The Pros and Cons of Air Fryers

There are a lot of products on TV that are supposed to help you become healthier. For example, you have probably seen products like a juicer that promises to help you get all of the nutrients from fruits and vegetables, a grill that helps drip fat away from your food, or even exercise equipment that helps you get six-pack abs.

What about the latest kitchen appliance—the air fryer. Has this gadget caught your ears, eyes, and stomach? If you love deep-fried foods like chicken wings and french fries, you may want to learn about air fryers.

How does it work?

The air fryer heats the air inside of it and then circulates it around the food with a fan. Since the space that needs to be heated is very small, it can be heated very quickly. It does not have to be preheated like an oven.

Pros

• Operation: Some models come with preprogrammed settings for steak, chicken, fish, french fries—and even cake—which can make them very easy to use.
• Recipes: Most models come with some recipes and have a website that offers additional recipes you can try.
• Speed: Since it does not require preheating and the heat is circulated in a small space, food cooks fast.
• Oil use: For most recipes, you can just brush a little bit of oil on the food.
• Easy cleanup: The cooking component of many models is dishwasher safe, so cleanup is simple.
• Smell: An air fryer does not fill up your house with the smell of the food that you are preparing.

Cons

• Space: Air fryers come in a number of different sizes. Many models are large and can take up a lot of counter space.
• Storage limitations: Since an air fryer can be big, it likely will not fit in your kitchen cabinets for storage. You might have to store it elsewhere in your home.
• Monitoring: Some air fryers may not have any windows, so you cannot see inside. You may have to open and reset it to make sure your food reaches the appropriate temperature.
• Quantity: If you purchase a smaller model, you may have to cook in batches—especially if you are cooking for a large family. This process could be time consuming.

What is on the menu

You can try cooking foods that typically require a deep fryer—like fried chicken, mozzarella sticks, or eggrolls.  With an air fryer, you can cook items like these, use very little oil, and still get crispy food. You could even try using an air fryer for marinated salmon.

Consider this

Even though using an air fryer will cut most of the oil from cooking, you still must remember that eating a healthier balanced diet can improve your overall health.