The quick answer is, an air fryer is a simply a smaller convection oven with a catchy name. There is no actual frying going on inside an air fryer—that's because an air fryer cooks food via convection baking. So air fryers are, in essence, convection ovens.
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.
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-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Research shows that air fryers are more energy efficient than using an oven and that means savings on energy bills. They are healthier than deep frying or using an oil-soaked frying pan so there are some health benefits too.
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.
Toasting bread in the air fryer is about as easy as it gets. Add the bread to the air fryer and cook at 390ºF until toasted to your liking. For me, this is around 4-5 minutes. Don't forget to flip halfway through for even toasting!
Preheat an air fryer to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place eggs in the air fryer basket. Cook eggs in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes. Transfer eggs to a cold water bath until fully cooled, 8 to 10 minutes.
Tips for the Perfect Fried Egg in an Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 370 °F (187 °C) for 3 minutes and don't forget to place the egg dishes inside. Once you crack the eggs into hot ramekins, the eggs will start cooking immediately. Cook your eggs on air fry mode (air crisp setting).
Air Fryer Frozen Chips
Add the frozen chips to the air fryer basket and set off at 200C (400F) and cook for 8 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of the chips), shaking halfway through to prevent them from sticking to the basket. What is this? Pretty simple!
Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Arrange the sausages in a single layer in an air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 180C and cook for 10-15 mins, turning every 5 mins, until the sausages are cooked through.
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.
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.
Professional chefs have been utilizing convection cooking—fine, air frying—to quickly cook everything from potatoes to roasted veggies and more for decades.
Veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak.
So, the question many people are asking is, can you put paper towels in air fryer? The answer is no; you can not! If you want to use them, they will pose a fire hazard and cause a fire in your home and your air fryer to combust. So, never, ever use a paper towel in the air fryer!
Crowding too many chips in the air fryer basket will also cause uneven cooking and soggy chips. Place the chips in a mostly single layer, or criss-cross them over each other and shake the basket a few times during the cooking process, to toss the chips and evenly cook them. Too much oil can also cause soggy chips.
To reheat McDonald's fries in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to its highest setting (usually 400°F), add the cold french fries, and cook for 1 minute. Give the air-fryer basket a good shake to move the fries around, continue air frying for 1 to 2 minutes until crisp, then toss with a pinch of salt before serving.
Air fry those babies!
That's right, from frozen. Take your frozen, uncooked sausages and place them directly into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Then, shut the lid and let them begin cooking. Cook sausages for 5 minutes, then flip them all over.
Any glass you use in an air fryer should be tempered and oven-safe. The best options for air fryer cooking are those glasses made of borosilicate glass, like the well-known brand Pyrex. What is this? This particular type of glass is made in a 1000 degree F oven, making it super durable!