add a moist binder and chill before cooking |
| Greasy surface | Too much oil spray | Use a thinner coat of oil next time |
| Burnt crumbs | Basket too close to heating element | Lower rack position or temperature |
| Uneven browning | No flip during cooking | Flip halfway through the cook time |
| Cold center in frozen cakes | Cook time too short | Add 2–3 minutes and check again |
Serving Ideas For Air Fryer Fish Cakes
Once your air fryer fish cakes are crisp and cooked through, you can turn them into a full meal with salad, vegetables, or soft burger buns on the side.
Fish Cake Burgers
Slip a hot fish cake into a soft bun with lettuce, pickles, and a slice of tomato. A little tartar sauce or garlic mayo turns it into a quick handheld dinner.
Storing And Reheating Air Fryer Fish Cakes
If you cook a big batch, you can keep fish cakes for later meals. Cool them on a rack, then move them to an airtight container once no steam remains.
Store cooked fish cakes in the refrigerator for up to two days. For longer storage, freeze them in a single layer on a tray, then move them to a freezer bag once solid.
How To Reheat In The Air Fryer
To reheat chilled fish cakes, set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the cakes in a single layer and heat for 4 to 6 minutes until the center is hot and the crust is crisp again.
A microwave can warm fish cakes, yet it tends to soften the crust. If you use one, finish with a brief pass in the air fryer to bring back some crunch.
Make Ahead For Busy Nights
You can shape fish cakes on a weekend, chill them on a tray, then freeze them raw in a freezer bag. On a weeknight, place the frozen patties straight into the hot air fryer and add a couple of minutes to the usual frozen cook time.
This routine keeps dinner simple: you only need to preheat, arrange the frozen fish cakes, air fry, and check that the center reaches 145°F. With practice, you will know exactly how to cook fish cakes in an air fryer so the result stays crisp on the outside and tender on the inside every time.