Lately, I have been focussing on having a healthier lifestyle. And I have been optimizing my life and my kitchen to make sure I continue to eat healthily.
And my air fryer is helping me a great deal in doing this.
An air fryer allows me to use less oil. I can cook delicious and crispy food with a teaspoon of oil (or very less oil). It also helps me to lower my calorie intake.
Air fryers have been there in the market for a decade. It was during the lockdowns that I realized its worth.
Since we were all indoors, people made french fries, crispy chicken, baked food, and reheated pizza in the air fryer.
They started speaking about how they could accomplish good food at home. The word spread through social media, and the air fryer became a must-have.
Let us further understand why air fryers are so popular and a “must-have” in the kitchen. It has replaced ovens in many kitchens and has been really popular among bachelors and busy moms.
Why Are Air Fryers So Popular?
There are many reasons why the air fryer is popular.
Versatile Nature
Air fryers have gained popularity due to the ease with which they can accomplish many tasks.
It can cook all kinds of food- vegetables, meats, cakes, muffins, fries, etc.
You can heat and reheat your chicken and pizza without worrying about food turning soggy or losing its crispness.
Also read: How to Reheat Ribs In Air Fryer?
Cooks Fast
An air fryer gives you cooked food within minutes. You can trust the air fryer for quick results. Just pop in your food, enter the functions, and forget about it!
Compared to traditional stovetops and ovens, an air fryer excels in speed.
Great for health
It is healthy compared to all other kitchen gadgets. An air fryer needs only a teaspoon of oil without compromising the taste.
You can get restaurant-like results within the comfort of your home.
Google trends have shown a sharp increase in popularity from 2019-2021.
The reason was a funny meme that went viral “ Clearly, you don’t own an air fryer”.
The sales sharply increased during the pandemic. People became health conscious and got their hands on the appliance that made fried food without oil!
Also read: How Do Air Fryers Work Without Oil?
Crispy Golden Texture
As the food gets cooked in hot air, its texture turns crispy and tender.
The air fryer gives you similar results just like deep-fried food in restaurants. Unlike fast food joints, you can make sure the food is healthy and fresh.
You can use your favorite oil and cook your favorite piece of meat. I remember how I used to insist on a particular piece of fried chicken. Now I can eat all I want at home.
The best part is that there is almost no change in taste.
Compact and Portable
Air fryers have a signature design that looks quite stylish on the countertop. Due to their compact design, they require less space on the countertop.
This is extremely helpful for small kitchen counters and narrow spaces.
Air fryers are portable. You can easily carry them around. They do not require a lot of accessories. They can be used indoors or outdoors. All you need is a power socket.
Economical and Energy efficient
It is cheaper compared to a convection oven. You can get a decent model for 100 dollars.
It will save you from splurges on takeaway foods as you can eat fried food in the comfort of your home. Steal deal right? you can kiss goodbye to junk food and enjoy the crispy texture without oil!
It is also energy efficient, reducing up to 70% of your electric bills. The maximum time an air fryer can take to cook is 25 minutes. Most food gets done in under 20 mins.
Also read: Does Air Fryer Use a Lot of Electricity?
Quick Meals
An air fryer is an amazing appliance for quick meals. It can cook frozen food or prepare something from scratch in minutes.
If you are in a hurry and want to heat or reheat your leftovers, look no further than the air fryer. You don’t have to wait for it to preheat like an oven.
Easy to Use
Air fryers require no learning curve. They are great for beginners who don’t know how to cook.
All you need to do is toss the food and enter the settings. Within minutes, your food is ready to eat.
Safe and Eco-Friendly
Air fryers are safe and eco-friendly. There is no toxic substance used to make the air fryer. No harmful substance gets leached out into the food during cooking.
The handle of the air fryer is heat resistant and stays cool to the touch.
The outer body and control panel is also made up of heat-resistant material so it is safe to manipulate during cooking.
Easy to Clean
You do not have to spend hours washing it. You just need some lukewarm soapy water and a soft sponge.
Due to the non-stick layer, food gunk is easy to remove after soaking for a while.
Most models have dishwasher-safe baskets. Just toss the compartment into the dishwasher and it will come out clean.
Also read: Why is My Air Fryer Not Cooking Properly?
What Makes the Air Fryer Unique?
The cooking technique of the air fryer makes them unique. It cooks food by blowing hot air around.
The hanging basket with holes helps the hot air to reach all corners of the food.
Due to its compact design and high-speed fan, you can cook within minutes.
Another unique quality of the air fryer is the crisp food. The results are just like deep frying. The intense hot air circulation exposure makes food crisp
Also read: 8 Benefits of Using an Air Fryer (Why Use an Air Fryer)?
Limitations of the Air Fryer
Like any other appliance, an air fryer has Limitations. Let us have a look
- A regular air fryer has a small cooking capacity. You cannot do bulk cooking in the air fryer. Stacking food will lead to unevenly cooked food.
- The hot air circulation makes the food very dry if no oil is used. Exposing the food to high temperatures can dehydrate and even burn food.
- You cannot cook liquid foods or beverages.
- You cannot steam food inside the air fryer
- Certain foods can make cause the Airfryer to smoke. Burnt food particles can also release unpleasant odors
Also read: Why Are Air Fryers So Expensive?
Is the Air Fryer Worth It?
Yes, it is worth owning an air fryer. It is a healthier alternative, especially for those with diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart conditions.
An air fryer supports low-fat diets by reducing the oil to merely a teaspoon. This results in a reduction in calorie intake. It is also a fast way to cook food and gives you deep-fried results minus the oil.
As the air fryer works for a few minutes, the power consumption remains low. It will not affect your electricity bills.
You should try using an air fryer if you like variety in your meals and don’t have much time. For a fit and healthy diet, an air fryer is worth it.
There are a lot of recipes available online that you can try out.
My Favorite Recipes for the Air Fryer
Let me share with you some of my favorite ones.
Baked Potatoes
Prick your potatoes with a toothpick or fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
Cheese Pizza
Preheat the air fryer for five minutes at 375 degrees. Meanwhile, put your favorite toppings on the pizza dough and grate mozzarella cheese at the top.
Place the pizza in the air fryer and air fry it for 10 minutes.
Corn on the Cob
Remove the husk from your corn and season the corn on the cob with salt, pepper, and lime juice.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Crisp Veggies
I like to cook my veggies in the air fryer until they are crisp.
Peel and chop your favorite veggies. Season with olive oil, lime, salt, and pepper. Place them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes until done.
Fried Chicken
Marinate your chicken pieces with oil, salt, pepper, and flour.
You can add a dash of spices according to your taste. I like to flavor my chicken with garlic powder and oregano.
Toss them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Don’t forget to flip the chicken halfway.
French Fries
Wash and dice your potatoes. Put them in water. Preheat your air fryer for 2 minutes at 375 degrees.
Air fryer your fries at 400 for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. Add your favorite seasoning and enjoy.
Things to Take Care of While Airfrying
Here are some things you need to take care of while cooking in the air fryer
- Do not overfill the air fryer with food. The food will be unevenly cooked and soft instead of crispy.
- The air fryer cannot cook wet batters. Make sure the food is dry before putting it inside the air fryer.
- Keep the chamber and the heating element clean. If you do not clean the Airfryer, it will affect the taste of food, make it stick to the old crustings, and also make the food smell bad.
- For baking food, don’t forget to preheat your air fryer. It will turn into a mini oven and give amazing baking results.
- Try to slice thick meat cuts into thin parts for air frying. Whenever you are cooking meat, do not forget to flip your meat halfway for an evenly cooked surface on both sides.
- Don’t cook without oil. Adding a little bit of oil is necessary for making food crisp without dehydrating them.
Final Words
Many reasons make the air fryer so popular. It is a convenient and easy way to cook your food.
You can heat, bake, and reheat vegetables, chicken, fish, frozen foods, fries, cakes, cookies, and muffins in minutes!
The air fryer is affordable and energy efficient. Being compact in design and nature, they are portable and require very little space.
The best attractive feature of the air fryer is the healthy cooking technique. It cuts down fat and calories as it uses very little oil for cooking.
They are perfect for people with diabetes and heart conditions craving fried food.
Summing up, air fryers are a healthy, quick, and affordable cooking appliance. All the reasons above together make it extremely popular in the united states.
If you don’t have one yet, you are missing out on the crispy delicious food!
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