From French Fries to Fried Chicken: How an Air Fryer Can Transform Your Cooking
If you haven’t already got an air fryer then you’re quickly turning into the minority. It seems that they’re absolutely everywhere, with air fryer recipes flooding social media as a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional cooking.
What Exactly Is An Air Fryer And How Does It Work?
Air fryers have exploded in popularity over the last couple of years. These, relatively, compact kitchen appliances have become a staple in many kitchens around the world, famed for their convenience and deliciously cooked foods.
They work by circulating extremely hot air around a chamber with a basket in it. This hot air is generated by an electrical heating element that is then circulated by a powerful fan. Food is placed into the basket and then placed into the main appliance, typically with a very small amount of oil (less than half a teaspoon) but even that isn’t 100% necessary. Hot air is then blown over the food, cooking it for the specified time.
The hot air, when circulated quickly around and over the food cooks it quickly, and evenly, and keeps it from drying out. It results in crispy, browned food that is still tender and moist within. Thanks to this cooking style many people use it to cook foods that need a soft interior with a solid crunch on the outside. French fries, chicken tenders, wings, and fish, these are the air fryer’s famous recipes, but people have created an incredible array of dishes within these versatile appliances.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Have an Air Fryer
These are the core reasons why you should certainly be considering, and then purchasing an air fryer.
1. Less Oil Means Healthier Cooking
It’s fair to say that one of the main draws of using an air fryer is that it gives you the ability to enjoy the same food in a healthier way. You’re able to enjoy all of your favorite fried foods without the worry of adding the extra calories and fat that come from cooking with large quantities of oil. Where traditional methods of cooking such as deep frying or sauteing require large amounts of oil, air frying requires just a fraction.
This is great news for those looking to control their diet or lose weight. Even those that aren’t keeping a close eye on their food intake can enjoy the same flavor without the oily texture.
2. Safely Cook Food Faster
We’re all busy, and often it’s cooking that takes a hit in our daily struggle for free time. Time is of the essence, and preparing food quickly and efficiently is always a bonus in the kitchen. By design, the air fryer cooks quickly thanks to the rapidly circulating hot air. That means items that would take a long time to cook in the conventional oven or stove will only take a fraction of the time in the air fryer.
They’re also incredibly safe appliances to use. Consider that to get a really crispy french fry you’ll likely need to deep fry them. That means using a whole lot of oil at a very high temperature. Deep frying is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do in a kitchen and causes thousands of fires every year, plus even more burns from spluttering oil. Air fryers achieve the same result but in a controlled and contained environment.
3. Satisfyingly Crunchy and Crispy Results
The crunch and crispiness on a perfectly fried piece of food is the stuff of gods. There are few things better than the crispy crust on a chicken tender or the satisfying crunch of a perfectly cooked fry. Air fryers can comfortably achieve this level of crunch and crispiness with minimal amounts of oil. All the texture with less of the unhealthiness.
You can also use the air fryer to get nice crusts on meats and crispy textures on vegetables. You can even use them to reheat leftovers, bringing back the crunchiness of a dish that you thought was gone for good. It makes leftovers less of a boring option and more of a delight.
4. Cook Multiple Foods Separately at the Same Time
Being able to cook multiple foods separately at the same time is a huge time saver. It makes all of your meal prep and cooking so much more efficient. The majority of air fryers are designed to cook multiple foods separately at the same time. By using different trays of baskets you can have all the items cooked at once, similar to how you would have different shelves in an oven. You can save time, effort, and gain a great deal of flexibility in how you cook your food.
If you’re the type of person that regularly cooks for a large family, or you love to host parties, the air fryer allows you to cook high volume in a short amount of time. Meaning you can serve everything at the same time without having to wait. Plus because air fryers are so versatile you could even try cooking both a starter and a main, or a main and a dessert, at the same time.
If you really want to go for efficiency then you might want to consider a microwave air fryer combo that offers incredible cooking versatility.
5. Super Easy to Clean
There aren’t many people in the world that would purposefully choose to spend their time cleaning kitchen appliances. Air fryers are incredibly convenient, and thankfully they’re also designed to be quick and easy to clean. The non-stick coating on both trays and baskets ensures food doesn’t stick and washes off easily, plus many air fryers come with removable and dishwasher-safe parts.
Key Takeaways
If you’re not part of the cult of air frying, just ask your friends if they’ve got one, chances are at least one of them will and they’ll happily tell you all about it! There are lots of budget options available, and trust us when we say that once you get one, you won’t turn back.
- Air Fryers are quickly becoming an essential part of any kitchen.
- They’re versatile, easy to clean, and incredibly effective.