The Magic of an Air Fryer: Is It Really Worth It?

The air fryer is becoming popular these days, as seen on videos of recipes posted on social media sites. It is one cooking appliance that anyone would want to add to their kitchen not just because it's trendy but also because of its awesome features.

An air fryer is similar to an oven because it can bake and roast food but the only difference they have is the way they cook the food. An air fryer, unlike an oven, has its heating elements located on top accompanied by a large, powerful fan that makes the food crispy without using too much oil like its deep fryer counterpart.

According to Good House Keeping, air fryers typically heat up quickly, so cooking food is also done soon. Not to mention, the combination of a concentrated heat source and the placement of the fan cooks the food evenly.

But since this technology is new, everyone's asking if it's safe to use. After all, people are so used to frying food with oil and using deep fryers. So what does air fryers have to offer that deep fryers do not have?

How Does an Air fryer Work?

Using an air fryer would need little to no oil at all thanks to its countertop convection oven. An air fryer is an electric appliance with a fan that helps hot air cook the food and even does better in frying than convection ovens because it is faster.

Additionally, all surfaces of the food are fried evenly because the air fryer has a perforated basket which makes the hot air reach all parts of the food. It also uses air as a medium of heat, unlike a deep fryer which uses fat.

The food that comes out of the air fryer is crispy and juicy as if it was cooked with a deep fryer, although they do not taste the same as food from a deep fryer are coated with a batter that cooks differently in an air fryer.

When frying battered food in an air dryer, spray oil before cooking to help it have color. However, flour-based batter and wet batters do not cook well with an air fryer. It is best to use a deep fryer for that.

Is the Food Cooked in an Air Fryer Healthy?

Since air fryers need so little oil to cook food, it is a healthier option compared to a deep fryer. But even so, the food is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside just like deep-fried food.

Good Housekeeping's Nutrition Director Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN said: "definitely a healthier alternative if you commit to using just 1-2 tablespoons of a plant-based oil with seasoning, and you stick to air-frying veggies more than anything else."

Foods That Can Be Cooked in an Air Fryer

An air fryer can be used to heat frozen foods and all sorts of fresh food. Most meats like chicken, steak, and pork chops do not need added oil because they are already juicy. All it required is just seasoning like salt, herbs and spices.

But stick only to dry seasonings as less moisture guarantees a crispier food. Honey or barbecue sauce can be added but wait for the last minute of cooking before adding them.

On the other hand, when cooking vegetables, it is advisable to spray them with a little bit of oil before air frying.