It all comes down to what you're cooking in your air fryer. You can use it to cook similar things as you would in a normal oven, such as grilled meats and vegetables and homemade chips. But if you're cooking pre-packaged frozen foods that are highly processed, it's not going to be a healthier option.
An air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep frying because it uses little to no oil. This means that you can cook your favorite fried foods without all the unhealthy fat. Air fryers also cook food faster than a traditional oven, so you can have a delicious meal on the table in no time.
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.
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.
That makes air frying a lower-in-fat-and-calories alternative to deep-fat frying. Air fryers significantly reduce cooking time and tend to give off less heat, which makes them ideal for hot-weather cooking.
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.
In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.
Air fryers are affordable, quick and use less oil
Air fryers are popular because they are affordable, don't use as much oil as a traditional fryer, and heat food evenly and quickly. These appliances are much healthier than deep fryers and work more rapidly than a standard convection oven.
Since the splatter is contained inside the kitchen appliance, air frying doesn't make nearly as much of a mess in your kitchen as a deep fryer. Yet, food particles and burnt-on bits can easily build up in the nooks and crannies inside of the main unit and air fryer basket.
The size of the air fryer basket will determine how many rashers you can cook at one time. Set the air fryer to 200C and cook streaky bacon rashers for 6-10 mins – just-cooked bacon will take 6 mins, but crispier bacon will take 9-10 mins. Cook back bacon rashers for 4-8 mins, depending on your preference.
A typical air-fryer (1,000W) costs just 34p per hour, which is roughly the same wattage and energy consumption as a conventional oven, but it heats up quickly and you can cook meals in a fraction of the time, making it a great-value cooking method.
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.
While research suggests that air frying may lead to less production of AGEs compared to deep frying, consuming too many AGEs over time may increase the risks of developing chronic diseases. Still, the air fryer may be particularly helpful when cooking starchy foods like potatoes.
In an air fryer, the food you're cooking also sits inside a perforated basket, allowing lots of air flow all around your food. Combined, this results in food that cooks really fast and with lots of crispy edges, which makes it taste delicious!
It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.
However, it's pretty tempting to throw a little foil in there to catch any drips and make clean-up even easier, but is that allowed? The short answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Also in agreement is nutritionist Rachael Link of Healthline, who writes: “Compared with deep frying, using an air fryer can reduce the amount of fat, calories and potentially harmful compounds in your food.” Another advantage is that they are relatively compact and take up only a limited amount of countertop space.
Because air fryers cook so fast and at high temps, foods like chicken wings, french fries and most frozen apps will get crispy on the outside without drying out on the inside the way they might when stuck in the large oven for 30 or 40 minutes.
Before Using The Air Fryer For The First Time
Remove all the packaging including any plastic wrappers and cardboard ones. Wash the removable basket or tray before use. Turn in the Air fryer and let it run for a couple of minutes without any food inside. This has to be done only one time.
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."