The brilliantly named air fryer takes craving foods
and puts a spin on them so you can indulge that need for a satisfying crunch in
a healthier way. The key to perfection is in superheated air that encircles
your food allowing it to cook thoroughly and evenly.
There are a number of manufacturers who have
fine-tuned their air fryer, allowing you to create a wide array of culinary
wonders. Check out the models that we've included in this article for examples.
For those of you who'd like a more in-depth air fryer education before
choosing, we encourage you to read on.
An air fryer combines several different cooking
methods in one convenient appliance.
An electric coil suspended above the food provides
radiant heating, much like a broiler element or stovetop burner. This dry heat
penetrates the food and warms it internally.
The convection action converts the small amount of oil
you use into a fine mist that coats the food as it circulates. This action
mimics the effect traditional deep frying has on foods submerged in hot cooking
oil.
As the hot air flows, the food's own moisture creates
the steam needed to finish the cooking process.
To work their magic, air fryer typically require
between 800 and 2,100 watts of power. Before you buy an air fryer, make sure your
kitchen outlet can support this kind of wattage.
Another important pre-purchase consideration is an air
fryer's capacity. Most fryers can cook between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds of food at a
time. This capacity would probably suffice in most households, but your
personal circumstances might be different.
Most air air fryers are relatively compact and easy to fit
on a kitchen counter. But despite their straightforward design, some air fryers
have settings that may be more or less appealing to you. Most machines include
timers and can reach at least 360° Fahrenheit. We prefer those that stretch a
bit higher than that.
There is no doubt that air fryers serve a multitude of
purposes in the kitchen, from creating an oil-less version of fried foods to
steaming vegetables to baking cupcakes and brownies. But an air fryer does have
its limitations and drawbacks.
Here’s
a look at the pros of cooking with an air fryer:
PROS
|
CONS
|
1
An
air fryer produces crisp, moist food without the need for a deep fryer or
large amounts of oil. If avoiding saturated fats and heavily fried foods is
on your list of dietary priorities, then using an air fryer instead of a deep
oil fryer is clearly the way to go
2
Air
fryers are much easier to clean and maintain than traditional deep fryers.
There is no large container of hot cooking oil to filter and store. The air
fryer's cooking basket can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher between uses.
|
1
The
constant flow of dry, superheated air around many foods can eventually strip
them of moisture, especially on the surface. While some people may accept a
bit of dryness as the price paid for healthier eating, others could be
disappointed by the dryness and/or lack of flavor in air fried foods.
2
Con: Cooking
times can be considerably longer in an air fryer than a traditional deep
fryer.
|
Many air fryers use just a small amount of oil, but
some health-conscious consumers might opt for a completely oil-free fryer.
“Multipurpose” air fryers can cook two or more types of food at once. Other
features you might be interested in include digital programmable settings,
rapid-cook technology, and nonstick surfaces.
The Philips Digital Air Fryer with Rapid Air
Technology comes with a cooking basket that can hold 2.65 pounds of food. The
machine's generous 2,100 watts of power allows it to cook food quickly. Owners
tend to like the food quality they achieve with this air fryer, although some
say they wish it had a larger capacity.
Air fryer prices commonly begin above
the $100 mark. However, the best of these appliances make up for
their high price tags with efficient frying and easy cleanup. Budget-conscious
consumers can definitely find fryers in their price range, as can those who are
looking for a high-end model.
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As air fryers grow in popularity, it’s important to
understand the reasons why traditional deep frying has become an “issue” with
many health-conscious cooks.
First off, the amount of saturated fat contained in
lard and other animal fats is high. Diets rich in saturated fats can lead to
arterial clogging, which in turn can lead to strokes and heart disease,
according to some medical sources.
The GoWISE USA Electric Air Fryer comes with 8 presets
— pizza, fries, pork, shrimp, cake, chicken, fish, and steak — to make cooking
your favorites as simple as possible. It also comes with information on how to
prepare 50 air-fryer-specific recipes.
Cooking oils break down over time. Animal-based
shortenings have very limited shelf life, as they do not react well with the
outside air and become rancid. Vegetable oils also begin to separate into water
and fat after several deep frying sessions. Replacing these cooking oils,
especially in the quantities required for larger deep fryers, can become
expensive and time-consuming.
Deep frying creates hazardous byproducts. Small
bits of batter or dry coating tend to fall into the cooking oil as products
cook. Some sources believe these carbonized pieces form hazardous, possibly
carcinogenic, chemicals that people could inadvertently ingest along with their
meal.
Deep fryers require diligent maintenance. A deep
fryer remains too hot to handle for several hours after use. As such, it’s a
challenge to perform important tasks like oil filtering. Working with large
amounts of animal-based fat is also a messy and thankless job for many cooks.
There is also the problem of having a large container of scalding hot oil
within reach of small children.
Ideal cooking temperatures are hard to
maintain. The secret to successful deep frying is maintaining a proper oil
temperature. When cooking oil falls below a certain temperature, the foods
internal moisture does not repel the oil as well, resulting in greasy,
undercooked food. Simply putting a bag of frozen food into a hot deep fryer
will affect the oil temperature, and the heating elements of many deep fryers take
a long time to recover from the shock. This is not a concern with superheated
cooking methods such as convection or air frying
Question: What if I need to add a seasoning or ingredient to a dish? Can I remove the cooking basket?
Answer: It
depends on the model, so consult your owner's manual to be certain. Many air
fryers do allow you to pull out the basket during the cooking cycle in order to
stir the product or add seasoning. The unit should shut off automatically if it
has this feature.
Answer: Many
models offer dividers that keep different food items separate during a cooking
cycle. We recommend only combining foods with similar prep times or
temperatures to avoid overcooking or undercooking.
Answer:Yes,
in most cases you can prepare meats and vegetables from a frozen state in an
air fryer. The superheated air and convection action draw excess moisture to an
exhaust port, so frozen foods won't become mushy from unwanted steaming. It is
important to keep in mind that cooking times may be extended considerably when
starting from frozen.
Answer: Since
air fryers do not use microwave technology, you can safely use aluminum foil or
metal containers. Parchment paper will also work in an air fryer. The important
thing to remember is that the superheated air requires free circulation to
work. Food wrappers should not block the natural flow of hot air around the
cooking chamber.
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