Studies have shown that air-fried foods cut calories by 70-80% as a result of using less fat and oil. What's more, the air frying process has been shown to reduce exposure to carcinogens that result from deep frying in oil.
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 themselves aren't a cause of cancer, but air frying does produce certain compounds such as acrylamide, which is considered a "probable" carcinogen.
Despite this, professional chefs and culinary experts alike seem to hate the thing. You don't have to look far to find examples, either: Pretty much every YouTube cooking video involving a chef and an air fryer is riddled with disdain. "It's just a convection oven," they whinge.
Reduced Taste Quality. Out of the top three reasons restaurants don't use air fryers, the taste is the leading cause. Air fryers have numerous benefits and can cook food efficiently. However, the taste can be subpar compared to other cooking methods available at the commercial level.
The experts are divided – restaurant critic Jay Rayner declared air fryer chips “dull, dry and very sad”, while Gordon Ramsay loves them and has published air fryer recipes.
Benefits of an Air Fryer
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.
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.
You want to cook starchy foods until golden brown and not charred to a crisp. Keep an eye on your air-fried foods and pull them out before they get too dark! Lastly, store your potatoes in a dark, cool spot like a pantry cupboard versus the refrigerator.
This being said, if little to no oil is being added to the dishes you're making in the air fryer, those dishes are just as healthy as if you would have baked them. The nutritionals aren't changing, just the methodology, so air fry to your heart's content!
Method. Pierce the sausages a few times all over using a sharp knife (this is optional, but will help release more fat). 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.
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.
Professional chefs have been utilizing convection cooking—fine, air frying—to quickly cook everything from potatoes to roasted veggies and more for decades.
Converting oven recipes for your air fryer
When taking a recipe from oven to air fryer, the general rule is to reduce the temperature by 20ºC – 30ºC, and cook for 20% less time.
Once the chicken is fully coated, put the chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side down. Air fry for 10 minutes at 380F, then use tongs to flip over so the skin side is facing up. This will help the skin get the most air time and get as crispy as possible.
Instructions. Add frozen chips to air fryer basket and cook at 200C (400F) for 8 - 20 minutes (see notes). Shake every 5 minutes and cook for longer if required. If the chips aren't crisping up enough spray a little oil on them.
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.
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.
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.
It depends! If speed is important and you want to enjoy crispy foods without having to deep fry, you'll probably want to buy an air fryer. If you're looking for a mini oven that can heat things up without warming your whole house, a toaster oven is a great investment.
Another called it “a total gamechanger when it comes to cooking”, while Gordon Ramsay claimed the results are like food “cooked in oil, but [the air fryer] locks in the juice and the flavour is extraordinary”.