One of the most frequent questions I get asked is whether you can cook frozen fish in air fryer. As one of the most popular foods around, cooking fish safely is important to most.
The simple answer is yes, you can cook frozen fish in air fryer. However, as with most things, you need to do it correctly so that your frozen fish is safe to eat as well as delicious.
Fish is one of my favorite dishes and as far as I am concerned, very underrated as an ingredient. Not only does it have nutrients that are essential for your diet, it is delicious. I have to say that not many things can beat a well-cooked fish dish.
Another real benefit of fish is that it is great cooked from frozen. Most frozen foods tend to lose something…frozen fish doesn’t at all, it is just as tasty as fresh fish.
One thing is for sure, fish sticks are incredibly popular at home. The kids absolutely love them. Have you ever tried cod fillet fish sticks on a bun, with cheese and tartare sauce…absolute heaven, and the kids think so too. Literally takes minutes to prepare…but wow…sensational!
Frozen fish in air fryer …what you will learn
In this post, I will give you the low down on cooking frozen fish sticks in air fryer, how to cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer and how long to cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer.
At the end of this post, you will have all the details you need to proceed with cooking frozen fish with absolute confidence. Trust me, get into cooking fish and you will never look back.
Why you should cook frozen fish in air fryer
The traditional methods of cooking frozen fish…especially fish sticks, is in the oven or deep fried. Oven cooking often leaves the fish tasting very dry, lacking the moisture it needs to enjoy it. Deep fried fish is delicious but there are some real downsides. It is unhealthy adding significant calories to your meal. In my view, the worst aspect is the taste. It really detracts from the taste of the fish. I don’t think I need to mention the mess it makes too!
Cooking frozen fish in air fryer gives you all the benefits without any of the downsides. The fish will taste delicious and moist, while retaining nutrients and not leaving a big mess to clean.
Once you learn how to cook frozen fish fillets in air fryer, you won’t look back.
How to cook frozen fish in air fryer
Luckily, it is as simple as it gets. Within minutes, you can have delightfully cooked fish from frozen in your air fryer. Since there are many varieties of frozen fish as well as sizes, I will show you how to make air fryer fish sticks. This will give you a great idea on what you can do and how long it will take.
How to cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 390°F
- Spray some cooking oil on the basket or pour a table spoon of oil into the base
- Place the frozen fish sticks into the basket, ensure there is room for the air to circulate
- Cook for 9 minutes…check it is cooked through
- Voila…lovely air fried frozen fish sticks.
Quick tip; Consider lining your air fryer basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper. It will save time and effort when cleaning up.



FAQ’s
How long to cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer?
It really depends on the size of them. Obviously, the smaller they are the less time they will take and vice versa. On average, they take 9 minutes but you should check the progress before then to judge how long they will take.
Can I cook fish sticks that have been thawed?
They are designed to be cooked from frozen. Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Are air fryer fish sticks the best way to cook them?
In my opinion, cooking fish sticks in an air fryer is the best way. They still have the crunchy exterior with moist fish inside. They are also not greasy like they would be if deep fried.
Do all air fryers cook the same way?
They all pretty much work the same way but some are more powerful than others. Therefore, they make take less time to cook. You therefore need to get to know your air fryer to judge where you need to make changes to the temperature or the time.
Hopefully, you have the right information now to confidently cook frozen fish in air fryer. If you have never done it before, trust me it is great. I have answered your question on how to cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer, so over to you!
Let me know what you think…is there anything you do different with frozen fish fillets in air fryer? Have you tried frozen breaded fish in air fryer? Let us know in the comments.
Share your tips with us…leave a comment below…I respond to them all.
See you soon…Jayne x

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3 comments
The air fryer cooks the fish sticks just perfectly. I don’t like it from the oven and when the fish sticks become dry. Amazing article.
Thanks Nicole….Jayne x
Love fish stix in air fryer….3 or 4 stix on a tortilla with lettuce, Tomato,onion, sweet peppers, and a shot of Hidden Valley Southwest Chipotle dressing. …to die for!
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