Air fryers are undoubtedly taking the world by storm. People are racing to purchase their own convection oven, making the move from deep fat frying to air frying.
Air fryers have transformed the way in which we can enjoy our favorite foods. We can replicate the great taste of fried chicken, with the same crispiness, while promoting healthier cooking.
It is becoming a common household kitchen appliance. Many want to move away from previously used methods of cooking to embrace efficiency and health.
There are a number of considerations to make before purchasing an air fryer, many of them advantageous.
In this post, we look at just a few reasons to make that change from convention to innovation.
It’s time to stop deep frying and to take a look at some of the many air fryer advantages. Leave deep-fried foods behind and embrace a cooking process that promotes human health with fewer calories.
How Air Fryers Work
To make the decision to move to air-fried food over fried foods, it’s important to know how the cooking process works.
The first thing to note is that an air fryer doesn’t in fact fry the food.
Unlike a conventional oven, that roasts or bakes, or deep fat fryers that use masses of excess oil to fry, air frying cooks food by blowing heated air around the food.
The high temperatures are essential in how quickly your food cooks. It ensures that all parts of your food item/items cook thoroughly and consistently.
Get cooking
Air fryers have a removable drawer with a handle, containing a cooking basket, a grill rack of the pan where the food is placed.
When the air fryer is turned on, hot air rushes down and around the food.
The rapidly circulating air allows the food to cook evenly and quickly, creating that delicious deep-fried taste but with fewer calories and no excess oil.
Picking an air fryer
To truly enjoy the health benefits of an air fryer, it is essential to find the right one.
There are a wide array of air fryers to choose from so you can start air frying your way to healthy meals in no time.
When finding a new air fryer, you must consider a few things:
- Counter space – an air fryer might be small but it still needs space in your kitchen.
- Cooking capacity – most air fryers have similar-sized internal components, but be sure to check based on your cooking requirements
- Cooking methods – different air fryers have different capabilities. Some can also stew, roast, bake and fry so be sure to find the right one to suit your preferred cooking methods.
1. Air Fried foods are healthy
Air frying is arguably a healthier alternative to deep-frying. Whether it be fried chicken, french fries, or onion rings, air fryers eliminate unnecessary oils and fats added during the typical cooking process.
When you choose to replace deep-fried foods with foods that you air fry, you cut out a lot of calories incurred during a typical deep frying cooking method.
Air frying should be used as an alternative way in which to cook your fried favorites.
Are Air-Fried Foods Better for You?
Air-fried foods can be better for you in terms of the reduction of added fats used with deep-fried food.
In addition, air frying dramatically reduces the need for oil, so if you want to cook healthy meals, it is the perfect appliance.
Of course, you must enjoy all food in moderation, so just because foods are air-fried, that does not mean all air-fried foods are healthier. It is always best to have a varied diet of proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables.
You should always be mindful that if you are trying to cook low-fat meals in your air fryer, you can’t just cook french fries and chicken nuggets.
What are some common air-fried foods?
Cooking using an air fryer allows a great amount of versatility, meaning the possibilities really are endless – from chicken fingers or fried potatoes to chicken breast or pork chops.
There are a wealth of online recipes from simple recipes, such as creating crispy bacon for breakfast, to unusual sweet treats, like caramelized bananas.
Any previously oil-fried foods that were typically cooked in deep fryers can be cooked in your air fryer.
How does air-fried food taste?
The food cooked in an air fryer varies in regards to taste. A good air fryer will produce delicious food with a crispy exterior while keeping the inside moist.
The taste of your food when air frying will also vary on how long you want to cook it.
You can create both a succulent chicken breast or crunchy potato skins – just keep an eye on cooking times.
2. Cooking with Air Fryers is Energy Efficient
The amount of energy that an air fryer requires changes dependent on the type of model you purchase.
Air fryers do have a reputation for being more eco-friendly than other means of cooking.
Using an air fryer is significantly faster than using other methods, meaning the energy you use will also be significantly less.
3. Air Fryers Enable you to Cook Foods Quickly
When cooking in an air fryer, the hot air used in the process of air frying means that food is cooked a lot faster than frying in hot oil, or baking in an oven.
As the air circulates, heat is applied to all areas of the food which means that it cooks evenly, in a healthier way – far more so than deep-fried foods.
4. No Preheating is required when using an air fryer
When using an air fryer, there is no need to preheat so the food cooks evenly.
For foods such as raw meat, it is preferential not to, as the hot air will cook the outside too quickly. The same goes for delicate foods that become crispy very quickly.
The air fryer cooks a lot faster than a conventional oven by circulating hot air, so preheating is not essential.
The only time you should preheat is if you want a good crisp or sear on your food.
5. Air Fryers are Easy of Use
You can create a balanced meal that will taste delicious, with a short cooking time, that is also cooked with great consistency.
Most air fryer baskets are made using non-stick materials, ensuring that your food doesn’t get stuck to the interior of the air fryer without the need for cooking oil.
The clean-up is also significantly easier and quicker than appliances like a deep fryer or frying pan. Once you remove your cooked food, the basket is removable, making cleaning up fine oil droplets even easier.
Are there any disadvantages of using an air fryer?
Air fryers are undoubtedly an efficient method of cooking, but there are a few considerations to make if you are looking to purchase your own.
It is definitely worth looking into some potential downfalls before you commit:
Cooking capacity
If you want to fry food in large quantities, an air fryer is not ideal. The current models are all roughly the same size and it’s unlikely that manufacturers will make them larger, as it would compromise cooking results.
Noise
Air fryers use hot air when cooking, which means that their ventilation systems can create some noise. Some create more noise than others, so this is a factor you should research when you purchase your air fryer.
Short power cable
Air fryers are produced with short cables, so if you don’t have adequate counter space, this could pose a problem.
Ensure that other kitchen appliances don’t sit too close to your air fryer as this could pose a safety risk.
Final Thoughts: Cooking with an Air Fryer
Ultimately, it is important that if you are going to invest in an air fryer, you consider the positives and negatives.
Using an air fryer is unquestionably an efficient and healthy way to cook.
If you want to put the ease back into cooking, spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying what you eat, purchasing an air fryer is a great option.
If you want to keep enjoying your fried favorites, such as fried chicken and french fries, it is undoubtedly better to air fry.
For people who previously depended on appliances like the deep fryer, it will make a positive impact with great benefits.
Finally, air frying can promote weight loss by abandoning unnecessary calories when cooking.
If your goal is to make healthier changes, you can make other simple changes too, such as switching to avocado oil instead of vegetable oil, incorporating more vegetables in your diet, and having a more active lifestyle.
If you want to try food processing a different way and to explore delicious recipes cooked in a healthier, quicker, and more efficient way, then the air fryer is the way to go.
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