Get Perfectly Crispy Air Fried Fish Using Your Convection Oven

Air fryers have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances for their ability to make deliciously crispy foods with little to no oil. Who doesn’t love that? But did you know you can get those same crispy air fried results using just your standard convection oven? It’s true! With the right techniques you can enjoy tender fish with a light crunch minus the need for buying yet another countertop appliance.

What is a Convection Oven?

Before jumping into the process, let’s cover what exactly a convection oven is and how it differs from a standard oven. A convection oven has a built-in fan that circulates hot air around the cavity during cooking. This flowing air helps to cook foods faster and more evenly, similar to a convection toaster oven but on a larger scale.

The constant motion of air in a convection oven has some key advantages:

• Foods cook up to 25% faster since hot air surrounds the food from all sides

• The circulating air helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout the oven.

• Foods come out crisper on the outside from the constant air movement

• Flavors are concentrated and sealed in juices are retained for moister interiors.

• Multiple dishes can be cooked evenly at once, perfect for sheet pan meals.

With these convection oven benefits, you can achieve everything from roasting juicy meats to baking flawless cookies and yes, even crispy air fried fish. Keep reading to learn how.

How to Air Fry Fish in the Convection Oven

Air frying uses super hot, rapidly circulating air to produce crispy results without submerging food in oil. This makes it perfect for cooking delicate fish to tender, golden perfection without drying it out. Follow these simple steps:

Ingredients:

• Fish fillets of your choice, 1 to 1 1⁄2 lbs total (tilapia, cod, halibut, etc.)

• 1 cup flour

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1 to 1 1⁄2 cups panko breadcrumbs

• Vegetable oil for brushing

• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat your convection oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly coat with oil.

2. Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Place flour in one shallow bowl. Beat egg in a second shallow bowl. Place panko crumbs in a third.

4. Working with one piece at a time, coat fish in flour, dip in egg, then press into panko crumbs until evenly coated on both sides. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

5. Lightly brush the tops of the breaded fish with vegetable oil. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

6. Flip fish gently halfway through bake time to promote even browning.

7. Serve immediately with desired sauces and enjoy the crispy, air fried fish!

Tips:

• Use uniform sized fillets for even cooking. Aim for 6 to 8 oz portions.

• Work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Overlapping fillets steam instead of crisp.

• Let coated fillets rest for 5 minutes before baking to help the coating adhere.

• Adjust bake times slightly up or down based on the thickness of your fish.

• Brush with oil again after flipping to enhance browning if needed.

• The fish is done when it is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork.

With a quick dip in egg and panko crumbs, the convection oven’s constant airflow gives you the signature crunch of air fried fish minus an extra appliance. Bake up a batch for tacos, sandwiches, or just with a squeeze of lemon for a fast and healthy weeknight dinner.

More Tips for Convection Oven Cooking

Now that you know how to make airy fried fish in the convection setting, here are some additional pointers for making the most of your oven’s convection function:

• Lower the temperature by 25°F compared to conventional oven instructions. The increased hot air circulation means foods cook faster.

• Check food earlier when baking or roasting since convection speeds cooking.

• Use metal pans with low sides for optimal airflow; avoid covered dishes.

• Place pans in the center of the rack, evenly spaced, to allow air circulation on all sides.

• When roasting meats, let rest 10-15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.

• Rotate pans or swap racks midway through cooking for balanced results.

• Stagger items on pans rather than tightly packing for crispest outcomes.

With a bit of experimenting, you’ll get the hang of convection cooking in no time. Refer to oven manual temps and times then adjust to suit your model. Soon you’ll be turning out picture-perfect roasts, cookies, pizza, fries, and so much more with convection settings.

Say goodbye to lackluster leftovers and soggy oven fries. Embrace convection cooking for faster, crispier, moister dishes your whole family will love. And next time you get a craving for air fried fish, no need to purchase yet another appliance. Just turn on your convection setting and enjoy fish that’s crispy on the outside, tender inside – the perfect healthy dinner!