Air fryers have become increasingly popular. They’re everywhere: online, in stores, and on TV! But are these trendy devices really worth your money? We’re Teko.ph, the largest aircon and appliance services provider in the Philippines, and we’re here to tell you more about air fryers.
If you’re looking for new ways to prepare your favorite dishes but are worried about adding more calories than necessary to your diet (or if frying sounds like too much work) then this innovative machine could be just what you need!
How does an air fryer actually work?
In an air fryer, you put your food in a basket and place it inside the machine. You then close the lid and set your desired cooking temperature. The machine will heat up using hot air and circulate it around your food, cooking it evenly without drying out its moisture. The end result is often a crispy treat!
The critical factor to cooking with it is how much heat you give them—the higher the temperature, the crispier your food will be. The more you use your air fryer, the more you’ll be able to master controlling its temp settings.
What’s great about air fryers?
Air fryers are great because they make it easy to cook healthier meals. They’re great for making meals like French fries and chicken wings without having to deep-fry them. You don’t need to use a liter of oil every time you crave fried food! They’re also easier to clean than conventional ovens and do a better job of crisping food without using much power.
But contrary to what marketers claim, not all foods work well in an air fryer. Some may come out soggy or too dry, so it’s essential to get reviews from friends and family before making any big purchases.
Setting this flaw aside, air fryers are easy to use. Just load in your ingredients, turn the dial or push a button, wait for your dish to cook (or bake!) then take it out when it’s ready. It couldn’t be any simpler!
How are they different from convection ovens?
Air fryers are small and compact. They can fit on your countertop or in a cupboard. Convection ovens or turbo cookers tend to be larger (like a regular oven) so they can’t be stored as easily.
However, air fryers are more expensive than convection ovens, mainly because of the newer technology and perhaps the novelty surrounding it.
Convection ovens use larger fans to circulate hot air throughout the chamber, which is why they’re able to cook food evenly without drying it out like an air fryer tends to.
Although many people prefer convection over air fryers because of their uniform cooking results, there is one disadvantage: energy consumption! Most air fryers use less electricity than ovens or convection cookers. You can simply estimate its power consumption by using our tool here.
What do they cook best?
Air fryers are great for frying, roasting, and baking. They work well with meat or fish but are not ideal for pasta, rice, or other grains. Also, because food doesn’t come into contact with oil in an air fryer, the texture won’t be quite as crispy as it would be when using oil on the stovetop.
If you want to make fried chicken wings or French fries in your air fryer, then you’ll probably want to still spray them with a bit of oil to ensure they aren’t dry and dull. Needless to say, a bit of sprayed oil is still leaps and bounds healthier than deep frying.
Air fryers can be a great addition to your kitchen.
An air fryer is an excellent option if you are looking for a healthier alternative to deep-frying. They’re easy to use and clean up after, can cook your food quickly, and use less oil than traditional frying methods. Besides, they’re also more versatile than their traditional cousins—you can make crispy chicken wings in an air fryer or perfectly golden fish filets with ease.
So, are air fryers worth it?
Well, that depends on what you want them for. But generally, yes, they are!
If you’re looking for a low-fat cooking option that doesn’t sacrifice taste, air fryers may be the solution. They are also perfect if you’re trying to cut back on oil but still want some crunchy textures in your meals.
Plus, they have all kinds of settings, so you can do more than just deep fry. You can also bake and roast in an air fryer! That’s pretty cool if you don’t have room for a regular oven and need something smaller. And don’t forget about the bonus of an easier cleanup!