This guide for How to Air Fry Mackerel Fillets offers a quick way to enjoy this fabulous oily fish. The air fryer ensures the fillets have perfectly cooked skin and beautifully tender flesh – perfect for serving hot or cold.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my Disclosures Page for more details.
I’ve had such success with air frying fish, that I’m trying as many types as I can. My only regret with trying to air fry mackerel fillets is that I didn’t try it sooner. The skin browns beautifully and the flesh plumps up and cooks perfectly.
Once you’ve prepped the fillets, which does require a little attention to make sure all the bones are removed, the fish cooks very quickly. Which is always a bonus in my book!
For more super quick air fried fish recipes – make sure to visit my collection page:
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
There are many ways that you can serve mackerel.
I’ve taken inspiration from an old Channel 4 program with Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall where they tried to make mackerel the new go-to fish of the nation by promoting mackerel baps.
With a little salad leaf and tartare sauce plus a whole mackerel fillet in a bread roll, the idea was good and simple. Of course it didn’t take off in the nation’s chip shops but it remains a good way to eat the fish!

I’ve also served the fillets simply with air fried baby potatoes, baby spinach and a simple tomato and red onion salad. A couple of slices of lemon and some more tartare sauce complete the dish perfectly.

Ingredients
Mackerel
Fresh mackerel is readily available in UK supermarkets, not to mention fish counters and fishmongers. You can often find both whole mackerel and ready filleted mackerel. The fillets are also often found in the frozen section. However you buy it, mackerel is generally a pretty economical option.
The instructions in this recipe are for the fillets only. If you’re game, you can of course fillet them yourself – google some videos and use a sharp knife, you’ll likely be surprised how easy it is.
You can also readily buy smoked mackerel fillets – some plain and many flavoured. These are ready to eat and don’t require full cooking. So do make sure you’re buying “fresh mackerel fillets” if you’re looking to follow this recipe.

Butter
Butter acts as both fat and flavour in this recipe. I only use salted butter so if you are using unsalted, you may wish to add a little extra salt when seasoning the fish.
The butter helps the fish skin to crisp a little. An oil will work just as well but will obviously impart a different flavour. Think about what kind of oil you use and how it will interact with the seasonings you’re using and the other things you’re serving with. For example use olive oil with Mediterranean flavours and a neutral vegetable oil with South East Asian meals.
Seasoning
I’ve kept things very simple and simply seasoned the fish with sea salt flakes. But mackerel has a good strong flavour and can really hold up to much stronger flavouring so you can really go wild with extra spices and herbs if you wish.

Allergen Information
This recipe is free from egg, gluten and nuts.
Dairy Free: To make this fish recipe dairy free, simply use a plant based butter substitute or oil in place of the butter.
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 Fresh Mackerel Fillets
The fillets cook in around 8 minutes in a pre-heated air fryer. I don’t turn the fillets and I cook them skin side up. Cook the other way up and they may need a minute or two less. But you won’t get the same great cook on the mackerel skin so I don’t recommend this.

How to Air Fry Mackerel Fillets From Frozen
Fish fillets air fry from frozen really well. There are a couple of steps I like to take to ensure that they cook just as well as from fresh.
Firstly make sure the fillets are not remotely stuck together. Then run them under the cold tap to remove any surface ice or crystals. Secondly, make sure the fillets are extremely dry.
You can then continue with the recipe as normal – coat them in the butter, season and air fry. Add an extra minute or so to the cooking time, this is all the extra you need.

Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
Leftovers will easily store in a covered container in the fridge for a day or two. They can then be eaten hot or cold as you wish. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to keep the cooked fillets together as a whole fillet – they will likely flake when you re-handle them.
To reheat, I like to do this by loosely wrapping the fish in foil, adding a drop of water and then air frying until hot through. Or even easier, by giving it 30 seconds or so in the microwave with that same drop of water. This will stop of the fish from drying out.
You can also freeze the cooked fillets. Again they will likely flake rather than stay as whole fillets. It is best to allow them to fully defrost before eating cold or reheating.

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?
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.
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.
Pin How to Air Fry Mackerel Fillets For Later
Hit one of the share buttons to save this page to your Pinterest boards so you can come back and find it at anytime!

Keep Up to Date
Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter and avoid missing out on any of my newest and bonus content. Don’t worry, I promise not to spam you or bombard you too often. Plus you’ll receive a copy of my FREE 7 Day International Meal Plan!
Also please don’t forget to follow me over on my social media channels over at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I love to interact with my followers and I’d love you to share my content with your friends too.
The Recipe
How to Air Fry Mackerel Fillets
Ingredients
- 4 Mackerel Fillets - roughly 90g each
- 2 tbsp Salted Butter - see notes
- ½ tsp Sea Salt Flakes - see notes
Instructions
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, Start this setting now.
- Melt 2 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 4 Mackerel Fillets.
- Use your fingers to check for any bones – it is likely there are lots all down the centre seam. Use tweezers to remove them all. If you're short on time or patience, you can use a sharp knife to cut a v shaped section of the seam out taking the bones with it.
- Keep going and triple check, especially towards the head end where they can be quite buried. It is worth spending time being thorough rather than risk getting a bone in the cooked fillets.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the flesh side of the fillets with the melted butter.
- Sprinkle over half of the ½ tsp Sea Salt Flakes. Crush them between your fingers as your sprinkle for a thinner even coverage.
- Repeat with the melted butter and salt on the skin side.
- Place the fillets into the air fryer basket skin side up. Leave a little space between each fillet so the air can circulate.
- Cook for 8 minutes at 200c/390f. There is no need to turn the fillets.
- Be careful removing the fillets from the fryer as they will be delicate. Serve hot straight away.
To Air Fry From Frozen
- Cook for 9 minutes at 200c/390f.
Notes
- Butter – You can use an oil instead of butter but I do find that butter helps the fish skin 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 Cosori Lite (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal.
- 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.
- For this recipe, I can just fit 4 fillets in the basket at a time. This gives just enough room to allow air to circulate.
- 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.
- 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.
Janet says
Oh that crispy skin was the best bit! The only way I’ll be cooking my mackerel from now on.
Kenny says
This is such a great way to cook mackerel, it was perfectly cooked and flaking from the skin. Absolutely delicious.
Karen says
Mackerel is one of my favourite fish and this was such a simple way to cook the fillets. Lovely crispy skin too.