Your Air Fryer Gives You The Easiest, Crispiest Crab Cakes

At this point, most people know that air fryers basically perform culinary magic. From reviving leftover chicken wings to producing perfectly toasted sandwiches, these machines are rapidly becoming the workhorses of many kitchens. Convection heat circulates around food to warm it through evenly and produce a crunchy, toasted exterior with a fraction of the oil needed for pan or deep frying, which is a big reason why air fryers have moved from novelty appliance to meal prep staple. This is especially true when it comes to seafood. Air fryers provide an easily controlled microclimate for precision temperature control, in addition to their other benefits. That means you can air fry whole fish for tender, succulent results almost as easily as crisping up frozen fries. Air fryers cook your crab cakes much faster than other methods, increasing the odds that they'll come out tender and firm (albeit with ample exterior crunch), rather than overly greasy or dry, as they might be from baking in the oven or deep frying.

This is excellent news for crab cake lovers, as these tender, savory little patties are notoriously easy to overcook, as crab is a particularly delicate protein. Once your patties are formed and your air fryer is set to between 375 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, all you have to do is gently lay them in the bottom of the lined basket (a liner keeps them from sticking) and let them crisp for about 10 minutes. You can flip them halfway through if you like, but the even heating mechanism makes this optional.

Air fryers are fairly straightforward to use, but crab cakes are infamous for misbehaving just when you think your mixture is perfect. To prevent your patties from falling apart or getting tough while cooking, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, your crab cake mix should be moist, but not drippy, and it's best to avoid overmixing them to keep the crab tender. Form your cakes with a gentle hand — if you need to squeeze them to keep them together, you need more moisture. 

You'll also want to chill them for between 30 minutes and one hour to allow the flavors to marry and help the cakes firm up. During the last five minutes or so of chill time, it's crucial to preheat your air fryer, ensuring that it's hot enough to start cooking your crab cakes right away. Skipping this step will mean a longer cooking time, which increases the risk that you'll overcook your delicate patties, especially since they're going into the air fryer cold.

Once you've got your technique down, you can start experimenting with different flavorings and ingredients in your crab cake mixture. Bell peppers, minced green onions, and fresh herbs add brightness to the cake itself, while the right dipping sauce can bring out the sweet earthiness of the crab. Tartar and cocktail sauce are traditional, but feel free to swap them for something new and fresh like garlicky pesto or herby green goddess.