Introduction
Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional deep frying. These handy kitchen appliances use rapid air circulation and convection technology to “fry” foods with little to no oil, resulting in delicious crispy textures without the fat and calories of deep frying.
Air fryers provide a healthier cooking method to enjoy fried favorites like chicken tenders, french fries, and more. The technology works by circulating hot air at high speed to quickly cook food to a crispy, browned outside. A mechanical fan and heating element rapidly heats up and moves air around the food to simulate deep frying results.
Compared to deep frying which submerges food in liters of hot oil, air frying only requires using a tablespoon or two of oil at most. This significantly reduces the fat and calorie content. Air fryers are popular for those looking to eat healthier versions of traditionally fried foods. The appliances make it easy to enjoy crispy “fried” textures with up to 80% less fat.
As consumers become more health-conscious, air fryers provide an easy way to eliminate most of the oil from fried favorites. Their popularity continues to grow as more home cooks discover their versatility and ability to produce crispy food using little to no oil. Air fryers have proven their staying power as a kitchen appliance staple.
How Air Fryers Work
Air fryers use a rapid air circulation technology to replicate the results of deep frying with little to no oil required. At the heart of an air fryer is a powerful heating element and fan. The heating element typically sits at the top of the air fryer, and as it heats up, the fan blows air across and throughout the interior cooking basket. This rapidly circulates hot air at high speeds to surround the food. The air fryer’s basket has perforations to allow maximum airflow circulation around the food for quick and even cooking.
The high-speed circulation of hot air essentially mimics the crisping and browning results of deep frying by cooking the exterior to become crispy and browned. Since the food is not submerged in oil, air frying significantly reduces the amount of oil needed for cooking by up to 80-90% compared to deep frying. Only a small amount of oil is sometimes used to coat foods to promote browning and crisping, but many foods can be cooked completely oil-free. This makes air frying a healthier cooking method compared to deep frying. Overall, the rapid high-heat airflow technology allows air fryers to achieve the delicious crunch and texture of deep-fried foods while using little to no oil.
Benefits of Air Frying
Air fryers have become popular kitchen appliances because they offer a number of benefits compared to traditional deep frying:
Reduced Fat and Calories
One of the biggest advantages of air fryers is that they significantly reduce the amount of oil needed to cook food. While deep frying submerges food in fat/oil, air frying relies on the rapid circulation of hot air to cook food. This results in up to 80% less fat absorption compared to deep frying. Foods cooked in an air fryer have fewer calories from fat than their deep fried counterparts. For those monitoring their fat or calorie intake, an air fryer provides a healthier cooking method.
Quick and Convenient
Air fryers cook food exceptionally fast, often twice as fast as a conventional oven. The average air fryer can cook fries, chicken wings, and nuggets in 10-15 minutes. Smaller batches may cook even faster. This speed and convenience is ideal for quick weeknight meals. The compact size of most air fryer models allows them to preheat rapidly. Air fryers are relatively easy to use with basic controls and little preheating time required. For busy home cooks, the quick cooking and simplicity of air fryers is a major perk.
Versatile for Many Foods
From frozen foods to homemade dishes, air fryers can handle a versatile array of ingredients. Common foods cooked in air fryers include French fries, chicken (wings, fingers, nuggets), fish, onion rings, vegetables, and more. Air fryers mimic deep fried textures and flavors with minimal oil. Nearly any breaded or crispy food can be made in an air fryer by adjusting times and temperatures as needed. Air fryers offer a healthy and easy way to prepare a variety of delicious foods.
Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer
When searching for the best air fryer for your needs, there are several key factors to take into account:
Size and Capacity
Consider the size of your household and how much food you’ll need to cook at one time. Air fryers range in capacity from 2-7 quarts. A small 2-3 quart air fryer is good for 1-2 people. A medium 3-5 quart size can cook for 3-4 people. Larger families will benefit from a 5-7 quart capacity. You’ll also want to make sure the fryer will fit comfortably on your countertop.
Temperature Range and Presets
Look for an air fryer with a wide temperature range, generally between 180-400°F, to handle anything from frozen foods to crisp vegetables. Models with multiple built-in smart programs and presets make it easy to achieve the right temperature and cook time for foods like fries, chicken, fish and more.
Ease of Cleaning
Since air fryers circulate a lot of air, they can get messy. Seek out a model with dishwasher-safe parts. Nonstick, removable trays and baskets are the easiest to clean. Some air fryers also have self-cleaning modes.
Noise Level
Air fryers can be noisy due to the internal fan that circulates hot air. Look for reviews that test decibel levels if a quiet operation is important to you. Convection fan motors tend to generate less noise. Also consider the location of the air fryer and whether noise will be bothersome.
Top Recommended Air Fryers
When choosing an air fryer, you’ll want one that cooks food evenly, has enough capacity for your family size, and has the features that are important to you. Based on expert tests and buyer reviews, here are some of the top air fryers to consider:
Philips Avance Airfryer
The Philips Avance Airfryer is one of the original air fryers and remains a top pick. It uses Rapid Air TurboStar technology to circulate hot air and has a starfish design at the bottom that allows for maximum air circulation. This makes for quick, crispy, and evenly cooked food with little to no oil needed.
The Philips air fryer comes in 3 quart and 4 quart sizes. It has preset cooking modes for popular foods like fries, meat, fish, and more. The integrated Smart Sensing technology adjusts cooking time and temperature to ensure perfect results. The removable nonstick coated drawer and food basket go right into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Cosori Air Fryer Max XL
For larger families, the Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8 quart capacity is a great choice. The square design allows you to cook larger batches of food at once. It has 11 preset modes including steak, poultry, seafood, shrimp, bacon, frozen foods, French fries, and more.
The Cosori air fryer has a digital touch screen with an intuitive control panel. The nonstick basket is easy to clean and dishwasher safe. This air fryer comes with a 100 original recipes cookbook.
Ninja Foodi
The Ninja Foodi is an air fryer and pressure cooker in one. The pressure cooking setting allows you to cook foods very quickly by raising the boiling point of water. Then use the air fry setting to crisp and brown foods with up to 75% less fat than deep frying.
The Ninja Foodi comes in 6.5 quart and 8 quart sizes. Both feature a ceramic coated crisping basket and nonstick cook & crisp plate. The digital display provides step-by-step guided cooking programs. The lid, crisping basket, and cook & crisp plate are dishwasher safe.
GoWise USA Air Fryer
For a budget friendly option, the GoWise USA Air Fryer is a good choice. It comes in 3.7 quart and 5.8 quart capacities. This air fryer uses rapid air circulation technology and has 8 preset cooking functions including warm-up, chips, chicken, steak, shrimp, cake, and fish.
The GoWise air fryer has an easy touch screen control panel and auto shut off feature. The pan and detachable basket have a nonstick coating for quick cleanup. This is an affordable air fryer with good performance.
Tips for Successful Air Frying
Air fryers can produce crispy and delicious foods, but there are some tips to follow for the best results:
Use small pieces for more even cooking – Cut food into smaller pieces to help them cook faster and more evenly. This is especially important for foods like chicken breasts, potatoes, or other dense items. Smaller pieces expose more surface area to the hot air circulating in the air fryer basket.
Flip or shake halfway through – To prevent burning on one side, open the air fryer basket midway during cooking and flip or shake foods like fries, veggies, or chicken wings. This allows both sides to cook evenly.
Add a light oil mist – A quick spritz of oil helps foods get extra crispy in an air fryer. Use an oil mister to lightly coat foods with a thin layer of oil or cooking spray before air frying. A little oil promotes browning.
Adjust cook times as needed – When trying a new air fryer recipe, keep an eye on foods and adjust cooking times if needed. Air fryers can vary in power, so cooking times may need to be extended or reduced. Check for doneness and add a few extra minutes if items aren’t fully cooked.
Following these tips will help you get the best results from your air fryer for crispy, delicious fried foods with less oil than deep frying. Adjust cook times, flip or shake during cooking, mist with a bit of oil, and cut food into smaller pieces.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the best things about air fryers is that they are relatively easy to use. However, there are a few common mistakes that people make when using air fryers:
Overcrowding the Basket
It’s tempting to want to pack a lot of food into the air fryer basket to cook it all at once. However, overcrowding the basket is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. When the basket is overcrowded, the air can’t circulate properly around the food. This prevents it from crisping up nicely and cooking evenly.
Only fill the basket halfway or less. If needed, cook food in batches to avoid overcrowding. Give the air plenty of space to flow around the food for best results.
Not Preheating Properly
Many air fryer recipes call for preheating the unit before adding food. Preheating is important because it gets the air inside hotter faster so that the food sizzles and browns quickly.
If you skip preheating, food added to a cold air fryer will initially steam from its own moisture rather than crisp up. Always preheat for the recommended time, usually 3-5 minutes.
Using Too Much Oil
While air fryers use significantly less oil than deep frying, using too much oil is still a problem. Excess oil will drip to the bottom of the air fryer basket and smoke.
Use just enough oil to lightly coat foods. Spray oils work well for this. Or brush a thin layer of oil on. Avoid drowning foods in oil prior to air frying.
Following the proper techniques will prevent common mistakes and let you make the most of your air fryer.
Air Fryer Recipes
Air fryers allow you to make a variety of tasty fried foods with less oil and fewer calories. Here are some of the most popular foods to make in your air fryer:
French Fries
Crispy french fries are a favorite snack or side dish that can easily be made in your air fryer. Cut potatoes into thin strips, coat with a small amount of oil, and air fry at 400°F for 15-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
Chicken Wings
Air fried wings are juicy on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. Coat the wings with seasoning or sauce then air fry at 380°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. The basket and racks make it easy to move and flip the wings.
Veggies
From Brussels sprouts to zucchini and eggplant, vegetables come out caramelized and delicious when air fried. Toss veggies in a small amount of oil, season as desired, and fry at 380°F, shaking once or twice until lightly browned.
For more air fryer recipe ideas, check out top recipe sites like AllRecipes, Food Network, and The Spruce Eats. There are tons of options for appetizers, main dishes, sides, and desserts that take advantage of the quick cooking and crisping of the air fryer.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Air fryers require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them operating safely and efficiently. Over time, oil, grease, and food debris can build up both inside the fryer basket and on internal parts like the heating element. Following the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations is important.
Most air fryer baskets and pans are removable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Use hot soapy water to wash the basket, pan, and crisping tray after each use. A soft brush can help remove any stuck-on food. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Non-removable parts like the interior casing and heating element should be wiped down carefully with a soft cloth, sponge, or paper towel. Do not submerge the base orimmerse in water. Check your model’s manual on if/how to clean the fan, filter, and vent.
To prevent grease buildup, give all parts a deeper cleaning periodically by soaking the basket and accessories in hot water with dissolved baking soda. You can also use a baking soda paste with a damp sponge to scrub the interior. Always unplug before cleaning the inside.
Proper air fryer cleaning and taking care of removable parts will prevent food residue from burning and smoking. It also ensures efficient hot air circulation for fast, crispy results every use. With regular maintenance, your air fryer can continue cooking like new.
Conclusion
Air fryers provide a healthy, convenient way to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil. Among the top picks, the Philips Airfryer XXL emerged as the best overall for its large capacity, intuitive controls, and consistent results. The affordable GoWise 8-in-1 XL Air Fryer offers excellent value and multiple functions like dehydrating. Those seeking a compact model should consider the Dash Tasti Crisp for its small footprint and evenly cooked food.
The key benefits of air frying include reducing fat intake up to 80% compared to deep frying, with no sacrifice in taste or texture. Air fryers also promote healthier eating by eliminating most of the oil from fried favorites like chicken wings, french fries, and more. Their convection heating rapidly crisps the outside to mimic deep-fried flavor. Most models have dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup too.
To get the most from your air fryer, use a thin coating of oil for crispy results, preheat properly before cooking, and don’t overcrowd food. Check internal temperatures with a meat thermometer and adjust cook times as needed. Try experimenting with homemade or store-bought air fryer recipes to broaden your repertoire beyond french fries and chicken tenders. With proper care and maintenance, an air fryer can serve as a versatile, everyday cooking appliance for healthier versions of treats like donuts, pizza, and fried chicken.
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