Frying tofu, eggs and cheese
A crisp-edged egg, tofu and breaded cheese need very different handling. Find the food you have, then follow its coating, pan or basket directions.
Before you cook:Watch the specific doneness cue; color alone does not describe every food here.Start with the frying basics →
Choose your food
Oil or air?
Open a food page for piece size, preparation, steps and the original source.
| Food | In oil | In the air fryer | Doneness check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotch eggs | 350°F (175°C)Deep fry · 3–5 min | No sourced air fryer entry | 160°F (71°C) |
| Agedashi tofu | 325°F (165°C)Deep fry · by color | No sourced air fryer entry | golden |
| Crispy tofu | Medium heatPan fry · 4–5 min per side | 400°F (205°C)11–15 min | crisp and golden on both sides |
| Eggs | Low heatPan fry · 2 min, then 10 sec–1 1/2 min after flipping | No sourced air fryer entry | Yolk and white firm |
| Mozzarella sticks | 350°F (175°C)Deep fry · 2–3 min | 400°F (205°C)6–8 min | golden brown on all sides |
| Halloumi | Medium-high heatPan fry · 1–1 1/2 min per side | No sourced air fryer entry | golden on both sides |
| Cheese curds | 375°F (190°C)Deep fry · 1–2 min per side | No sourced air fryer entry | light golden brown |
Times and settings are starting points from the linked source recipes, not guarantees for every piece or machine. Check the food page for its size and method. Safe internal temperatures come from FoodSafety.gov where applicable.
Cook from a recipe
All recipes ↗
Lacy-edge fried eggs
Crispy chili tofu
Air fryer chili-crisp tofu