What is an Air Fryer? Ask any diet conscious person and I bet they’ll enthusiastically explain you all details about this virtuous kitchen appliance. Undoubtedly, an Air fryer is the only kitchen appliance that lets you binge on your favorite snacks while still keeping your overall calorie intake considerably down.
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating super-hot air around the food giving it that beautiful crunch without actually using oil for frying. The crunchy layer which we just mentioned that adheres the surface of any deep fried food, is due to the ‘Maillard effect‘. General methods of cooking induce the Maillard effect by completely or partially submerging the food in hot oil. Contrasting to which, an air fryer induces the same effect by circulating very hot air (up to 200°C) around the food with the help of a mechanical fan. Very little to mere spraying of oil can still be used to get the traditional essence of any food. Moreover all the cooking units of an air fryer are lined with a non-stick coating. So, even without oil, everything is just fine.
Most air fryers come with adjustable temperature and timer knobs for convenient and customized cooking.
Who doesn’t like French Fries but everyone knows the amount of oil it has. Also health conscious people tend to keep a distance from any oily food. But if I tell you that you can have all the Fried food yet keep your oil meter in check – sounds fishy? Not in the 21st century, Behold the power of Air Fryer. The Air fryer can reduce oil usage by more than 75%. You can also use no oil if you want to and yet the food tastes great. So, have your fries, chips, chicken wings and still stay well within your daily calorie goals.
Components of an Air fryer
Any air fryer has the following detachable parts:
- Cover (main body).
- Basket holder.
- Divider.
- Basket.
The base of the appliance is the cover or the main body which has the actual functioning unit. Above which there’s the basket holder which holds the cooking basket. It has the mechanical fan installed beneath it ( this may vary with brands).
Up furthermore, there is the cooking basket where the food is supposed to be kept for cooking. The cooking basket has a base in the form of a wire mesh which allows proper circulation of hot air around the food. Adding to the benefits, the device also has a divider which enables you to cook different varieties of food in the same slot at the exact same time.
Advantages of Air Fryer
In a nutshell, traditional deep fried cooking imparts the food with excessive unnecessary calories by oil absorption during the cooking process. Alternatively, an Air fryer avoids all those extra calories in the form of absorbed oil and produces healthier versions of the same food keeping all the flavours intact.
If you are a food lover, and cannot compromise on the taste and that satisfying deep fried crunch but also want to keep a check on your calorie intake, you should definitely invest in a good air fryer. An air fryer will bless your life with the perfect balance of binge and health.
- Low caloric content food due to very low oil content
- Easy and simple to use
- Easy to clean
- No mess
Read: 5 healthy Air Fryer recipes you must try
Disadvantages of Air Fryer
Air fryers have invaded the kitchen appliance industry with a storm owing to the promising claims associated with them. Although air fryers add a great deal of convenience, there are a few limitations to them as well.
1. Not for big families
Air fryers have a limited basket capacity. So, cooking in an Air fryer for more than a few adults in one batch can be a tricky job. However, Air fryers with increased cooking capacities are being introduced to rectify this con.
2. Longer cooking durations
Air fryers exhibit considerably longer cooking times as compared to traditional deep frying methods. To be precise, an Air fryer can take as much as two times the duration when compared to deep fryers.
3. Expensive
Owing to the health benefits associated with Air fryers, some models are priced way more than regular deep fryers. For context, you can get a deep fryer for as less as $50 while an Air fryer averages at around $100.
4. Bulky
As newer Air fryer models with increased cooking capacities are introduced, their overall size has considerably increased. Such bulky models eat way too much of counter space which can be an issue for small kitchens.
Well the disadvantages are being reduced with new iterations and new menus being added to the advantages, it is one of most preferred Home or Kitchen appliances.
Now that You know Air Fryers and its advantages for health. You would be wondering where can You get one and also how to decide which one is suited for You. Fret not, we’re here to help You with Your queries and tell You the best 10 in every price range with features. So just sit back and relax for we’ve got you covered.
