It uses heat and air to cook food evenly. Air fryers are healthier than regular frying because they don't use as much oil as a deep fryer does, but they give your food an equally satisfying taste. Depending on the recipe, you'll be able to toss your vegetables or meat in a tablespoon or two of oil.
The most obvious difference is their size – air fryers are a countertop appliance and therefore, have a smaller capacity than a traditional oven. This compact size, combined with a powerful heat source and fan, means they can cook food much faster than a traditional oven, often with more even results.
Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, fatty fish and lean meats are generally just as nutritious in the air fryer as in the oven. However, the air fryer isn't a "free pass" to eat unlimited amounts of higher-calorie foods just because it's better than deep frying.
All that said, air fryers do have their disadvantages, too. They cook slower than a microwave, can be a bit noisy, and aren't great for large groups.
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”.
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.
Some things about air frying may not be better for you, though. 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.
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.
Air-fried foods don't taste exactly like deep-fried foods, but they're similar. The outside has the familiar crunch, and the inside is softer. “For people who want to eat healthy, it's a good substitute,” says integrative nutritionist, Marissa Winters, MA, RDN.
Then I spent months testing them, and part of that test was making batch after batch of our Air-Fryer French Fries. My mind was changed. These fries are crispy, fluffy, and salty in the best way, and they taste just like they came out of a deep fryer.
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. The Instant Vortex itself is a good bit of kit.
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.
It Can Aid in Weight Maintenance
That said, if you're using the air fryer to prepare packaged foods like French fries or chicken nuggets, these foods tend to be higher in sodium and contain some saturated fat, so you should avoid eating them every day.
You can limit the amount of acrylamide in air-fried food by cooking it for the shortest amount of time and at the lowest temperature necessary to achieve perfect results. French fries should be cooked until golden-brown, and meat should be cooked to a safe internal temperature.
Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.
Air frying is essentially glorified convection baking — but faster. Air fryers are outfitted with internal heating elements and high-powered convection fans that work to surround your food in hot air and achieve a crispy, golden result that's similar to actual frying — without the oil.
As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.