Why You Need An Airfryer

As far as kitchen appliances go, air fryers are one of the latest introductions that have gained staggering traction and popularity. These novel appliances promise the possibility of nearly oil-less frying. The question is, are they truly as good as they sound, or is this simply another marketing tactic? 

How Airfryers Work

The basic concept of an airfryer is to simulate the effect of deep frying on food items without having to immerse them in hot oil. In the real sense, however, what goes on inside these devices can not exactly be termed frying. So, just in case you were already thinking that there’s some sort of specially formulated invisible oil inside air fryers, permit me to burst that bubble. There’s nothing like that.  

Instead, they work like convection ovens using intense heat to cook food quickly and crisply. As the name implies, super-heated air is blasted on the food to cook it rapidly from the inside and leave the outside looking browned and crisp, similar to if it was dipped in hot oil. The catch here, which is the major selling point of the air fryer, is that you get to cut out using all of the oil that you would normally use. 

You’re probably already smiling at the idea of not having to bite into oily chicken wings or ration your serving of French fries out of the fear of how much oil it has soaked up. There’ll be no more need to place a layer of paper towels beneath your fries to soak up all that excess oil, but even as exciting as all these sound, there’s much more. The overall health of your home can be significantly improved by this simple appliance. Let’s see how.

Why Airfryers are a Healthier Option

1. Tasty Meals with Minimal Oil

Excessive oil intake is one of the major villains to be combated in order to eat healthily. But how do you strike a balance between enjoying delicious food and cutting out the use of large amounts of oil? This is where air fryers come to the rescue. Rather than submerging food in oil for deep frying or using several cups of oil, when you load your food into the air fryer, you only need to sprinkle about a tablespoon of oil or just use a little amount of cooking spray. 

Now, think of all the times in just one week when you have to cook a meal that requires the use of large amounts of oil, and imagine replacing all of that frying with an air fryer instead. The long-term benefits are simply mind-blowing— with just one appliance, you’ll be cutting out a lot of oil from your diet for days, weeks, months, and years. All the while eating the crispy, crunchy things you like.

2. Safer and Faster Than Deep Frying

Air Frying is safer than deep frying not only diet-wise but also for your skin. Think back to all the times you got scalds and burns from hot oil because it was splashing around, yet you had to monitor what you were cooking to avoid getting it burnt and ruining dinner. Or even the days when you mistakenly let the oil overheat, and it burst into flames with your precious chicken wings. 

These can be avoided with an air fryer. All you need to do is place the food in it, set the timer, and walk away. It also cuts cooking time by over half, as most air fryers will cook in 3-4 minutes, what would normally take ten minutes with deep frying. This way, you can conveniently eliminate extended periods of standing over a pot of boiling oil. Now, you can multitask freely and get dinner done in time to sit and enjoy with your family. 

This can also be an amazing game changer for people with asthmatic conditions. No need to risk wheezing because of a smoking pot of oil or having to do without the foods you enjoy eating. 

3. Less Heat and Less Electricity

Deep frying releases tremendous heat and takes such a long time. If you have a small kitchen, you’ll likely find this can be a hellish situation. An air fryer makes it possible to avoid all the heat and smoke that comes with cooking using large quantities of oil. But not only does it cut down on the unnecessary heat produced in the home, you’re going to love the fact that it’ll also help you save some dollars in the long run. 

Generally, Air fryers use about 1200-1800 watts of energy per hour, compared to ovens, electric cookers, and deep fryers, which can use over 3000 watts per hour. And guess what? You don’t even need your air fryer to run longer than a few minutes because it cooks food super fast. You’ll also be saving costs on cooking gas if that’s what you use.

Should I also talk about the fact that you won’t need to add a huge jar of oil to your grocery list every other week? Watch that jar of oil last longer than it ever has. So, an air fryer won’t be just another fancy addition to your kitchen counter. It’s a pretty nice investment.

4. Versatility 

Another remarkable feature of air fryers is how they can be used for multiple purposes. Asides from your chicken wings, breast cuts, and French fries, there are several other things you can pop into the air fryer for astonishing results. They often come with different settings that allow you to bake, toast, and even grill food. So, you can make quick snacks like cupcakes and cookies in record time. The possibilities are almost endless, and you’ll have a swell time trying out the hundreds of recipes that are now available specifically for air fryer use. 

Asides from making food from scratch, it also gives amazing results for reheating takeout, frozen foods, and leftovers from your fridge. Say goodbye to soggy leftovers with cold spots in between. This includes pizza slices— once you get the timing and temperature right, they’ll come out tasting even better than when they were first made. 

5. A Cleaner Kitchen 

Cleaning grease can be messy and difficult, especially when it has been left to build up for a while. You know those nasty oil splatters all over the kitchen walls that accumulate over time and deface the space? You can prevent that by using an air fryer so you don’t have to deal with the messiness of deep frying. Cleaning the stovetop is also easier when it’s not covered in oil. So you can have a cleaner grease-free kitchen. Thankfully, the fryer compartments are also easy to clean, and many models are dishwasher-safe. 

Quick cooking without oil splatters and easy cleaning? Sounds like bliss. Another helpful tip is to save your oven for large cooking or complex recipes while you put your air fryer to work every other day. This will reduce how often it gets dirty and how often you need to give it a wipe down. We all know cleaning ovens can be such a Herculean task. 

Any Downsides to Having an Air Fryer?

The hot air used in an air fryer is produced by an in-built fan, and while it gets the job done, it’s nothing close to being silent. So, while it has many advantages to love, this could be unpleasant for some people. This noise is, however, not unbearable, and since you only need it to run for a short time, you can easily overlook this one major shortcoming for its many other benefits. 

You also need to know that while the air fryer expertly simulates the Maillard effect, which is the browning and crisping of food, there is still a difference in taste and texture between air-fried and deep-fried foods. 

Will you be embracing the Oil-Free side?