What air fryer should we buy?
If you want to change your eating habits and make them healthier, an air fryer is one of the best solutions for this. It prepares dishes quickly, and in most cases you don't even need to use fat. In the air fryer, hot air circulates, which removes moisture from the food. Last but not least, it results in tastier and crispier dishes.
Airfryer cooking uses a heating element and a fan to circulate hot air around the food, creating a crispy outer layer while keeping the inside of the dish tender and juicy.
Unlike traditional frying, which requires a lot of oil and is not as efficient, hot air cooking requires little or no fat. It is also much healthier and cleaner.
What is the difference between regular ovens and air fryers? In fact, both types have quite a few things in common – they use hot air. However, air fryers are smaller and heat up faster. They also cook food more evenly and make it crispier. While in an oven, the heating elements are usually located at the bottom or top.
This can lead to uneven cooking of food. Ovens often, but not always, rely on convection to circulate hot air. It turns out that they are not as efficient as air fryers and their fan-assisted comparison.
Air fryers are a great way to prepare smaller quantities of food. Buying one will add variety to your diet. If you've been cooking mostly fried food before, you won't need to use as much oil with an air fryer.
Besides the advantage of making delicious meals, the appliance can save up to 50% on your energy bill compared to a conventional oven. It uses less energy than a stove. On the other hand, the air fryer prepares tastier food, but in a shorter time.
The appliance is an excellent replacement for a standard air fryer when you want to make delicious fries. You can bake meat, even bake a cake. There are very few dishes that cannot be made in an air fryer.
One of the main advantages of cooking with this appliance is that it is healthier. By reducing the amount of fat you use to prepare a particular dish, you also reduce the extra calories. Food made in an air fryer is easier to digest, compared to that made in a regular deep fryer. This is mainly due to the smaller amount of oil in it.
The versatility of air fryers is another big plus. While many people tend to think of them as appliances for reheating food or making French fries, you can do so much more with them. Whether it's a light appetizer or dessert, you can air fry a wide range of foods. It's invaluable for preparing vegetables, meat, chicken, dehydrating tomatoes, and even cheesecake.
Before you buy such a device, you should know what the advantages of individual models are. When it comes to household appliances, it is advisable to go for the more expensive brands.
When you invest more money in these appliances, you expect them to last longer without any problems. This is especially true for air fryers. Choosing a more expensive model means it has more features, better build quality, and more reliable parts.
It is also important how you will operate the appliance. For people who do not have the habit of cooking too often or for many people, the better option is the cheaper air fryer spare parts. However, if you care about quality dishes and want to have an air fryer on hand that will be reliable for a long time, the best choice is the more expensive models.
Cheaper appliances require more frequent maintenance. In addition, if any of their parts break, the repair will cost you quite a lot. With cheaper appliances, you pay less, but you get a shorter warranty period. And this is completely understandable.
Lower-end models use lower-quality, and therefore cheaper, parts. Replacing them is not worth it. It is better to buy a new appliance. And if you are choosing an air fryer, refrigerator, or other household appliance, go for more expensive models that are equipped with innovative features and quality components.
Choosing an air fryer
There are many brands and models of air fryers on the market, each with its own unique features and benefits. When choosing an air fryer, consider the following factors:
Capacity
Air fryers come in a variety of sizes, so it's important to choose one that fits your needs. If you have a large family or often cook for a lot of people, opt for a model that has the right capacity.
Temperature range
Some air fryers have a wider capacity than others. This allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures. Look for an air fryer that can cook to at least 200° or even higher. Consider the other benefits of the better models. More expensive air fryers can reheat food more slowly and efficiently and dehydrate it.
Cooking presets
Many air fryers come with preset programs designed for different types of food, such as chicken, fish, or vegetables. Using these settings can save you time and make cooking your favorite dishes easier, especially if you're not that experienced as a chef.
Accessories
Some air fryers come with accessories like a baking tray, stackable racks, or other attachments. Think about what accessories you would like your air fryer to have and whether they are included.
To make your air fryer work more efficiently, you need to follow some recommendations. Here are some of them:
Don't overfill your basket.
To ensure that your food cooks evenly, do not overcrowd the appliance. Leave a little space between each food item so that the hot air can circulate freely around it. Otherwise, cooking will take longer and the desired crispiness will not be achieved.
Preheat the appliance
Just like ovens, an air fryer also needs to be preheated. This will help the food cook evenly and become crispy. Set the air fryer to the desired temperature and let it preheat for a few minutes before adding the ingredients.
Grind the oil
While air frying requires little to no oil, adding a small amount can improve the flavor and crispiness of your food. Adding oil will prevent food from sticking to the basket.
Advantages of the air fryer:
Healthier food |
Prepares meals faster |
More economical |
