In modern times kitchen-related activities like cooking have been made easier due to technology. Take for instance the air fryers, they use hot air and a small amount of oil or non-at all to mimic deep-frying.
Air air fryer eases the process of deep-frying and its main advantage is, there is a range of things that it can handle. You can use it for French fries, frozen chicken wings to fresh baked cookies. There is a lot to know about air fryers and below are some of them:
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How do air fryers work?
Air fryers are small countertop machines, about the size of a coffee maker. They have a heating mechanism and a fan at the top. The fan pushes heated air around a perforated basket at the bottom of the machine. This is where the food to be prepared goes.
When turned on, the air is passed all around the food at high temperatures. The force of the hot air causes an effect that cooks and crisps the outside of the food, leaving its insides soft.
At the bottom of the machine, there is a chamber that catches any dropping grease as the food cooks.
Are air fryers healthy?
With so many lifestyle diseases today, people are cautious with not only what they consumer, but also how they prepare their meals. That’s why most people are concerned whether air fryers are health or safe to use.
Well, if you belong to this group of people wondering whether air fryers are toxic or good, worry no more. The following are some benefits that this cooking tool offers:
Cuts down on calories intake – Air frying cuts calories intake by up to 70% compared to oil frying and has less fat.
Avoids heart disease- Research has shown that oils used to cook cause disease due to fats that accumulate on heart arteries causing them to narrow down. This is avoided when food is air fried.
Are air fryers worth it?
When considering if you want an air fryer, this question will pop into your mind. Air fryers will give you the same taste on your food and is a healthier option. Another thing to keep in mind while deciding is, it will save up on kitchen space compared to the oven since it can also be used to bake.
They are also easy to use, quicker, and more efficient. With all those great points it’s also worth noting that air fryers are expensive and they also not suitable for a big family. This is because the amount of food they can prepare is of low quantity.
Are air fryers energy efficient?
When speaking of energy efficiency there are a few things to put into consideration. One of them is the time used to prepare the meal. The other thing is the amount of food prepared and lastly, the actual wattage used.
When it comes to air fryers, the time used to prepare a meal is considerably faster than traditional ovens, they are fast and easy to use. When put to scale, the amount of food prepared and the wattage is about 50% lesser than that used in an oven.
With all these data combined, it’s safe to say that an air fryer is energy efficient.
Recipes for air fryers
There is a wide range of foods that can be cooked using an air fryer, but it is exceptionally good at making foods that are typically deep-fried such as French fries. This appliance can also be used to make fried vegetables, meat, and even fish.
Some brands are also equipped with toast and bake settings, they operate like ovens. Even though it has limited space, it gives you the ability to make cookies, lava cakes, and the likes of air-fryer mini Nutella doughnut holes.
Air fryers however can not make all sorts of foods. Some will dry rather than fry, others will overcook while some will just create a mess. For example, broccoli gets very dry and dusty while cheese creates a huge mess.
You should always avoid making foods with batter with air fryers as they only turn chewy and not the crispy you were going for.
Top air fryer brands
Air fryers have become popular and there are several brands in the market. It might prove difficult to choose between these brands picking the one that’s best for you. Below are some of the top brands:
Where to buy air fryers
There is a lot of talk about an air fryer. These countertop devices have both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to health effects. On the brighter side, the advantages supersede the disadvantages. Buy one today from Amazon. Here is a guide on the best air fryers in the market.