Air-fried foods are usually healthier than any casual fried food in oil. Because any air-fried foods exclude the 70% to 80% calories of any everyday fried foods. The cooking method of an air fryer is also safe, as you do not have to deal with any harmful effects of oil while frying.
Like we mentioned above, air fryer chips are still classed as fried foods. But because they use sooo much less oil than traditional frying, air fried chips can be considered 'healthier' than their deep-fried counterparts.
By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying.
Generally, when compared to deep frying, the air fryer is a healthier option because it has fewer calories and can result in less inflammation, potentially decreasing the risk for chronic disease down the line.
Air-frying is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but oven-baking often preserves good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, making oven-baked foods even healthier than most air-fried foods.
You can limit the amount of acrylamide in air-fried food by cooking it for the shortest amount of time and at the lowest temperature necessary to achieve perfect results. French fries should be cooked until golden-brown, and meat should be cooked to a safe internal temperature.
The downside
Air-frying also produces high temperatures at a very rapid rate, thus making it extremely easy to burn food. And charred food may be carcinogenic. In addition, Cucuzza adds, because most devices cook 1 to 3 pounds of food at a time, it can be challenging to air-fry meals for a large family.
Air fryers and health: The bad
But air fryers have perils. They can raise levels of cholesterol oxidation products or COPs, created when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. COPs are associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other diseases in some studies.
One concern are the free radicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines that can result from all fast, high-heat cooking with meat. These compounds do run the risk of cancer. If you are concerned about free radicals, avoid cooking meat with an air fryer.
The pros are that air fryers are versatile, easy-to-use, and very quick allowing you to make healthier food efficiently in your own kitchen. Despite this, these rather large devices quickly take up space on your kitchen counter or in your cupboards and can be tricky to clean.
Frozen fries are still fried! Even worse, many brands use trans fats and palm oil which aren't ideal for heart health. While fries do need a sprinkle of salt, many bagged brands have at least 15% of the daily recommendation of sodium per serving.
McCain oven chips transformed into the best ever air fryer frozen chips. They are crispy, they are delicious and they are so easy to air fry.
Yes, there's a list of our delicious chips that can be cooked in the air fryer below. You can find helpful cooking instructions and a wattage guide on each product page link.
Limited Cooking Applications
Air fryers aren't logical appliances for every restaurant's offerings, as their temperature settings can dry out or burn the food. Investing in combination ovens and deep fryers is a far more valuable and efficient solution for modern establishments.
Air fryers 'fry' your food. Despite its name, an air fryer doesn't actually 'fry' your food at all – it bakes it. "The biggest misconception is that air fryers cook foods the same as deep frying," says Fiona. "They cook as an oven would, so foods are more oven baked than deep fried."
Air fryers may be better for you than deep fryers, but they're only as healthy as the food you put inside. They won't magically remove the saturated fat from bacon or the trans fats from a bag of processed chicken wings. To reap the benefits, reach for better-for-you options like vegetables and lean proteins.
Air fried potatoes are a healthier alternative to deep fried potatoes. They have almost the same roasted texture you'd get at a restaurant without the fat or calories that come from a batter or large amount of cooking oil. And you can feel GOOD about wating them.
Raw Veggie Slices
Raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers are a much healthier alternative to chips, specifically if you want to replace tortilla chips! Sliced raw vegetables still have that nice crunch that regular chips do, but contain virtually zero grams of fat.