How air fryers work

The last appliance you absolutely must have in your kitchen is a air fryerbut for many users it is a mysterious object, used by influencers or creator.

So let’s see how does the air fryer work And why buy it: if in fact you are looking for a way to cook faster and cheaper than the oven, this is the perfect solution for you.

Not only that, but as the name suggests, air fryers allow you to fry, but in a healthier way and without too much fat. Let’s find out all aspects of this household appliance widely used by enthusiasts of light and healthy cuisine, and which you probably can’t wait to have on your counter.

What is an air fryer

There air fryer it is a small kitchen appliance (but can also be integrated into an oven) which is used, as the name suggests, for frying.

In reality, however, it is not a fryer in the true sense of the term, but is a variant of one convection oven at high intensity. Unlike one fryer normal, in fact an air fryer does not require large quantities of oil for frying. The conductor of heat is in fact a strong jet of hot air placed in the cooking chamber.

This allows you to delete the part harmful to health of frying (i.e. the quantity of fats and oils), and opens the door to other types of cooking.

The types of air fryers

Generally air fryers are countertop objects, therefore small in size, but in some cases they are integrated into ovens.

In the first case, they are equipped with a cooking chamber more or less small in which you put the food. In the second case, they have greater versatility and allow you to cook larger quantities of food.

How an air fryer works

An air fryer uses a jet of very hot air to heat food. The process occurs by exploiting the combination of two heat transfer mechanisms, which comes from a heating element located near the top of the fryer.

The first is the simple radiation thermal: the heat is radiated directly from the heating element to the cooking chamber. The second, the convection actual, occurs thanks to the presence of a fan which circulates the hot air inside the cooking chamber.

This combination creates heat transfer very intense, which allows you to heat foods in a manner not unlike that of frying.

Most models do not require the use of oilalthough there are those who prefer to sprinkle a small amount at the base or on top of the food to facilitate cooking and add a hint of flavour.

How to use an air fryer

For use the air fryer simply insert the plug into the electrical socket, place the food you want to fry in the appropriate container, select the program cooking plate on the base of the food and turn it on.

Most of the latest generation air fryers have several programs that can be selected via screenand often includes a recipe book for cooking different foods.

By setting a specific program, which corresponds to a certain cooking time and temperature, you can cook different foods. For example, they can fry the potatoes or other vegetables, fresh or frozen, or you can use it to cook chicken or fish pieces, hamburgers and other types of meat. And why not use it to reheat dishes already prepared and stored in the refrigerator?

Alternatively, they can be set manually desired temperature And cooking time.

What can you cook with an air fryer

An air fryer doesn’t just fry, but allows you to cook any type of food.

Keep in mind, however, that solid foods with a not particularly high water content have a better yield, at least as far as nutrition is concerned frying.

Avoid foods immersed in wet batter, as you otherwise would in a traditional air fryer, and delicate foods or leafy greens like spinach.

For example, vegetables like broccoli And sprouts of Brussels are simpler ingredients than lettuce or cucumbers. If you want to take advantage of the frying function, that is, cooking with a crispy crust, chicken and potatoes are certainly classic ingredients. But salmon, prawns, tofu, steaks, as well as courgettes or cauliflowers also do particularly well.

As a general tip, cut vegetables and potatoes into smaller pieces to make it easier for the hot air to reach the surface and brown them more evenly. For meat and fish, make sure they are dry before adding them to the basket.

What is the difference with the convection oven

At this point you may be wondering what the difference is between an air fryer and a regular one convection oven: both heat with hot air and use a fan to convey it to the food.

One difference could be the dimensions: Most air fryers are small countertop items, although they can also be built into conventional ovens.

But above all it is the type of cooking. Air fryers and ovens with air frying capabilities are capable of creating an exterior crisp like traditional fried foods, while convection ovens are better suited for roast And cook baked. Other differences concern the preheating timeThe cooking timethe capacity they heating elements

There are several reasons why buy an air fryer.

Healthier food

First of all the question of health: an air fryer allows you to prepare light and healthier fried foodswithout using vegetable or animal fats, with positive effects on the diet.

Fried foods, thanks to the continuous recirculation of very hot air, are crispy and lighter than traditional frying in a pan or in an oil fryer.

There is no need to dispose of waste oil and they are simple to clean

Once cooking is finished, the container can be removed in a few simple steps and cleaned quickly, without the need for cleaning dispose of the used oil.

Fewer bad smells

Using the air fryer also eliminates the bad smells products from traditional frying.

Reduced energy consumption

Furthermore, air fryers consume less electricity than an oven, as they work in a more efficient way simple and fastand allow you to cook food quicklyin a range from a few minutes to a few dozen depending on the recipe.

To give you an idea, a convection oven has a power that can vary from 2,000 to 5,000 W, while an air fryer has a power between 800 and 2,000 W.

Additionally, an air fryer has a shorter cooking time than an oven, making it more efficient.

They are beautiful to look at

They also have a design often eye-catching, and just as with some coffee makers or juicers many people choose to keep their air fryer on exposed counters or shelves.

Even air fryers (which are also become part of the Istat basket) have their downsides.

You cannot cook large quantities of food

The first of all is that, precisely in light of its small size, it is not possible to prepare large quantities of food. The container in which to insert the food, usually equipped with a handle to be able to remove it easily, usually allows you to prepare a maximum of two-three portions.

For this reason, they are not comfortable devices to use if you have a lot of people over for dinner.

Thorough cleaning is required

It also requires careful cleaning to prevent food residues from remaining inside.

Not all foods are suitable for cooking

Foods fried with an air fryer have characteristics different than foods fried in oil. We talked earlier about the fact that they should have a low water content, which is why foods prepared in an air fryer are very similar to foods cooked in the oven.

It’s not real frying

Air fryers don’t they fry in the true sense of the term, but they cook food very quickly. Unlike an oil fryer, therefore, they are not able to seal the food, cooking the inside and then making the outside crispy.

They require a certain learning period

Operating an air fryer may not be so intuitive. To make the best use of it and exploit all the potential of the air fryer, it is a good idea read the manual carefully and understand what the different programs correspond to.

Help can come from the Internet or social media: as we said, air fryers are very popular among influencers and many chefs like Gordon Ramsay never stop praising them. So here you may find ideas for boil the eggsmake crispy toast and even a cheesecake!

The costs of an air fryer vary greatly based on the power and programs available. The simplest models can have starting prices of around 40 euros, but in these cases it is a good idea to check the reviews and understand if the materials are sufficiently robust and the power is adequate for use.

Evaluate size and power: ranging from 3 liters to even up to 12 litres, while the power varies from 800 to 2000W.

If you use it sporadically, to heat food or prepare small portions, a basic model may be sufficient, while if you intend to use it instead of the oven it is a good idea to invest in a larger model. advanced.

If, however, you use it more often and to prepare larger dishes, it might make sense to invest more, but keep in mind that some models also reach up to 400 euros.