![air fryer taiyaki custard](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/air-fryer-taiyaki-custard.jpg)
Air fryer taiyaki is now a thing you have to try! Taiyaki is a delicious Japanese snack that I have fond memories of while growing up, whenever I was at Japantown in San Francisco.
![air fryer taiyaki suji](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/air-fryer-taiyaki-suji.jpg)
Taiyaki is a fish shaped, crispy waffle. It’s filled with a piping hot (like lava), sweet filling. The most popular filling is red bean paste but other fillings include custard, matcha cream, and chocolate.
![seabream fish](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/seabream-fish.jpg)
Taiyaki means “baked seabream fish” as it is shaped after this fish (pictured above).
The History of Taiyaki
The origin of taiyaki, according to Tokyo Treat, is linked to imagawayaki, a circular thick waffle with a sweet red bean filling. A man named Seijiro Kanbei had a imagawayaki shop and it wasn’t selling well.
So he decided to be creative and try a different shape. He made it into the shape of the sea bream fish, which was a prized, rare fish at that time. The sea bream was even referred to as the King of Fish.
![air fryer frozen taiyaki costco](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/air-fryer-frozen-taiyaki-costco.jpg)
By making the imagawayaki into the shape of a rare fish, it was thought to give the people a little bit of luxury, even if it was for a moment. The taiyaki also has a thinner batter than regular imagawayaki.
It became so popular in Kansai (western Japan) that it was featured in newspapers and then became popular in Tokyo.
![suji frozen taiyaki costco](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/suji-frozen-taiyaki-costco.jpg)
Costco started carrying Suji’s frozen taiyaki with a custard filling and I was so excited to learn that it can be air fried! FYI: these are the mini version of the real thing. The real thing is as large as my hand!
Taiyaki Air Fryer Instructions
![air fryer taiyaki cooking time](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/air-fryer-taiyaki-cooking-time.jpg)
Preheat air fryer. Cook at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping halfway.
![costco taiyaki air fryer instructions](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/costco-taiyaki-air-fryer-instructions.jpg)
Air Fryer Cooking Tips for Taiyaki:
- Oil isn’t necessary for taiyaki but you can spray with oil if you wish.
- Is preheating necessary? I think it helps. If you’re in a rush, you can preheat for a minimum of 3 minutes.
- Do I have to flip the taiyaki during air frying? Yes, it will help them brown evenly on both sides.
- Do I need to thaw first? No, just cook from frozen.
- Do I need to cook 12 per batch? No, cook as little or as much as can fit in your air fryer basket.
Other Air Fryer Recipes and Tips
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings from Frozen
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings from Frozen
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Wings – 2 Ingredients
- Air Fryer Spam – Everything You Need to Know
- Cosori Air Fryer Max XL Review + Guide for Beginners
Air Fryer Taiyaki Cooking Video Short
![air fryer taiyaki](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/air-fryer-taiyaki-custard-300x300.jpg)
Air Fryer Taiyaki
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 mini taiyaki frozen
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- In the air fryer basket, add the taiyakis, making sure that they are laying flat and not overlapping. Close the basket and set the temperature for 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
- When cooking time reaches 4 minutes, pause the air fryer and open air fryer basket. Using tongs, flip the taiyakis over. Close the basket. Press the cook button to continue cooking the remaining 4 minutes. When the air fryer has finished cooking, remove taiyakis from basket and serve immediately.
Where to Buy Equipment
This post contains affiliate links. When you make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pin for Later:
![](https://www.livingrichlyonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Air-Fryer-Taiyaki-683x1024.jpg)