The top section of an air fryer holds a heating mechanism and fan. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and when you turn it on, hot air rushes down and around the food. This rapid circulation makes the food crisp—much like deep-frying, but without the oil.
No, it doesn't actually fry your food. It runs on circulating hot air, which makes it more like a countertop convection oven than a fryer. So basically, with the air fryer, you're baking. I bake plenty of things that are supposed to be fried -- like tater tots and French fries -- all the time.
For example, if you want to prepare crispy vegetables with little or no fat, you can use a hot air fryer, a pan with non-stick coating or simply choose to fry the vegetables with a little water instead of fat or oil.
But just because we wish to eat healthy, doesn't mean we have to skip out on fried foods. There is a way to fry our favourite pakoda, samosa and French fries without a drop of oil; and that is by using an air fryer! Air fryer uses hot air at high speed to fry all our favourite crispy dishes in minutes.
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.
Non-stick cooking spray has a high smoke point and is the best choice for replacing oils when air frying. For the best results, look for a cooking spray that is low in saturated fats and free of unhealthy chemicals. Use non-stick cooking spray to cook chicken or fish, or to make breading for these foods.
The oven as an alternative
If you choose to cook some fries or nuggets in a conventional oven, you will use less oil, and looking for the proper height of the tray or toss or flip food will be enough for a crispy surface, the closest you are going to be of frying food.
Sautéing and stir-frying—The most common question I get on this topic is how to sauté or stir-fry without butter or oil. The trick is to use small amounts of water or broth, adding just a small amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) at a time. Do this as often as needed to cook and brown the food, without steaming it.
Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.
Thinner chips will turn out crispier than thicker, chunky chips. Try to keep the size of the chips between 5mm-1cm thickness. Be sure to thoroughly dry the chips before air-frying them. Any excess moisture left on the chips will make them soggy.
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.
Which is better between air frying vs. oven baking? 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.
An air fryer is a countertop cooking appliance that combines a heating element and a powerful fan to circulate hot air, similar to a convection oven. Air fryers produce foods that are crispy outside and moist and tender inside without actual frying.
If the air is not hot enough, or if you overcrowd the basket, your food will not come out crispy. Preheat the air fryer for at least 3 minutes, and work in batches if you need to. How do you keep air fried french fries warm and crispy? Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 250°F oven until ready to eat.
Interestingly, cornstarch contains 25 to 28 percent amylose, which is higher than the amount in wheat or potato starch (which are 20 to 22 percent amylose), and this is why cornstarch works the best for making crispy coatings on fried foods.
Soaking the potatoes after they're cut draws out some of the starch which is naturally present in potatoes. This will result in a crispier fry. A thirty minute soak in cold water does the trick but you may soak them longer if you want. After soaking, be sure to dry the potatoes before you fry them.
To fry foods without oil, you can use glucose powder (or dextrose) a natural sugar perfect for frying as it melts at 150 degrees and caramelizes at 190 degrees. It is easily available in supermarkets, patisseries and pharmacies.
But baking powder doesn't only make fried chicken crunchier—it also magically gives nonfried chicken extra-crispy skin. An example of this is our Oven-Fried Chicken Wings, which aren't fried at all.
Is It Safe to Use Aluminum Foil In the Air Fryer? An air fryer is simply a small oven that runs on convection heat. The heat is circulated around a tight space by a powerful fan that lies just below or behind the heating element. Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Air fryers don't use a lot of electricity, with most requiring between 800 and 1800 watts (W) to run, though some large models need more. Air fryers also use less electricity than electric ovens, which typically use around 2,200 W to 5,000 W, and therefore cost more to run.