So Do You Need An Air Fryer
The short answer is no. Given the air fryers size it takes up about as much space as a toaster oven, if not more and its relatively limited capacity, it hard to suggest that every kitchen needs an air fryer. You can do everything an air fryer does with minimal equipment and a regular home range, especially considering the amount of storage space required for even a smaller, still-bulky air fryer.
Related: Should You Buy an Air Fryer, an Air Fryer Oven, or an Air Fryer Toaster Oven?
However, if youre a household with the kitchen space, cooking habits, and disposable income to support it, an air fryer could be incredibly efficient for you. You can cook small batches of everything from roasted vegetables, to chicken, to perfectly reheated frozen foods all in less time than it would take to heat a full-scale oven. You can also often yield more flavor and texture than a microwave or toaster oven can.
All in all? I was skeptical of the air fryer at first. But now that I have one, I find myself reaching for it regularly and test-driving has one made me excited to see where well go next in the world of cooking tools that make our lives even more delicious.
Do you have an air fryer? What are your favorite things to make in it? Share in the comments below.
Are Air Fryers Worth The Money
The success of air fryers may be largely attributed to modern marketing, however, that doesnt mean that theyre simply fads.
The technology was already around even before Philips released the first air fryer. It was only recognized differently then. If the hype surrounding air fryers dies down tomorrow, they may just be marketed as another appliance with a different name.
This means that air fryers are probably here to stay.
The advantage of air fryers lies in the fact that theyre able to cook things faster than a traditional oven can. Preheating an air fryer isnt all that necessary either, because the temperature rises faster and the heat transfers a lot more evenly in their small chambers.
This makes them a very reliable and convenient countertop appliance. The drawback is that air fried food doesnt taste or feel exactly like deep-fried food. Theres a subtle difference that not everyone might appreciate.
Air fryers come in relatively small sizes as well. Their drawers can only cook and contain up to two servings, so theyre great for people who live alone. Any bigger than a family of three, and you might need an upgrade. Bigger models may make more food, but they cost more too.
So, are air fryers worth the money? Well, if you prioritize fast cooking, they are! You can always cook food in batches, if you dont mind consuming just a bit more electricity. Air fryers arent very expensive anyway. Compared to ovens, theyre definitely a bargain.
Should You Get A Digital Air Fryer Over Analog Meh Not Really
This depends on your personal preference but the controls don’t have much to do with the performance or end result. Digital air fryers have presets for things like chicken wings, french fries, fish and such, but I find that even if the presets exist, it takes me just a few runs to learn how long things need and the correct temperatures, and I end up bypassing them anyways. Digital air fryers tend to cost a bit more and you run the risk of the panel shorting out, but having a digital readout of the temp and cook time can be nice.
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Air Fryer And Multicooker: An Air Fryer That Does It All
These are the most advanced and versatile air fryers and they do a whole lot more than air fry. Think Instant Pot but with an air fryer function as well. Ninja’s Foodi multicooker and the Instant Pot Duo Crisp are two popular models, and if you want an air fryer and multicooker or pressure cooker but don’t have a lot of kitchen space to relinquish, one of these is a great option. I’ve used the 6-quart Duo Crisp a bunch and find it works really well, turning out some of the most delicious fried chicken ever These models generally retail for about $175 to $250
A Guide To Air Fryers: Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy
Considering an air fryer to make healthier meals in 2022? We answer all your burning questions about the trendy countertop cookers.
We explore the trendy appliance in all its forms to help you find a perfect air fryer fit.
Air fryers have made a whole lot of noise in the kitchen appliance space over these past few years. If you’ve become a little air fry-curious, there are some questions you might want to have answered before you invest in yet another small kitchen appliance. If starting from scratch, you’ll want to know exactly what an air fryer does and how it’s used. Does an air fryer actually fry? And are air fryers healthier than normal ovens? Also, what can you make in an air fryer, and which type of air fryer oven is best for your cooking habits? Most importantly, is an air fryer worth buying with so many other kitchen appliances available, or are these trendy countertop cookers just a bunch of hot air?
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In this air fryer explainer and buying guide, I’ll explore the best uses for the trendy air fryer, and break down the various types of air fry ovens along with average costs to help you make a more informed purchase.
First, a little background.
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How Big Should An Air Fryer Be About A Quart Per Person But Bigger Isn’t Always Better
If you’re cooking for one or two people a 2- or 3-quart air fryer should be large enough. From there, I would suggest adding a quart of capacity for every person that you’re regularly cooking for. So, if you plan to air fry for five people on a regular basis, spring for a 5-quart model.
Size matters when it comes to air fryer prowess but maybe not in the way you expected. A smaller air fryer means food is going to get blasted faster and more often than inside a larger model where the air has further to travel and more time to lose heat. I’ve found that small and powerful air fryers including the Magic Bullet 2-5-quart model and Instant Pot’s Duo Crisp work exceptionally well and very quickly.
The smaller air fryers mean less overall capacity so you may have to cook in batches.
I find that smaller air fryers like Magic Bullet’s 2-5-quart model do an excellent job but the trade-off is less cooking space.
Using medium chicken thighs as a unit measurement, a 2.5-quart air fryer can fit three thighs. A 5-quart model will comfortably fit six thighs and so on. If you spring for a hybrid oven with multiple racks, you can cook as many as 10 or 12 chicken thighs at once, but it will take longer than with a smaller air fryer
Is Air Fryer Better Than Oven
Air fryer is a very handy appliance because not all ovens have the convection feature, which is what the air fryer does by circulating the hot air around.
Also, the basket in an air fryer has an advantage over an oven because the hot air is able to circulate underneath the food in the basket, resulting in crisper foods.
And since the cooking area is smaller than the oven, food gets cooked faster, sometimes in half the time.
One area where an air fryer looses to the oven is quantity. Air fryers are ideal when cooking for 2-4, depending on what you’re cooking. For bigger quantities, you have to cook in multiple batches, which takes away the benefit of saving time.
Another drawback of an air fryer when compared to oven is Energy usage. Depending on the model and make of your oven, the energy usage of an air fryer can be much more as compared to an energy-efficient gas oven.
Air Fryer vs. Oven Verdict: Air fryers produce crisper results in less time as compared to the oven. However, you can only cook a small quantity at a time. Ovens are far more energy efficient as compared to air fryers.
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Air Fryer Attachment For Your Instant Pot Is A Great Option
If you already have an Instant Pot, you can buy an Instant Pot air fryer lid to attach or a Mealthy which will clamp on top and air fry food down below. I found the air fryer lids work exceptionally well, although they don’t have a large capacity for cooking.
The Duo Crisp is a powerful air fryer but it’s also a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and more.
Read more: Best Instant Pots of 2022
But How Does A Air Fryer Work
In an air fryer, there is a little amount of oil that willbe oxidized, which will not be as unhealthy as in the case of submerged frying.So yes, you will not be ruining your food in this case.
If you want to use oil and stay healthy with the air fryer,you might want to go for the high-quality oil, like the avocado oil or ghee.Such oils can withstand extreme temperatures and prevent oxidation like in thecase of the regular cooking oil.
Point to Remember: if you want to use the deep-frying optiononce in a while, you can sprinkle some Ceylon cinnamon or melt butter fordipping. Alternatively, you can whip some avocado mayo and throw in some herbsfor a custom dip frying.
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Are Air Fryers Worth Buying
While you may be able to yield similar cooking results with roasting, that doesn’t mean an air fryer isn’t worth adding to your kitchen collection.
If youd rather not turn on your oven, or if you dont feel confident fiddling with sheet pans and racks and convection, an air fryer can be the simpler alternative. An air fryer is convenient since it is easy to use, uses less energy than an oven, and comes in small and large sizes to accommodate everything from a single-person household to a large family, says Pelcher.
Plus, it whips up crispy food way faster than your oven or stove canI’m talking just 12 to 15 minutes per recipe.
Speaking of fried food…check out Chrissy Teigan taste test some crazy chip flavors:
Here’s What Sets Them Apart:
ACTIFRY
See the paddle at work.
The spinning paddle turns your food so you get even, crispy results while the large viewing window allows you to check on food without interruption.
AIR FRY
More than an Air Fryer.
The Easy Fry uses hot air technology to get even, crispy results, while the large basket allows you to grill, roast, and bake a variety of meals.
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Tips On Getting Your Food Crispy
Let’s see how to get the most out of your air fryer, and what not to do:
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have a questions regarding air fryers, do comment below. Don’t forget to share your food pictures with us on your favorite social media channel by tagging #spicecravings
Should You Buy An Air Fryer
Considering the air fryer uses significantly less oil than traditional frying, you’re cutting a lot of calories . For that reason, air-frying is a healthier option than regular frying, Natalie Rizzo, RD, toldWomen’s Health in a previous interview. Plus, it can make veggie-centric dishes taste just as enticing as fries .
It basically eliminates the need to deep-fry specific dishes like chicken and fries, says , RDN.
That said, air fried food isn’t healthier than non-fried methods, so it’s important to eat these foods in moderation.
In fact, in my experience, the texture of air-fried foods is actually closer to what you get when you coat food in oil and then roast itstill delicious, with a crispy and browned crust, but not exactly deep-fried.
Read Also: Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites Frozen
Does Thatmean Air Fryers Are Healthier Than Deep Fryers
Clearly, air fryers are a better option since they arehealthier than deep fryers in many ways. They come with lower fat content andreduced calories when preparing foods. By the way, air fryers can help toprevent the formation of harmful compounds.
When food rich in carbohydrates are cooked in high heat likedeep frying, they will end up forming acrylamide. This is a compound that isalso known as a probable carcinogen. In other words, it is reported thatacrylamide can promote the development of cancer cells in the body.
Besides that, this compound can lead to kidney risks,ovarian cancer, and even endometrial cancer.
But you need not worry about that when using an air fryer.Experts have found out that air fryers can cut down the acrylamide level by90%.
So yes, air fryers are far much healthier than deep fryers.
Is Air Fried Food Healthy
Air fried foods are believed to be healthier because they cut the fat content and calorie intake by up to 80% in comparison to deep-fried foods. With that said, I wouldnt recommend making all of your meals in the air fryer as there may be other downsides to doing so.
Its imperative that you pick the right oil for the air fryer, going with the wrong kind of oil may increase free radicals. Go with an oil that doesnt oxidize easily.
So, even though air fried food isnt bathed in oil, there are some signals that point towards a moderate intake of air fried food being the best option. For a person who doesnt eat fried food on a regular basis, the air fryer might have fewer health benefits than it would for a person who frequently eats deep-fried food.
The air fryer is both a practical and smart tool to have at home and there may be a handful of benefits for those who need to lower their oil-consumption.
Heres a list of benefits with air fried foods.
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Does Air Fried Food Taste Good
Just like every other technique used to prepare food the answer is that it depends. Personal preference and preparations are the two biggest factors. So far, almost everything that Ive made in the air fryer has superseded my expectations.
I highly doubt that the process of air frying itself can make the food taste bad, you might just have to experiment a little bit to get it just right. When eating air fried foods, Ive noticed that it tends to have a distinct texture and slightly different taste. If you overcook food in an air fryer it can become very dry, therefore, finding the right cooking time is important.
While it is entirely up to you and your personal preference how you choose to prepare your food, I would recommend that you add spices or marinade before air frying to make every meal as tasty as possible. You can find an endless supply of recipes for the air fryer online using Google.
Switching To An Air Fryer May Aid In Weight Loss
Deep-fried foods arent just higher in fat, but theyre also higher in calories and may contribute to weight gain.
One study of 33,542 Spanish adults found that a higher intake of fried foods was associated with a greater risk for obesity .
If youre looking to trim your waistline, swapping your deep-fried foods for air-fried foods may be a good place to start.
Clocking in at 9 calories in every gram of fat, dietary fat contains over twice as many calories per gram as other macronutrients like protein and carbohydrates.
Because air-fried foods are lower in fat than deep-fried ones, switching to an air fryer may be an easy way to help cut calories and help you manage your weight.
Besides being higher in fat and calories, frying food can create potentially dangerous compounds like acrylamide.
Acrylamide is a compound formed in carbohydrate-rich foods during high-heat cooking methods like frying .
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen, meaning that some research shows that acrylamide may be linked to cancer development .
The Environmental Protection Agency also finds that acrylamide is likely to be carcinogenic to humans .
Air-frying your food instead of using a deep fryer may help lower the acrylamide content of your fried foods.
In fact, one study found that air-frying reduced acrylamide by up to 90% compared to traditional deep-frying .
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