Are air fryers healthy
Air fryers are definitely here to stay, this kitchen appliance has become a staple for big and small, young and old, men and women alike. It really sounds too good to be true -frying without fat -how is it even possible.
So the next questions come up, if everybody is getting one should I get one? Are they really worth it and perhaps most importantly are air fryers healthy?
We know these and other, are questions you want to know as well, so find below everything you need to know about air fryers and which will help you decide if, are air fryers healthy?
How do air fryers work?
An air fryer is essentially a small, turbo-powered convection oven for your kitchen counter. It speedily circulates hot air around food to cook it quickly. While the air fryer has a removable basket like a deep fryer, instead of submerging the food into hot oil, the items in the basket are baked by the heat from air flowing around them. In other words, it’s the same method as the convection option on a full-size oven or large toaster oven, just miniaturized.
Air fryers vs. other methods
A couple of things to have in mind, food made in an air fryer are still fried. However by using air instead of oil, these appliances offer a more health-conscious way to prepare fried foods. There’s no denying that it’s healthier than deep-frying, but is this method actually healthy?
Foods prepared by other methods, like roasting, baking or sautéing, will have fewer calories than air frying.
Is Air Fryer safer than microwave?
Air frying isn’t as fast as a microwave, but it won’t make your bread or reheated fries soggy and the air frying process is easy to understand.
Unlike a microwave, the air fryer gives you the same browning from the same chemical reaction that gives the great tastes of baking, roasting or broiling. An air fryer is a handy tool for small cooking jobs that microwaves don’t do well.
Is Air Fryer better than ovens?
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around your food. That’s the same approach traditional convection ovens take, but there are a few key differences.
While a full-size convection oven and an air fryer both use a fan to move hot air around, an air fryer circulates the air more rapidly inside a small chamber, speeding up the cooking process. Air fryers also employ a basket to more evenly circulate hot air around the bottom of your food.
Unlike a countertop convection oven, in an air fryer, the air is swirled very quickly in a circular fashion; so it does a better job of reaching all of the surfaces of the food and creating a crisp crust.
Benefits
When trying to determine ‘Are air fryers healthy’ -truth be told, there are many positive things about this must have appliance.
- If you’re all about reduced calorie count and fat content, then an air fryer is definitely for you.
- Ok so, you will use oil, however the fat content will be significantly lower.
- Other benefits include reduced harmful chemicals, you’ll get more food options and you will not have to heat oils.
- Using an air fryer may also contribute to weight loss.
Risks
Let’s be honest here, for every story has a downfall. You might want to take into consideration that:
In addition of the food being still, well friend; because of the air fryer’s construction, it’s not set up to effectively cook foods that are dipped in batter. The liquid drips through the basket and into the bottom of the fryer, making a mess. So if you’re craving calamari, tempura shrimp or buttermilk fried chicken, you can forget it or stick to the traditional method.
And if you have been dreaming of wings or fries for a big crowd, the size of the air fryer may foil your plans. While the manual states that it’s capable of making up to a pound of food at a time, the fryer works best when there’s a single layer of food in its basket. In short, there will be some wait time.
Summary
Studies show that eating fried foods may be associated with numerous adverse effects on health. Although air-fried foods may be healthier than deep-fried foods, it’s important to remember that they are similar to fried food when cooking with oil and fried foods are similar to conventionally fried foods when cooking with oil and eating them on a regular basis.
As for our initial inquest ‘Are air fryers healthy’ -well, plain and simple, you’ll be the judge of that depending of what and how you cook it. One thing is for sure, frying still isn’t the healthiest cooking method.