An air fryer can be used to cook anything faster and easier. It is a healthier option as it requires little oil but it has a limited capacity to prepare food. Although the food may dry out if not properly used, an air fryer is an energy-efficient cooking method.
It’s a bit like choosing a new toy. There are many factors that go into making a good purchase. In this article, we’re going to break down the pros and cons of using an air fryer.
Air frying is a cooking technique that uses microwaves to cook food. They are not deep-fat fryers and are more like a self-contained oven.
A lot of kitchen appliances have multiple heating elements, which help circulate the hot air around the food. These components work by quickly heating the air around and through the food.
This method works by using the air to cook food quickly, which allows them to crisp and brown on the outside. The result is a moist and crisp inside.
There are a lot of myths around air fryers and it can be hard to sort through all of the details. In this article, I will walk you through the pros and cons of using an air fryer.
Table of Contents
Pros of An Air Fryer
There are a lot of reasons to love an air fryer. One of these is its ability to keep people busy.
1. Healthier Meals
Deep-fried food is often slathered in oil. Instead, air fryers are great for minimizing oil consumption. Just add a little oil to the food and press the cooking cycle. They are also more healthy.
2. Fast Cooking
Air fryers take just a few minutes to preheat, and they keep the heat inside the unit. Also, they are more energy-efficient. When used properly, these units can quickly cook food.
An air fryer is capable of cooking food in batches and at a faster rate than a traditional oven or stovetop. Also, its continuous circulation helps keep the heat inside the body. Having a fryer is also quicker and more efficient.
3. Energy Efficient
Not only will a fryer not heat up your house during the summer, but it will also use up less electricity than traditional appliances. An air fryer is a great way to cook quick and healthy meals. It doesn’t require much power to operate.
4. Versatility
These units can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from air frying to stir-fried chicken, beef, pork, or vegetarian. They can also be used to make various dishes, such as French fries and chicken breast.
5. Space-Saving
Air fryers are typically bigger than coffee makers. They are also smaller and are ideal for areas that don’t have a lot of space or are looking for a quick and easy fix.
6. Easy to Use
Easy to use, these air fryers are designed to be very easy to use. They just follow the instructions to set the temperature and time, and they leave the food in the basket. Once the cooking cycle is complete, just shake the food to get the best results.
Cons Of An Air Fryer
1. Food Burns Out
This short cooking time can be very challenging for new cooks. It can take a lot of time to get used to, especially since most of the time it takes to deep-fry food.
2. Food Dries Out
Not being able to maintain the oil supply can cause the air fryer to get hot. This could cause the food to get dry quickly.
3. Small Volume
An air fryer is a great compact kitchen tool, but it’s also a bit smaller than most people think. If you’re planning on using one to four people, an air fryer is not ideal for everyone. You’ll also need to cook in batches to get the desired results
4. Quality Issues
The metal cooking pans and basket are not very durable and can often require replacing. Also, the printed controls can get damaged and worn off.
Air fryers are usually made from cheap metal parts and are prone to breaking eventually. They may or may not last for long periods of use.
You can avoid many of these issues by purchasing a quality air fryer from a reputable company. Some of these include Phillips, Crisco, and Secura.
5. Not Ideal for Large Families
Most air fryers are designed to make food for up to four people. However, they can also make food for more than four individuals. A convection oven is typically a better option for large families.
A medium-sized fryer can usually handle a couple of dishes, or a main dish and a side dish for one person. A large one can handle a whole chicken, assuming that the other food in the pot is also cooked in another appliance.
6. Learning Curve
Although they are easy to use, they are not without their own idiosyncrasies. It will take a few tries to get used to them, and they do have some recipes that are not as detailed as they should be.
7. Limitations
Air fryers are versatile, but they have limitations as well. For instance, if you have frozen taquitos, they may not fit into some models.
Even with elevated cooking racks and skewers, you can still use an air fryer to cook batches or multiple food items without using another appliance.
What to Know About Air fryers
Although Air fryer is a healthier option for cooking, there are a number of benefits and some concerns to using an air fryer. So, it is better to understand everything about air fryers before purchasing them.
The toaster oven may be a good alternative to the air fryer. It heats up quickly and doesn’t require much time to get hot, but it still delivers consistent results. The sprouts were crisp and brown in a similar manner.
Since the air fryer is quieter than the toaster oven, it doesn’t take up much space in my kitchen. Also, the trays I used for cooking sprouts are small enough to fit in my dishwasher.
Need A Bigger Basket
The first thing that stood out about the air fryer was its size. For me, that was the biggest issue with the Philips TurboStar, which boasted a capacity of just over four cups.
This dish is great with a small portion of shrimp, though I usually use half-pound pieces. It cooks well in the bottom of my fryer basket.
I tried making chicken wings with a bit of air-fried oil, and they turned out incredibly crispy and brown. However, they were too small to comfortably cook on their own.
The air fryer is big enough to fit in the bottom drawer of my dishwasher. Also, it takes up about the size of my Instant Pot.
Loud Noise Of Fan
The air fryer is a great product, but its noise is annoying.
According to Philips, the SonicAir fryer can generate up to 65 decibels, which is similar to a vacuum cleaner. It’s loud enough that my husband wanted to close his office door when I was testing the unit.
America’s Test Kitchen says some models are quieter than others, though most are as loud as a hard-working laptop.
Veggies And Healthy Snacks
Despite the small size, I was able to find several recipes that were air-fried. One of these was Fried Chick Peas, which were incredibly easy to make and taste. They were also incredibly quick and easy to cook.
Both French fries and sweet potato fries came out great. I used the same directions, peeled and chopped the potatoes, then air-fried them.
This dish was incredibly easy to make and incredibly crispy. I was thinking about adding some vegetables to the air fryer to make it a quick and easy side dish.