Air Fryer Fish and Chips

Name: Air Fryer Fish and Chips
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 lbs cod fillets (or haddock), pat dry; 2 lbs russet potatoes, cut into wedges; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1 tsp baking powder; 1.5 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2/3 cup lager beer (or cold sparkling water), cold; 1 cup panko breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp olive oil; as needed cooking spray; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; as needed malt vinegar (for serving); 1/3 cup tartar sauce (for serving); 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Beer-battered cod fillets and thick-cut potato wedges both cooked in the air fryer for a pub-classic with a genuinely crispy crust and far less oil than the deep-fried original.

65 minMediumServes 4560 cal/serving

BritishDinnerAir FryerStandardHigh ProteinDairy-FreePork-Free

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Ingredients

2 lbs cod fillets (or haddock), pat dry
2 lbs russet potatoes, cut into wedges
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2/3 cup lager beer (or cold sparkling water), cold
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp olive oil
as needed cooking spray
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
as needed malt vinegar (for serving)
1/3 cup tartar sauce (for serving)
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Instructions

1

Soak 2 lbs cut into wedges russet potatoes in cold water for 20 minutes to remove starch. Drain and pat very dry. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, half of the 1.5 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika.
2

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Arrange potato wedges in a single layer and air fry at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy. Work in batches if needed. Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
3

While the chips cook, make the batter. Whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp baking powder, the remaining kosher salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir in the 2/3 cup cold lager beer (or cold sparkling water) until just combined - a few small lumps are fine. Spread 1 cup panko breadcrumbs in a separate shallow dish.
4

Pat 2 lbs pat dry cod fillets (or haddock) dry again. Dip each fillet in the batter, letting the excess drip off, then press both sides into panko for extra crunch.
5

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place breaded fillets in a single layer and spray the tops generously. Air fry at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping once at the halfway point, until the coating is deep golden and the fish flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
6

Serve the fish and chips immediately with malt vinegar (for serving), 1/3 cup tartar sauce (for serving), and 1 cut into wedges lemon.

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Questions

What temperature do I cook Air Fryer Fish and Chips at?

For Air Fryer Fish and Chips, the air fryer is set to 400 F (about 205 C) in step 2. The longest stretch at that heat is 25 minutes, in step 2. Air fryers run hot or cool by model, so check two minutes early the first time. The frying oil is held at 400 F (about 205 C) in step 2. Hotter scorches the outside before the inside cooks, and cooler turns it greasy. The oven is also used at 250 F (about 120 C) in step 2.

Why does Air Fryer Fish and Chips say not to overmix?

Step 3 reads: "Stir in the 2/3 cup cold lager beer (or cold sparkling water) until just combined - a few small lumps are fine." Stirring develops gluten, and gluten makes quick batters tough and tunneled. Stop at step 3 while a few streaks of flour remain; they hydrate on their own.

Is there a substitute for beer in Air Fryer Fish and Chips?

The entry for Air Fryer Fish and Chips calls for 2/3 cup lager beer (or cold sparkling water), cold. In its place: Stock or a non-alcoholic beer, in the same volume.

Can I use a different white fish instead of the cod in Air Fryer Fish and Chips?

Yes. Any firm white fish of similar thickness works: cod, haddock, pollock and halibut are interchangeable here. Timing follows thickness, not species. As written, the entry for Air Fryer Fish and Chips uses 2 lbs cod fillets (or haddock), pat dry.

Can I make Air Fryer Fish and Chips gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Air Fryer Fish and Chips is 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2/3 cup lager beer (or cold sparkling water), cold, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works); the beer for a certified gluten-free beer or a dry cider; the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

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