I purchased an air fryer, and I wasn’t sure what it was, how it operated, or why I would want one at first. So that piqued my interest in the benefits of using an air fryer.

Here’s what I discovered from reading and trial and error:

The ability to get dishes hot and crispy with little to no oil is one of the benefits of an air fryer. By reducing the amount of oil used without sacrificing flavor, you can save a lot of fat and calories. However, there are additional benefits, such as the ability to cook healthful foods faster than baking and the relatively simple cleaning.

But there’s a lot more to air fryers than that, so let’s look at all of its benefits and drawbacks, as well as answer some of the most often asked questions.

What is an air fryer, and how does it work?

Although air fryers were initially being patented in 2005, comparable devices have been available since the 1990s. They were created as a technique to mimic deep frying without the fat and calories associated with drowning food in hot oil.

Air fryers function by blowing hot air around the food that has been sprayed or coated with oil. As the air circulates, the oil is circulated, resulting in a crunchy, crispy feel on whatever you’re cooking.

The usage of the Maillard reaction is deep fryers to produce crispy food.

The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids that gives food a crispy texture and darkens the color. The name is after the French chemist Louis-Camille Maillard. Fryers may imitate the Maillard process by coating your food in a thin layer of oil and circulating hot air (typically approximately 400°) around it, simultaneously heating the food and initiating the Maillard reaction.

Air fryers, unlike deep fryers, may perform the Maillard reaction, allowing them to “cook” things like fries, chips, meat, breaded food, and vegetables with nearly no oil. Air frying frequently takes less than a tablespoon of oil, and in some cases, much less. A plastic smell is something you would not expect from a new air fryer the first time you use it.

Are there various kinds of air fryers?

The Air fryers are divided into two categories:

Paddle type air fryers
Air fryers in baskets

My air fryer is a basket-style air fryer. A vast metal jar sits within the air fryer, followed by a basket with several holes. The holes in the basket allow heated air (and a smidgeon of oil) to circulate through and around the food you put in the basket. Most basket air fryer recipes call for stirring the food once during the cooking procedure. These varieties can handle sauces and other liquids that won’t work in a basket air fryer since the interior food hopper has a stirring paddle.

On the other hand, paddle-style air fryers are more “set it and forget it,” as they automatically agitate the food while it cooks. Paddle air fryers are often more expensive than basket air fryers. The paddle air fryer did not convince me that it is worth the money when it’s so easy to pull out the basket and give it a quick stir.

Is an air fryer a better option than a conventional oven?

In the end, these two kitchen equipment are opposed. Each has its own set of pros, problems, and benefits. The air fryer is meant to take the place of a deep fryer, not an oven. However, you can do a lot of things with an air fryer that you wouldn’t be able to accomplish in an oven. When you don’t use the oven, you’re saying:

There is no need to preheat the oven (no preheating is needed in the air fryer, although some recipes suggest it)
Not having to heat up the entire kitchen (proper on those hot summer days)
Cooking times are frequently shorter.
Cleanup is a breeze (comparing it to cleaning up any messes in an oven)
Cooking food in the oven is essentially baking unless you have a convection oven. Yes, you can bread chicken and bake it, and the results are frequently excellent.

The disadvantages of utilizing an air fryer instead of an oven are primarily related to the amount of food that can be cooked in the air fryer versus the oven.

As a result, if you want to create air-fried chicken for 20 people, it will likely take a long time in an air fryer because you can only fit 3-4 pieces at a time.

Is it true that an air fryer is speedier than a conventional oven?

As previously said, the air fryer does not require preheating, so you’ll save at least 10-15 minutes by not having to wait for your oven to heat up. As an example, take breaded fried chicken drumsticks. You might have your chicken ready in 30 minutes if you use an air fryer set to 375°. In a standard oven, bake for 1 hour at 350°F, flipping the pieces halfway through. As a result, the air fryer can save you up to half the time it takes to cook the same items in the oven.

Is it possible to bake in air fryers?

Yes, you can bake in an air fryer in a nutshell.

In reality, there are a plethora of recipes for cakes, pies, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, and, of course, donuts available on the internet.

As previously said, air fryers function by circulating hot air over the food, similar to how a convection oven works. Because the air fryer my wife purchased me is on the small side, I’d have to prepare desserts in small ramekins or a smaller pie dish if I wanted to use it for baking.

However, specific air fryers, such as the Tidylife 5.8 QT Air Fryer, have enormous capacities.

Tifylife’s air fryer is incredible!

Dishwasher safe, free shipping, auto-shut-off, BPA-free, hundreds of positive ratings, and large enough to hold a whole chicken

Is it worthwhile to invest in air fryers?

The majority of air fryers are under $100, and as a result, none of them will break the bank.

That stated, whether or not it’s “worth it” depends on how frequently you’ll use it. For instance, I used to own an espresso machine. I love coffee, but how often do you think I actually grind espresso beans and foam milk? IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL THAT OFTEN.

As a result, while the equipment I had was excellent, it wasn’t “worth it” in the end because I rarely, if ever, utilized it. If, on the other hand, you’re serious about eating better and reducing your reliance on fried foods, and you’re willing to put in the effort, the air fryer is well “worth it.”

Read some of the recipes that come with most, or look them up online, and commit to using them at least once or twice a week until you feel comfortable with them. Otherwise, like my espresso machine, it’ll just sit on your counter collecting dust.

Is it safe to use an air fryer?

The majority of consumers purchase an air fryer in order to eat healthily. As a result, you might be surprised to learn that many individuals Google if air fryers are harmful. In the end, the answer is no; there is no scientific evidence or research suggesting air frying is harmful.

Concerns over a dangerous substance called acrylamide, which is considered to be a carcinogen, sparked the toxicity stories. It is formed when certain plants containing the aminoacid asparagine (such as potatoes) are heated.

As a result, foods like french fries and potato chips contain trace amounts of acrylamide, regardless of how they are prepared. However, they can also be found in a variety of other foods that most of us consume on a daily basis:

Coffee
Cookies
Cereals for breakfast
Black olives in a can

Acrylamide and polyacrylamide are utilized in the production of paper and plastics, and they are also found in cigarette smoke. While acrylamide is a cause for worry, the air fryer isn’t any worse than any other technique of heating vegetables containing amino acid asparagines.

Are Air Fryers safe to use?

To many different people, “healthy” can mean a variety of things. As a result, some people who wish to be “healthy” choose to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, while others choose the ketogenic diet. Finally, suppose you were previously doing a lot of pan-frying or deep-frying. In that case, the air fryer will save you fat and calories. Suppose you weren’t previously frying a lot. In that case, the air fryer might not be any healthier than what you were baking, boiling, braising, or sautéing before. However, suppose you want to reduce calories and fat while also reducing frying. In that case, the air fryer is undoubtedly the healthier option.

Is it necessary to use oil in an air fryer?

Yes, in a nutshell, although specific recipes make it optional.

Even if you use oil, it’s usually only a tablespoon or a fast spray from a container of spray oil. An air fryer uses significantly less oil than deep frying, which involves immersing food in cups of oil or even sautéing or pan-frying, which requires multiple tablespoons of oil.

To get the most satisfactory results from your air fryer, toss your food with a light drizzle of oil or a quick spray, thoroughly mix it, and then place it in the air fryer to cook. APPLY OIL TO THE FOOD BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE AIR FRYER, NOT TO THE AIR FRYER.

In an air fryer, what things can you cook?

The air fryer is incredibly versatile, allowing you to make everything from French fries to cheesecake, as well as a plethora of other dishes.

In the air fryer, I particularly enjoy cauliflower and broccoli. I break them into little chunks, sprinkle them with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, and sometimes a pinch of cayenne, then cook them in the air fryer for about 15 minutes at 350°. They come out tender but crispy, with a good crunch.

But that’s only scraping the surface of what an air fryer can do. They’re also fantastic for:

Ravioli Cookies
Cakes made of lava
Seeds from pumpkins
Tenders of chicken
Hard-boiled eggs
French fries (both fresh and frozen) function beautifully in an air fryer.

The oil you use on your fries DOES matter, whether you’re using an air fryer or another way of frying.

Which air fryer is the best on the market?

The adjective “best” is highly subjective.

Some are bigger than others, and some have different characteristics that others don’t (like auto-shut-off). The removable sections are dishwasher safe, and most have a respectable volume ranging from 3 to 6 quarts.

However, let’s only consider air fryers with 4.5 ratings or higher and exclude any with fewer than 100 reviews or more than 5% of the reviews being 1 star. One air fryer stands out above the others.

The OMORC Air Fryer XL, 5.8QT has the following features:

There are almost 500 reviews available.
With only 2% negative reviews, the star rating is outstanding.
This is an Amazon’s Choice item.
Included was a recipe book.
Fries, ribs, shrimp, cake, chicken, steak, and fish are among the seven cooking presets.
Dishwasher-friendly.

13 Key Benefits of Using an Air Fryer

1. Cooking time in the oven is cut in half.

In a test, utilizing an air fryer at 375°, chicken drumsticks might be ready in 30 minutes. In a standard oven, bake for 1 hour at 350°F, flipping the pieces halfway through. As a result, the air fryer can save you up to half the time it takes to cook the same items in the oven, and that’s not even taking into account the time it takes to preheat your oven.

2. Use as little as one tablespoon of oil to fry food.

Most air fryer fried recipes only call for one tablespoon of oil or a few sprays of spray oil. In a deep fryer, your food would be submerged in many cups of oil, and even pan-frying would take up to a cup.

3. You can cook a variety of foods without using any oil.

The air fryer excels at baking and sweets, and many recipes require no additional oil.

4. Using an air fryer on a daily basis can help you save money on cooking oil.

If you are regularly using a deep fryer or even pan-frying and sautéing. In that case, you’ll use a lot less oil than previously used, saving you money at the supermarket. You won’t have to worry about clogging your pipes by disposing of excessive amounts of oil.

5. When compared to frying or sautéing, it significantly cuts both calories and fat in your food.

When compared to deep frying, air fryers use up to 90% less oil. If you air fry, you will save a large number of calories and fat. A small order of fries from your favorite fast-food joint, for example, has between 250 and 400 calories and 2-4 grams of saturated fat. If your daily calorie intake is around 2,000 calories, an order of fries accounts for 20% of your daily calorie intake.

By comparison, air frying cuts calories by half or more (depending on whose fast-food restaurant’s nutritional data you’re using). Saturated fat is reduced to around 1 gram by air frying those fries.

6. Dishwasher-safe parts are available.

Air fryer baskets can be removed from the dishwasher and briefly washed of contaminants before returning to the dishwasher. Cleaning up may be done in under a minute.

7. It does not produce the same amount of heat in the kitchen as an oven.

Even the best-insulated house can heat up in the summer when you turn on the oven for dinner. On the other hand, the air fryer produces no ambient heat, and when it’s cooking, the unit is only slightly warm to the touch on the outside.

8. It doesn’t stink like a deep fryer in the kitchen.

Deep fryers cook your food at a high temperature. Because they are often open on the top and emit a lot of heat and aromas, your entire house may smell like fried foods after a quick fry. That scent might be a lot worse if you fried up some fish tacos (yum).

9. Food is completely enclosed; thus, there are no splatters.

Not only is the air fryer exceedingly easy to clean, but it also makes almost no mess. There will be no splatter, no oily residue, and no mess on the exterior of the air fryer or on the counter because the food is totally contained inside the basket.

10. This is a fantastic technique to get youngsters to eat their vegetables.

As I previously stated, I go crazy when I bake broccoli or cauliflower in our air fryer. I toss the pieces in a small amount of oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook them. And I give them to neighborhood kids, and they love it.

11. It’s pretty simple to use!

Our air fryer is so simple to use that I used to believe I was doing something wrong. Mine sets the time and temperature, and that’s it. Some of the more sophisticated ones make it even easier by including settings for various sorts of food.

There are a plethora of recipes available online, and practically every air fryer comes with a recipe book. There aren’t many appliances that can prepare dinner from start to finish in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup, but this is one of them!

12. The ideal meal-preparation tool for working parents or college students.

Air fryers are THE solution for exhausted and anxious parents wanting to prepare a quick and healthy lunch for their children after a hard day. They’re also excellent for busy people, such as college students or seniors, and, of course, people who don’t want to cook because they’re so simple, easy, and fool-proof.

13. They’re adaptable — from fries to cheesecake and everything in between!

It’d be far easier to develop a list of things air fryers cannot make.

They’re natural with most meats and vegetables. You can bake cookies, cakes, pies, cheesecake, and yes, donuts in an air fryer, but you can also bake cookies, cakes, pies, cheesecake, and so much more. If I had the space, I’d hire two or three of these people so that I could run many courses at once.

Have I covered all of your concerns about the advantages of air fryers?

In this piece, I looked at my favorite new tiny kitchen item, the air fryer, which my wife gave me for Christmas.

I looked over all of the advantages and disadvantages, addressed all of the most common questions regarding air fryers, and listed all of the top advantages of air fryers so you can determine if buying one is suitable for you. I’m not sure if I’d call an air fryer a necessary little kitchen item. Still, it’s quickly becoming one in our household.

Top 13 Advantages of Using an Air Fryer And Know Which One is the Best!