Air Fryers--A Healthier Way to Prepare Fried Favorites
People enjoy fried foods, but there are a lot of problems with the conventional method of frying—especially deep frying. The same oil is used again and again, and the heating creates cancer-causing agents in the oil. Also, people don't want all the calories from the oil that deep fried foods will normally absorb. So an air fryer is a great alternative. An air fryer can give you almost identical results to using a deep fryer--but you'll end up using little to no oil in the process. (Most recipes call for no more than a single tablespoon of oil!) Here is a guide to some of the best air fryers on the market.
Types Air Fryers
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Basic features: The air fryer utilizes both radiation and convection to cook food. The air fryer cooks by means of a heating element above the cooking chamber. The radiation heat penetrates into the food. A fan above the heater sucks the air up, and circulates the air underneath the food through a space in the wall. A heat guide in the bottom of the chamber directs the hot air back up—in this way, it is similar to a convection oven. There is an exhaust system that takes out some air, filters it and releases the internal air pressure.
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Extra features: Some air fryers have a double layer rack, which gives you more space inside the fryer. You can use that to cook two things at once. They should have a digital interface, that includes a built-in timer, an adjustable temperature control, and auto-shut off. Some also have a stand-by mode, that keeps the food warm when the cooking time is finished.
What Reviewers Have to Say
Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:
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Leave space in the cooking chamber: Don't fill the chamber to the top. The more space you leave in the chamber, the crispier the food will be.
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Temperature range: Take note of the temperature range of your model—most go up to 300°.
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Programmable settings: Some fryers are programmable: you can set the time and the temperature, or you can set it according to the type of food that you are trying to prepare. There is less of a chance of burning the food, since you program the cooking time in advance.
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Safety: Frying in general, and deep frying in particular, can be dangerous, due to spattering or spilling hot oil. The air fryer is typically so safe, even a child can use it. (The only concern is in transferring the hot food out of the basket.)Also, it doesn't have the concerns that a microwave has: you can put metal utensils or aluminum foil or the like in a fryer.
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Non-stick surface: Be careful when cleaning the surfaces of the basket and chamber. Don't use an abrasive like Scotch-Brite, so as not to damage the non-stick surface. And use silicon tongs to get the food out, since they are less likely to scratch the surface.
Important Features
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Cleaning: The basket and pan (or “drip tray”) of the air fryer is typically dishwasher-safe. If you choose to wash them by hand, you should clean them after every use. How often you clean the chamber of the fryer itself will depend on the number of times you use it, and the fattiness of the food that you cook in it. It's recommended to clean the chamber by making a solution of 2 spoons of baking soda in a cup of water, and spraying the chamber's surface. Then fill the basket with 400 ml of water, and turn on the fryer at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove the water, and wipe the inside of the chamber with a paper towel.
Note: Do not use any abrasives on it—you may ruin the non-stick surface.
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No need to stir the food: When deep frying, you have to remove the basket and agitate the food a little to make sure that it cooks evenly. But with the air fryer, since the air is circulated through the food, it's not necessary to have to stir the food.
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Versatility: It's not just for frying. You can also use it for roasting, grilling and baking as well. Many times, the air fryer comes with a recipe book—so you can get an idea what are its capabilities.
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Capacity: Check how much the fryer can hold—the largest can hold up to 3.2 liters, whereas others only accommodate 500 g of food at a time.
Top-Rated Brands
Big Boss— is a brand of Emson products, specializing in cooking appliances, blenders and juicers. Emson is short for E. Mishan & Sons, Inc., a family-owned company that was established in the 1940's. They market electrical and non-electrical appliances, beauty and personal care products, as well as pet care, fitness, auto and outdoor products.
GoWise USA-- is a manufacturer of technology, electronics, medical screening equipment, and more. Their headquarters is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Philips— is a Dutch technology company with their headquarters in Amsterdam. It was founded in 1891 by Frederik Philips and his son Gerard. They have products for consumer electronics and appliances, health care, and lighting.
Ivation-- was founded in 2013 and have their headquarters in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. They sell a wide range of appliances for the home, outdoors and office, in a stylish variety of colors.
