Air fryers have surged in popularity the past couple of years, so let’s talk air fryers! What is an air fryer and how does it work?
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So what IS an air fryer?
The short answer can be found on Wikipedia:
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism.
How does an Air Fryer work?
A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer thanks to the Maillard effect.
An air fryer basically uses hot air to cook and crisp the food. The heat is usually produced by either a halogen lamp or a heating element.
The heat is generated by a fan rapidly circulating the hot air all around the food.
This is called Rapid Air Technology.
Thanks to the heat and the speed the food will be fried evenly and quickly, resulting in a crispy outside and juicy inside.
Who Invented the Air Fryer and When?
Rapid Air Technology was developed by Fred van der Weij, an engineer and food fanatic. He bought a fat-free fryer, but was not happy with the results it provided and set out to create a better version.
He did so successfully and started approaching companies with his invention. One of those companies was Braun, who rejected the idea.
Thankfully, he had more luck when he approached Philips and they introduced the air fryer on the IFA Consumer Electronics show in Berlin.
The air fryer immediately gained attention and was listed in IFA’s top 5 inventions of 2010. A patent for the air fryer was filed in 2006.
Why use an Air Fryer?
Air Frying is Healthier Than Deep Frying
An air fryer is a great way to prepare your favorite fried foods without the additional calories you get from deep frying those foods in oil. You can save up to 70% on oil compared to the deep fryer.
In most cases, all you need is a tablespoon of oil.
So it’s a lot healthier than deep frying.
Less Energy = Lower Electricity Bill
Another reason for using an air fryer is that it uses less energy than a deep fryer or a conventional oven. This is because more heat can be generated and moved throughout a smaller space.
No Nasty Smells
Need another reason to use an air fryer? How about the smell! An air fryer does not produce the same lingering smell a deep fryer does.
You know that smell that actually impregnates your clothes, so you can throw them in the laundry after deep frying. Or your hair?
Air fryers come equipped with filters that ensure the air that is released from the fryer is clean.
No Greasy Countertop
Clean up? Do you know how deep fryers get covered in grease after usage? Not to mention your countertop?
With air frying, you’ll get no splattering of fat on your fryer or your countertop.
Air fryers have non-stick parts that can be cleaned easily by soaking the removable parts in soapy water. Please refer to your air fryer manual for instructions on how to clean your air fryer.
Do Air Fryers Smell?
Most air fryers come equipped with an air filter that eliminates unwanted odors, so you and your walls and ceiling will not smell like a fast-food joint.
Compare this to a deep fryer that will leave a greasy residue and horrible stench in your hair and your kitchen. I know what I prefer…
Is an Air Fryer Quicker than a Deep Fryer?
I would say no. If you deep fry French fries for example you’ll have them on your plate in about 12-15 minutes. An air fryer does take a little longer to prepare the food compared to a deep fryer.
However, compared to a conventional oven, using an air fryer to prepare your food will certainly save you time!
What Oil To Use in Air Fryer?
An air fryer does require a little bit of oil for some foods. Particularly if you’re making chicken wings or homemade fries because it adds flavor and crispiness to the food.
The best oils to use in an air fryer are oils with a high smoke point, which simply means the approximate temperature oil or fat starts to smoke.
Aim for a high smoke point of around 400 degrees F or higher.
Oils with a high smoke point include:
- Sunflower (440 degrees F)
- Light/refined olive oil (465 degrees F)
- Peanut oil (450 degrees)
- Avocado Oil (520 degrees)
- Clarified butter or Ghee (450 degrees)
If you’re making store-bought fries, using oil is not necessary. You will get crispy delicious fries without the extra fat.
Note that the high smoke point rule does not apply to baking cakes, eggs, or casseroles. You can use any oil or fat you desire in those cases.
What Foods To Prepare With An Air Fryer
You can prepare a variety of food in an air fryer because most air fryers are almost like multi cookers. Air fryers can be used to cook, fry, bake, grill, and sometimes even roast.
There are air fryers that have accessories like a rotisserie cage to prepare chicken or cake tin to, you guessed it, bake a cake!
Popular foods to prepare in an air fryer are:
- French fries
- Steak
- Chicken wings/Buffalo Wings
- Onion rings
- Frozen pizza
- Hamburgers
- Bacon
- Fish
See this page for a more comprehensive list of the foods your can prepare in an air fryer.
What is the Power Capacity of an Air Fryer?
For the US market, the power capacity of an air fryer is 120V, for the European market, the power capacity is 220V.
Which is the Best Air Fryer?
It depends on what features your looking for and how much you want to spend.
I have rounded up the best air fryers on this page, which is updated at least once a month.
Before you buy an air fryer ask yourself the following questions:
- What foods do I want to prepare in my air fryer?
- How many people will be using the air fryer (How large is your family?)
- Does a large air fryer like the Philips XL Avance fit on my countertop?
- Does my power outlet support the wattage an air fryer uses?
- Check our list of Air Fryer Pros and Cons to check if an air fryer is right for you.
Can You Use an Air Fryer in An RV?
Yes, you can use an air fryer in an RV, as long as you stick to compact air fryers that use less wattage since your RV is likely running on a 12-volt system.
An air fryer is small enough to fit on your counter and you can use it instead of the oven on hot days to prevent heating up your small space.
What is an Air Fryer Oven?
An air fryer oven uses racks instead of a basket to cook the food. The workings of an oven are the same as basket fryers: circulating hot air around the food using a heated element.
The main advantage of an air fryer oven is that you can layer multiple foods more easily.
For example, you can place chicken wings on 1 rack, french fries on the other, and veggies on yet another.
I hope my article answered the question “what is an air fryer”. If you want to know more about air fryers, the below articles may be of help!