Air Fryers: The Healthier Way to Fry

Air fryers are a great alternative to the traditional way of frying food. They use heat and air circulation to rapidly dry-fry the food, ensuring that all the surfaces are in contact with the heat. Most use a spoonful of oil to give the food that fried quality and taste, although it is possible to cook food without any oil at all. The great news is that these machines are versatile too: many can handle meat, vegetables, fish, and some even toast and bake.

Everyone has the potential to benefit from an air fryer, but it is great for specifically those with high cholesterol levels or other heart conditions that can’t entirely give up their fried foods. Children also love fried meals, so teaching them from an early age that air frying is a better option might help to reduce obesity levels while still catering for tastebuds craving fries, shrimp, steak, and fish.

Air frying is also great for reducing those unwanted stenches that are associated with traditional deep fryers and oil “smoking points.” According to the United States Department of Agriculture, peanut oil has the highest smoking point, but the most commonly used oils like sesame and sunflower have some of the lowest, at 410 degrees Fahrenheit. No longer does your home need to smell like the kitchen at a fast food restaurant, with lingering smells that can take days to clear.

Then there are also the safety implications of air frying compared to deep fryers: according to the Insurance Journal, there are over $15 million worth of claims annually as a result of fire damage caused by deep fryers. Since air fryer uses a teaspoon of oil, they massively reduce the risk of burns and house fires.

PROS:

• Safe to use – Air fryers are much safer than deep fryers as they only use a few drops of oil to create that fried taste.
• Healthier – Eating air fried food is an excellent alternative to the deep-fried variety because it uses 90 percent less saturated fat.
• Easier to clean – Because of the small amount of oil used during the cooking process, keeping your air fryer clean is easier than disposing of a bucket of old oil from a deep fryer.

CONS:

• Taste – No matter how hard these machines try to replicate the taste, deep fried food tastes better.
• Dried food – There is a danger that relying on heated air to fry food is only going to lead to dried out meals that have none of the tenderness or flavor of real fried food.
• Capacity – Most air fryers cater for families of four or smaller, unlike deep fryers that have a much larger capacity.

• Are air fryers more energy efficient?

• Air fryers use less energy than a standard deep fryer because they have a facility to provide instant heat, whereas with the deep fryer you have to wait for the reservoir of oil to reach the desired temperature. In addition, air fryers offer more quick and even cooking because the heat is circulated continuously.

• What is the healthiest oil to use in an air fryer?

• Many extra-virgin olive oils and avocado oils are perfect for use in your air fryer while at the same time reducing the bad cholesterols associated with animal fats and other traditional cooking oils. The best way to apply them is through a diffuser that allows you to spray a thin coating on the inside of the air fryer. Some healthier oils tend to have a higher smoking point, however, so you might want double check if you have a specific oil in mind.

• Is the healthiest way to air fry to avoid using any oils?

• Yes, it is, but you have to temper your desire for super-healthy fried meals with the overall taste of the finished food. Often, frying without oil can lead to disappointing results that are soggy and have failed to dry and crisp. You might suffer the alternative and end up with dried out food that is burnt on the outside and undercooked in the centre. Oil is that magic ingredient that allows the air fryer to produce crunchy and flavorful meals but without saturating the food in fat.