Single Basa fillet inside open foil parcel positioned in air fryer

MAY 15, 2024

How to cook Basa fillets in air fryer

It can be intimidating when air frying any kind of fresh fish, but it shouldn't be with these as they're air fried whilst sealed away in foil parcels.

Air fry Basa fillets weighing approximately 125g each, at 320°F/160°C, for 15 minutes. I know that's close enough, because I copied the oven cooking instructions exactly, which are going to be featured on the Basa packaging. Basa will need to be air fried in individual foil wraps, lightly oiled on the inside.

While I often confused Basa for Sea Bass, Basa all the same is a white fish I prioritise in the air fryer, because its easier to prepare and quick to cook.

Basa fish fillets will air fry in under 15 minutes, at a very low temperature of 320°F/160°C. Time and temp was taken directly off these TESCO Skinless & Boneless Basa fillets, which was available for oven cooking, but re-purposed for air frying.

Normally, when translating oven cooking to air fryer setting, you would have to reduce the time at least, but not on this occasion. So I suggest you do the same, and copy the oven cooking instructions for the air fryer, exactly.

Cooking instructions called for wrapping each 125g fillet into individual loose foil parcels, which absolutely must be lightly oiled, to stop the fish sticking.

Air fried Basa fillets served with mash potatoes and peas

Healthy fish supper which could benefit by melting butter, potentially mixed with garlic, chilli flakes, salt and pepper, to provide much needed homemade butter sauce.

Where your Basa fillets are plain and simple with no special butter to melt in, or the fish isn't covered in a mix of herbs, you are free to spruce up your Basa before wrapping in foil, ready to be air fried.

At the very least, you will want to add butter to melt by putting a knob of plain butter in the open foil parcel, to melt for an additional minute.

Do be careful when opening the foil parcels, as a puff of steam will escape which can burn you.

Whilst wrapping this white fish in foil applies to many fish when cooking, the plan is to lock in moisture to stop the fish drying out, so don't skip this stage.

Prepare Basa fillets

Picture directions for preparing Basa fillets for air frying

Quickly prepare 2 Basa fillets, weighing approximately 125g each, by diligently wrapping them both in individual foil parcels, of which the inside of the wrap must be oiled.

STEP 1: Sit fillets at room temperature - Get the internal temperature up to room temp by opening the packaging, and let the fillets stand for 20-30 minutes
STEP 2: Preheat air fryer for 5 Minutes - Get the air fryer hot because you need to utilize the short cooking time

STEP 3: Wrap individual fillets in oil-lined foil - Oil a square sheet of foil; position Basa fillet on one side; roll over fillet before folding over both ends
STEP 4: Position foil parcels side-by-side in basket - Now its time to place the 2 individual foil parcels next to each other in the air fryer

NOTE: Do a good job at lightly wrapping the individual foil parcels, whilst remembering to add butter and/or herbs onto the fish before wrapping them over and sealing.

How to air fry Basa

Picture directions for air frying 2 125g plain Basa fillets

Simple case of setting the time and temp, and allowing the Basa fillets to air fry none-stop, for the duration of the full 15 minute cooking time, turning over optional.

STEP 1: Set temp to 320°F/160°C; 15 Minutes - As instructed to for oven cooking, the time and temp is all that's needed to air fry these thin fillets
STEP 2: Allow Basa fillets to air fry undisturbed - No need to touch or flip the parcels in the 15 minutes of air fry time

STEP 3: Pull foil parcels out of basket - Simply drag the foil parcels out of the air fryer, making sure not to burn yourself
STEP 4: Carefully open parcels to avoid escaping steam - Proceed to open the foil parcels, being careful not to burn yourself on the trapped steam

NOTE: It is possible to return the open foil parcels to the air fryer, whilst adding a tablespoon of butter - preferably with herbs and/or spices - to melt the butter for a minute with the Basa fillet exposed to the heat.

How long to cook Basa fillets in air fryer

Normally, when thinking about how long to cook white fish of any kind, you do have to make it up as you go along, because the cooking instructions would feature for pan frying only, but not with these Basa fillets.

In fact, there are oven cooking instructions which is easy enough to copy for air frying.

Replicate the oven temperature of 320°F/160°C, then its matter of air frying Basa fillets for 15 minutes.

Its 15 minutes on my packaging so its important to adjust the time - and the temperature if different - to what it says on your packaging.

I doubt it will be much different and you could probably get away with it, by copying the time and temp I've featured here, for any Basa fillets weighing around 125g each.

How long to air fry Basa fillets is sure to be a minimum of 15 minutes, with an option to extend that time duration to 18 minutes, if you don't want to take risks.

Covered to retain succulence

Basa fillet flakes visible up close with fish on fork

No colour other than pure white fish when air frying Basa fillets for 15 minutes, although I will admit, the texture was a little more watery than usual.

It's a simple reason to use a foil wrap, it keeps the moisture and heat inside which creates steam, which makes the fish moist, and not dry and crispy.

While covering Basa fillets in an oiled-lined foil wrap, is all to familiar when cooking white fish, such as air frying skin-on Sea Bass; Basa is a little different because it has a tendency of drying out if not looked after.

And bear in mind, these Basa fillets I am using are skinless, which results in the fish being prone to drying out while it cooks. Skin-on would mean you intend to make it crispy, which isn't possible when covered in foil.

Its easy to lightly wrap Basa fillets in individual parcels, but do so by oiling the inside - where the fish touches - to stop any sticking.

Lightly wrap the fish by turning the fillets over, with an option to wrap the foil over only, if you find it easier that way.

Which ever way is easy for you, ensure the parcels have a good seal, whilst making sure any potential leaks can be prevented by keeping the opening/crease-side facing up - to stop melted butter and fish juices from escaping.

Conclusion

How Basa fillet is cooked in an air fryer, is how you're instructed to with the easy to follow oven cooking instructions.

On this occasion, it took a temperature of 320°F/160°C, with a full air frying time of 15 minutes.

Now, this applies to 2 fillets only weighing 125g each, with the fillets being no more than 10-15mm thick. Air frying your own Basa fillets may feature a very different time and temperature for oven cooking - which you should copy exactly for air frying.

Even so, you should be in safe hands when air frying your fillets at the time and temp I've featured here.

Basa fillets can't be air fried whilst exposed to the element, thus the fillets must be wrapped in individual foil parcels, which must be oiled to prevent any sticking.