The food world is constantly seeing new trends. For some time, everyone had a cake pop maker, and then it was espresso and commercial-grade coffee makers, and even before that, it was a grill that automatically strained extra fat and grease from whatever was cooking. And now, it seems that the cooking gadget that's on everyone's minds - and in everyone's kitchens - is an air fryer. There has been some speculation around why this is such a worthy thing to have and whether or not it's as great as it seems (what's the fun of a chicken wing without some spare grease?).
The theory is to have a healthier, cleaner way to fry foods, but that's not all an air fryer does. Attached to all of these possibilities, however, is a price tag, and it's one that not everyone will be in agreement with. There's also the question of counter space and how easy it can be to clean, along with its limitations. In short, there are questions... And we have some answers.
What, Exactly, Is An Air Fryer, And What Can It Do?
An air fryer has laid the claim to fame that it can do all the work of a traditional fryer but with far less oil and in a much healthier way. With so many people looking to opt for cleaner cooking methods and foods that are lower in saturated fat and oil, the air fryer seems like the perfect answer. When it comes down to it, though, there is a science behind frying things to crisp, golden-brown perfection, and the biggest question is whether or not this machine can accomplish that just as well as the old-fashioned method.
The air fryer functions very much as a smaller, more convenient convection oven. The fact that the size of the fryer itself is much smaller means that cooking times tend to be cut down drastically, as opposed to an open-basket fryer or an oven, where there's so much space for air circulation. An air fryer works by forcing extremely hot air down and around food - truly in a convection oven method - in order to cook it to the perfect crispness. Therefore, as opposed to hot oil cooking the food, it's actually done via hot air, which might seem strange... except for the fact that it works.
For those who thoroughly enjoy their fried foods (french fries, fried pickles, anything breaded), it's definitely a worthy solution to the problem of having too much oil and, by extension, too much of a mess. In terms of what an air fryer can accomplish, anything just short of a liquid is pretty much fair game. In some cases, it can be a challenge to figure out what's been deep-fried traditionally, and what's been air-fried, simply because the new-age heating method is so effective at crisping up whatever food is within its vicinity.
Are There Limitations, And What Are The Drawbacks?
Making the argument that an air fryer is tough to clean doesn't really apply since many parts are removable and can go straight into the dishwasher. Alternatively, there should be a minimal mess when using one of these, if any mess at all, since liquids are a no-go. Frozen things can be fried and the air fryer does a good job of that, which makes appetizer-style snacks and dinner sides a breeze to finish. Another bonus is that while something is cooking in the air fryer, it does leave both the stovetop as well as the oven open for anything. That makes this a time-saving and space-saving means by which to cook things.
Alternatively, the price could be a drawback for those who don't eat many fried foods. Considering the fact that it does require some counter space, it's not always the best gadget to spend money on if space is in short supply. Speaking of space, the interior of an air fryer is nothing like having the space inside an oven - therefore, while it's good for a few servings at a time, it's not something that can take on an entire Thanksgiving dinner in one fell swoop. Larger meals will need to be cooked in batches which can obviously be somewhat of a hassle and an annoyance for those who are short on time. It is an easy piece of kitchen equipment to use but it might take a minute to get the hang of what to fry and how to do it, so that's something to consider, as well. Luckily, there are plenty of recipes and how-to's out there!