Foods compared
17 Fish and Shellfish in the Air Fryer, Compared by Time
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Every one of 17 fish and shellfish recipes cooks in 11 minutes or less in an air fryer, which makes seafood the quickest protein to cook this way. The fastest are scallops, shrimp and tuna steaks, at 6 to 7 minutes. 13 of the 17 are done when the thickest part reaches 63°C / 145°F.
Key findings
- The median cook is 9 minutes, against 11 for all recipes.
- 9 of the 17 cook at 200°C / 400°F and 8 at 190°C / 375°F.
- The time windows are narrow: the median range is 2 minutes wide, so fish needs checking early.
- A fish fillet costs about 9.2p or 6.4¢ in electricity to cook.
- Scallops6 min
- Shrimp7 min
- Tuna Steaks7 min
- Lobster Tail7 min
- Crab Legs7 min
- Salmon Bites8 min
- Tilapia9 min
- Flounder9 min
- Mahi Mahi9 min
- Calamari9 min
- Salmon10 min
- Cod11 min
- Haddock11 min
- Halibut11 min
- Trout11 min
- Catfish11 min
- Fish Fillets11 min
All 17 fish and shellfish
| Food | Temperature | Time | Internal temperature | Flip or shake | Energy (UK) | Energy (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scallops | 200°C / 400°F | 5-7 min | 63°C / 145°F | Shake halfway | 5.9p | 4.1¢ |
| Shrimp | 200°C / 400°F | 6-8 min | 63°C / 145°F | Shake halfway | 6.6p | 4.6¢ |
| Tuna Steaks | 200°C / 400°F | 6-8 min | Not listed | Flip halfway | 6.6p | 4.6¢ |
| Lobster Tail | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min | 60°C / 140°F | No need to flip | 6.6p | 4.6¢ |
| Crab Legs | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min | Not listed | Flip halfway | 6.6p | 4.6¢ |
| Salmon Bites | 200°C / 400°F | 7-9 min | 63°C / 145°F | Shake halfway | 7.2p | 5.0¢ |
| Tilapia | 190°C / 375°F | 8-10 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 7.9p | 5.5¢ |
| Flounder | 190°C / 375°F | 8-10 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 7.9p | 5.5¢ |
| Mahi Mahi | 200°C / 400°F | 8-10 min | 63°C / 145°F | Flip halfway | 7.9p | 5.5¢ |
| Calamari | 200°C / 400°F | 8-10 min | Not listed | Shake every 8 min | 7.9p | 5.5¢ |
| Salmon | 190°C / 375°F | 8-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 8.6p | 6.0¢ |
| Cod | 190°C / 375°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
| Haddock | 190°C / 375°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
| Halibut | 200°C / 400°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | Flip halfway | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
| Trout | 190°C / 375°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | No need to flip | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
| Catfish | 200°C / 400°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | Flip halfway | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
| Fish Fillets | 200°C / 400°F | 10-12 min | 63°C / 145°F | Flip halfway | 9.2p | 6.4¢ |
Why fish needs watching
Fish has very little connective tissue, so it goes from translucent to cooked to dry within a few minutes. In an air fryer, with heat coming from all sides, that window is shorter still.
Set the timer for the low end of the range and check. Flesh that flakes and has turned opaque is done. For a thick fillet, 63°C / 145°F in the centre is the figure to trust.
Skin-on fillets go in skin-side down and are not flipped. The skin protects the flesh from the hot basket and keeps the fillet in one piece.
How these figures were worked out
The figures are counted from the 304 recipes published on RecipeAirFryer.com on 2026-10-08. Each recipe has one temperature, a time range, a prep time, an ingredient list and a serving count, and those fields are what is counted here.
The times and temperatures are the starting points given on each recipe page for a standard basket air fryer. They are not laboratory measurements, and air fryers differ between models, so treat the counts as a description of this recipe set, not of every air fryer.
Energy cost uses a 1,500 W air fryer with a 3-minute preheat at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026) and 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, July 2026). It is an upper limit, because the element cycles once the basket is hot.
Sources
- Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, GB average, Direct Debit)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (18.31 cents per kWh, U.S. residential average, July 2026)
You may quote these figures with a link to this page. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does fish take in an air fryer?
6 to 11 minutes for most fish and shellfish. Salmon takes 8-12 min, cod 10-12 min and shrimp 6-8 min.
What temperature do you cook fish in an air fryer?
200°C / 400°F or 190°C / 375°F. Cook until the thickest part reaches 63°C / 145°F and the flesh flakes.
Do you flip fish in an air fryer?
Not skin-on fillets, which cook skin-side down throughout. Small pieces such as shrimp and salmon bites benefit from a shake or flip halfway.