<![CDATA[MarBeth Home Arts - Cooking & Baking]]>

by
Marilyn and Elizabeth Roy

Image of fried chicken and French fries courtesy of Image by Maria Gutebring from Pixabay

table of contents

How Are Air Fryers Different from Deep Fat Fryers?
What Can You Cook with Air Fryers?
How Do Air Fryers Work?
What Are the Different Types of Air Fryers?
What Should You Look for When Buying an Air Fryer?

Conclusion

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in the kitchen for many good reasons.

Food fried in air fryers is as juicy and golden as food from deep fat fryers. However, since you don’t use oil, the food is healthier. Air fryers heat faster than deep fat fryers, so they use less energy. Also, they’re easier to clean. And, almost anything you fry you can cook in an air fryer.

If you want to learn more about why air fryers are such a popular alternative to deep fat fryers, keep reading. You’ll discover what the important features are and how to choose the right one for you and your family.

How Are Air Fryers Different from Deep Fat Fryers?

Air fryers still give you that mouth-watering crispy, golden look, and the food really is as moist and juicy as the food from deep fat fryers. Food cooked in air fryers is healthier though, and contains fewer calories.

In addition, air fryers don't heat up your kitchen, leave an overheated oil odor, or create as great a risk of burns or fires.

You save money because you don't need all the cooking oil required by deep fat fryers.

You also save time. While deep fat fryers may cook faster, they take longer to preheat. So, air fryers cook faster overall. And, because air fryers are much easier to clean than deep fat fryers, you get done with your kitchen clean up duty much faster, too.

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What Can You Cook with Air Fryers?

Here is a list of food that you can cook quickly, more healthily, and with an easier clean up than with a deep fat fryer:

Chicken breast
Chicken wings
Chicken nuggets
Frozen meatballs
Fish
Pork
Other raw meats
French fries and chips
Onion rings
Vegetables, nuts, and seeds
Frozen egg rolls
Frozen cheese sticks
Baked cookies

It all sounds good to us.

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How Do Air Fryers Work?

With only hot air and just a tablespoon of oil, air fryers reach temperatures of 390° to 400° and fry foods to a crispy, golden finish by means of rapid air technology. A heating unit in the top of the fryer warms the air. The hot air is then propelled by a fan that's also in the top of the fryer. The air rapidly circulates around the food, cooking it quickly and evenly. Even though the food is cooked without oil, it is still moist and juicy.

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What Are the Different Types of Air Fryers?

Many air fryers are combined with other appliances. These combined kitchen appliances include:

Fryer toaster ovens
Fryer dehydrators
Fryer rotisseries
Instant pot fryer lids

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What Should You Look for When Buying an Air Fryer?

The features you should consider when deciding which air fryer is right for you and your family include:

Capacity
External size
The controls
Pre-set cooking programs
Performance level
Extra features
Ease of cleaning

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What Is the Capacity and Exterior Size of the Air Fryer?

You should compare the capacity of the fryer to the amount of food that you will want to cook at one time including for special events such as at home football tailgates. You don't want to put too much food in the basket at one time, because the air won't reach the food evenly. The food will be undercooked in some places and overcooked in others.

Air fryers can range from 2 to 5.8 quarts or larger. A standard size fryer for four people is 3.9 quarts. It's easier if you can cook the quantity you need all at one time. However, buying a large fryer that is only used by a couple means you are spending more than you need to spend.

The other size issue is the counter or cupboard space that your air fryer takes up in the kitchen. You need to have enough room to store and use the fryer.

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What Types of Controls Does It Have?

Does the fryer have manual or digital controls, and which do you prefer? How much control do you have in setting an exact temperature? How much accuracy is promised with these controls? You should understand that more sophisticated controls will add to the price of the fryer. So you may want to balance the the sophistication of the controls with the amount you can spend on the fryer and still stay within your budget.

In addition, do you want a digital display for the temperature and timer? Compare prices of fryers with and without digital displays and decide which is best for you

Does It Have Any Pre-Set Programs?

Many fryers have pre-set cooking programs. Explore the options to decide how many of the programs you will use. How difficult the programs are to set? How much do the pre-set programs add to the price? Are the programs worth the extra cost?

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What Type of Performance Can You Expect from It?

Air fryers have different heat levels and wattages that can affect how quickly food is cooked. Read the individual product description to learn how fast the fryer will prepare specific foods

What Extra Features Does It Offer?

Some air fryers can cook more than one item at a time, and some can be used as a grills, steamers, or rotisseries. Air fryers have either baskets or drawers to hold food. Determine how easy the food and the basket or drawers are to remove, especially when they're hot. For safety, look for a cool touch exterior and auto shutoff.

Other items and features included with some air fryers are grill pans, lift trays, tongs, viewing windows, temperature controls, and automatic shut off.

Deciding which features you want depends upon the value different features add for you in comparison to the added cost. However, this is a long term purchase, so you might want to exceed your budget to add some features.

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How Easy Is It to Clean?

The fact that air fryers use only one tablespoon of oil makes them a lot easier to clean than deep fat fryers. You don't have to drain and dispose of cooking oil. You also don't have to work as hard to make sure all the oily residue is removed from the fryer. Learn how many parts of the fryer are dishwasher safe. The easier the fryer is to clean, the more often you will use it.

Conclusion

Unlike deep fat fryers, hot air fryers cook with rapid air technology and little or no oil. So, the food is just as moist, juicy, and golden as food cooked in deep fat fryers, but it is healthier. Air fryers are also easier to clean than deep fat fryers.

Hot air fryers cook a surprising and unexpected variety of foods.

Available in various sizes, hot air fryers offer different features, pre-set programs, and even appliance combinations. As you choose an air fryer, you have to compare the variations and price with your budget to decide which is the best choice for you.

Do you already own an air fryer or cookbook that you'd like to recommend? Do you have some tips for cooking with an air fryer that you'd like to share with others? Add your comments below.

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