These simple instructions for How to Air Fry Skate Wings will ensure that you cook this wildly underrated fish to perfection. The flesh is snowy white with a slightly sweet, mild and delicate flavour. And with no pesky hard bones to make eating it difficult, it’s the perfect simple supper.
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Skate has almost certainly fallen right out of fashion and isn’t as easy to come by as some other fish. You’d struggle to find it pre-packed in a mainstream supermarket in the UK. But if you can find a fish counter (Morrisons and Waitrose still have excellent counters) or a proper fishmonger, you will almost certainly find them. It’s worth noting that they are occasionally also called ray wings.
If you’ve not eaten or cooked skate before, it might seem rather weird to look at – the wings feel like they are going to be full of annoying bones and very little actual meat. But this couldn’t be further from the truth – the structure of the wings is made up of soft cartilage. There is edible flesh on both sides and it just comes away from the “bones” without the slightest bit of effort.
The taste of skate is mild, and a little sweet. It isn’t a “fishy fish” at all so if you like fish like haddock, cod or sole, this is likely to be one for you.
Jump to…
- HOW TO SERVE
- INGREDIENTS
- HOW LONG TO AIR FRY SKATE WINGS
- HOW TO AIR FRY SKATE WINGS FROM FROZEN
- LEFTOVERS
- COMMON AIR FRYER QUESTIONS
- THE RECIPE IN FULL
The Air Fried Fish & Shellfish Collection
Find all of my best fish and shellfish recipes in one easy place.
Featuring everything from king prawns and scallops to haddock fillets, sea bass and sea bream as well as whole plaice, cod loins, mackerel fillets and of course I couldn’t miss out salmon fillets!
How to Serve
Simplicity is the greatest complement to skate wings. Just a little butter and salt before cooking and then a squeeze of lemon is really all you need. But like other white fish, it can actually also stand up to a little more flavouring. I served it with some punchy melted butter mixed with garlic, chilli flakes and finely chopped parsley.
Another classic sauce to serve with white fish is hollandaise or you can take things more Mediterranean with a light and fresh tomato sauce. My light cherry tomato chutney would actually work really well. A mustard cream sauce would add a layer of piquancy and of course a dollop of classic tartare sauce would be excellent.
As for making the skate wing into a fuller meal, I instantly want to pair it with new potatoes. Either simply boiled, minted or made into a creamy herbed potato salad. I also served a simple red onion salad, sliced beetroot and baby spinach leaves.
Ingredients
Skate
You simple need to make sure that the wings you buy are nice and fresh, They shouldn’t be slimy or smell especially fishy. And you should check that they don’t look like they’ve been tossed around and damaged. The delicate frilly edges will easily show if this has been an issue.
The wings I bought were around 225g/8oz each including the bone/cartilage which I would consider to be fairly average sized. One wing of this size makes for a pretty generous portion for one person but if you are especially hungry, you may prefer to serve two per portion.
Butter
I love to use butter when cooking fish. It is especially traditional when cooking skate. I only use salted butter but if you are needing to use unsalted, make sure to be more generous with the sea salt that I have been.
I melt the butter then brush it onto the cold fish. It starts to solidify as it hits the cold fish which prevents it from running off before starting to cook. The butter helps to brown the fish a little and as we know, that caramelisation equals flavour
If you prefer to use oil rather than butter, you absolutely can do.
Seasoning
I’ve only used sea salt flakes to season the fish. I do really like to keep it simple but there is nothing wrong with adding other seasonings before cooking if you wish. I often use a simple 50/50 mix of paprika and garlic salt.
Allergen Information
This recipe is free from egg, gluten and nuts.
Dairy Free: Switch the butter for a dairy free alternative or use an oil instead.
Please note that this recipe may contain other allergens not referred to above and any variations suggested have not been tested unless otherwise stated. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How Long to Air Fry Skate Wings
These 225g/8oz skate wings air fry to perfection in 10 minutes. They don’t need to be turned during the cooking process. A smaller wing may need a minute or so less and a larger/thicker wing may need a little longer so bear this in mind.
The skate won’t brown and be as coloured as if you were cooking it directly in a pan but it is important to not overcook the fish in the pursuit of colour.
How to Air Fry Skate Wings From Frozen
Skate wings cook really well from frozen. It is a good idea to give them a quick rinse under the tap to make sure there are no ice crystals on the surface. You should then ensure that they are really thoroughly dried before proceeding to add the butter and salt then cook as normal.
You will need to add around 2 minutes to the cooking time when cooking from frozen.
Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
You can keep cooked skate in the fridge for several days. Make sure to store it in an air tight container. It will also freeze but I wouldn’t really plan to do this. It is going to be nearly as quick to cook the skate from raw as to reheat it from frozen.
Skate actually reheats really well without drying out. My preferred method to do this is actually in the microwave. It only takes around a minute or so and really preserves the juiciness of the flash. A couple of minutes in a pan will also do the trick or you can add back to the air fryer for a few minutes.
Common Air Fryer Questions – A Brief Guide to Air Frying
- What exactly is an air fryer?
- What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
- Are all air fryers the same?
- Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
- Do air fryers need to be pre-heated?
- What is the best temperature to air fry at?
- What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
- Can food be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
- Can I reheat food in an air fryer?
- Are air fryer liners a good idea?
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What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The benefit is that the hot air is circulated all around the food being cooked which speeds up the cooking time and cooks the food more evenly.
What are the Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?
Size, time and energy usage. Air fryers are ideal for cooking smaller quantities. Heating up a space that the food just fits into requires less energy and means that the heat source is much closer to the food. Combining these two things can speed up the cooking time.
Are all air fryers the same?
Nope! The term air fryer is now used very broadly. I consider there to be 4 main types:
Basket Air Fryers
These are what I would consider to be the most common, especially in the UK. A boxy type unit has a pull out drawer/basket. Food isn’t usually visible whilst cooking.
Some larger models have two drawers so different items can be cooked at different temperatures or for different times.
This is the type that you’ll see in the images in this recipe. I mostly use a Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. It isn’t an overly expensive or fancy model.
I’ve also recommended to several friends and family the model with a slightly larger basket. This is the Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501) with a 4.7 litre basket. The unit is no larger than the 3.8 litre model on the outside but does have a larger internal basket capacity. I’ve since bought this version to use for some recipes where my smaller model was just too small. I’ll always note this in the recipe.
Rotary Air Fryers
Round air fryers with a paddle in the centre that rotates to move the food. This is the type I used for years – the most common is a Tefal Actifry.
Rotary types are not usually good for recipes where the food is breaded, glazed, likely to break up or in a tray/container. They do however make the best chips and roasted veg.
My 2 in 1 version like the one I’ve linked also has a rotating tray for things that could be broken up by a paddle, but the height clearance with the lid isn’t deep enough to use it to cook some items like sausage rolls. I’ve now actually retired by Actifry in favour of having my two basket type fryers.
Mini Oven Air Fryers
These usually have a glass door, shelves and overall are really quite large. You can cook quite a decent quantity of food in them so are best if regularly cooking for multiple people. They often come with extra features like a rotisserie spit or kebab skewers.
Multicookers with Air Fryer Functions
Some like Ninja 11 in 1 and some of the earlier versions with a few less functions, have an air fryer option. They mostly operate the same as a basket fryer but the basket drops in the top rather than sliding in like a drawer.
Some electric pressure cookers like Instant Pots can also air fry when used with a specific lid.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. And the more detailed answer is that it will always depend on what you’re cooking, how much of it you’re cooking and what type and size of air fryer you have.
Once you need to cook in more than 2 batches, it often makes more sense to use an oven. If you already have the oven on to cook other items, it may make more sense to throw one more item in rather than using an additional appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
Do Air Fryers Need to Be Pre-Heated?
The answer to this is rather annoying – it depends. It depends entirely on your model and type of air fryer. The best advice I can offer is to check your manual and follow their guidance. My Cosori models have a preheat function. I press a button and it heats at 205c/400f for 4 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that regardless of whether you are supposed to pre-heat or not, if you are cooking in batches, it is quite likely that anything after the first batch will cook a little quicker because of the retained heat. It is best to check on them before the cooking time is completed.
What is the best temperature to Air Fry at?
It will always depend on what you are cooking and from what state. All of my air fryer recipes don’t use temperatures above 200c/390f because many of the most common fryers in the UK don’t go above this. Mine goes to 230c/450f and I use this temperature a lot but it is no help for me to share recipes which many people can’t use.
What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
Not all air fryers have different settings like this. When they do it usually relates to the fan speed. The default setting to use will always be “air fry” so unless something else is specifically stated in the recipe, always use the air fry option.
There are other air fryers that have an additional heating element which cooks from underneath rather than just the top. Just as with the other settings, unless you are using a recipe which states to use a second heating element, stick with just using the top down air fry option.
Of course if and when you become more confident with air frying, using recipes and the settings of your air fryer, you can start adapting them to suit.
Can Food Be Cooked From Frozen In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! To cook from frozen you usually will need to reduce the cooking temperature and increase the time to make sure your food is cooked right through to the middle.
It is best to check my individual recipes for cooking from frozen advice as some items are a little different. And there are occasionally exceptions to the rule.
Can I Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. As a general rule I reheat food for roughly 1/3 of the original cooking time at the same temperature. Or at 10 degrees lower for half the time for larger items.
Are Air Fryer Liners a Good Idea?
Unless otherwise stated, I do not use liners when air frying. Basket and rotary type air fryers are designed to be used without liners. Mini oven types will generally require some kind of tray like with a regular large oven although most come with crisper racks to use.
There are many air fryer liners available including quite thick silicone ones. These will affect the cooking times and possibly temperatures of your cooking/baking. I also don’t like how cooking juices are prevented from dripping through the basket rack. This can stop food from crisping all the way around.
When I do want to collect the juices, I mostly use some foil, or occasionally a foil tray which can be washed and reused.
If you do prefer to use them, once you have got a feel for how they affect your cooking and baking, you may need to make adjustments to the recipe accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
All my recipes with instructions for how to cook or bake them in the air fryer can be found in my Air Fryer Recipe Index.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Recipe
How to Air Fry Skate Wings (Ray Wings)
Ingredients
- 2 Skate Wings - roughly 225g/8oz each
- 1 tbsp Salted Butter - see notes
- 1 tsp Sea Salt Flakes - see notes
Instructions
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, Start this setting now.
- Melt 1 tbsp Salted Butter in a small bowl. I do this in the microwave but you could use a small heatproof bowl in the air fryer if you like. The preheat setting will likely do the trick.
- Thoroughly dry 2 Skate Wings.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the both sides of the wings with the melted butter. It will start to solidify as you brush it on, this is good as it will prevent it from sliding right off the wings.
- Sprinkle over roughly 1 tsp Sea Salt Flakes. Crush the flakes between your fingers as you sprinkle for thin even coverage.
- Place the wings into the air fryer basket. You may have to be slightly creative to make them fit – you'll see that it is better to overlap the hard bone ends rather than the frilly edges like I have.
- Air fry for 10 minutes at 200c/390f. There is no need to turn the wings.
- Be careful removing the wings from the fryer as they will be delicate. Aim to pick them up with tongs from the bony part. Serve hot straight away.
To Air Fry From Frozen
- Run the wings under cold water to remove any surface ice crystals. Thoroughly dry then proceed with preparing them as normal.
- Cook for 12 minutes at 200c/390f.
Notes
- Butter – You can use an oil instead of butter but I do find that butter helps the fish crisp a little more and adds a nice flavour.
- Salt/Seasoning – You can use any seasoning mix or sauce instead of just salt but make sure that salt is included in the mix. You can also add a little citrus juice. If you use a sauce with a high sugar content, you may want to brush this on halfway through cooking so it doesn’t catch and burn.
- The air fryer version of this recipe is tested in a 4.7 litre capacity Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501). This was needed to fit in 2 wings at the same time, but if I was only cooking one wing, my smaller Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) which has a square(ish) shaped basket of 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal would have been big enough. Remember that you can always cook in batches in a smaller air fryer.
- As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time. Some models include stacking shelves which will increase capacity.
- Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
- Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.
Sally mowe says
This was so easy and cooked the wings perfectly! I used a smidge of olive oil instead but it was great. Am doing again tonight!
Chloe says
Aw brilliant! Honestly I sat and ate the two wings in the photos straight off the set up you see, I couldn’t even stop long enough to go make up a fresh plate and sauce – and I’ve been thinking about it ever since – I’ve got some on my meal plan for this week!
Karen says
I love skate wings, such an underrated fish, but so tasty. This recipe was easy to follow so I’ll definitely cook them in the air fryer again.