Air fryer: what it is, differences between models and which one to choose for cooking without oil

All about the air fryer, an appliance that is becoming more and more popular. Let's find out how to use it and how to untangle the various models

La air fryer it is also known as an oil-free fryer, it is an appliance that allows you to fry food, but without using fats, such as oil and butter. The air fryer, in fact, cooks using the heat accumulated in the cooking chamber.

It is a healthy cooking method, and with a greedy result very similar to the classic frying.

What is an air fryer

The air fryer is a useful appliance for frying food, but in a much healthier and more genuine way. Yes, because it is now known that the habitual consumption of fried foods in fat is not healthy, since the frying is loaded with saturated fat, as well as heavy to digest and very caloric.

Therefore, a valid alternative to consume fried food, even habitually, is to use the air fryer, that is an accessory that cooks using the heat and air to fry in a much healthier and ecological.

Furthermore, with this innovative appliance, there is also a saving in terms of time and oil; in fact, using a classic fryer there is a greater expenditure of gas to heat the pan and of oil for frying. Lastly, dishwashing detergent and several liters of water are also consumed to be able to clean everything. In addition to the disposal ofused frying oil. 

But how does the air fryer work? The hot air accumulated in the cooking chamber circulates quickly, reaching very high temperatures which, in fact, allow cooking. This mechanism eliminates the humidity from the food; the result? A crunchy and dry food.

But not just for frying! This appliance can also be used to quickly cook sweets, biscuits and dishes, flans, etc ... instead of the classic oven, avoiding the preheating phase and thus saving time and energy.

In practice and summing up we can safely say that it is a concentrated ventilated oven that allows in a very short time and without the need to preheat to cook potatoes, vegetables, fish and everything you would have fried or baked, even pizza or cake!

(Read also: 5 alternatives to frying to make food tasty and tasty)

How to use the air fryer to enhance its benefits

To make the best use of the air fryer we recommend that you cook only fresh food, avoiding the precooked or frozen one because it is already fried previously.

Furthermore, with this appliance you can make not only fried food but also other recipes, such as croquettes, omelettes, vegetables, quiches, but also cook fish and prepare excellent desserts. 

It can also be used simply to heat pre-prepared foods, a bit like Microwave, but unlike the latter, it does not dry out or soften the food too much, but enhances its crunchiness.

How an air fryer works

As previously mentioned, the air fryer cooks thanks to the cooking chamber where the air circulates so fast that it reaches very high temperatures.

To cook the food it is not necessary to immerse it in oil as in classic frying, because it is the air, which reaches up to 200 °, which guarantees uniform cooking and a golden result, crunchy on the outside and absolutely soft inside.

(Read also: What is the best oil for frying? Olive oil according to a recent study)

How much does an air fryer consume

The air fryer on average consumes more than a classic fryer with oil; the reason? In order to cook only using the hot air and, therefore, without added fats, a powerful vortex of air which reaches high temperatures, even up to 200°; this mechanism involves an expenditure in terms of energy.

So, an air fryer can get to consume between 1300 and 2000 Watts, depending on the size. Obviously, it all also depends on the model you choose to buy; in fact, the most innovative types, even if very capacious, manage to keep consumption between 1500-1700 Watts.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cooking with the air fryer has so many benefits; here are the main ones:

• Making lighter and healthier fried foods
• Even those with cholesterol problems can consume fried food occasionally
• Less dirt and bad smells
• Cleaner
• The oil does not risk becoming toxic because it does not reach the smoke point (Read also: vegetable oils, which ones to use based on smoke point)
• Cleaning the deep fryer is quick and easy
• Savings in the amount of oil used
• Foods keep all their properties unaltered

Among disadvantages we point out:

Il high cost, because a deep fryer can cost up to 400 euros for the most equipped and versatile models; obviously, there are also intermediate prices and low-end products starting from 60/70 euros. Indicatively, however, on the 100/150 euro you can buy a good product, especially if you move towards a "classic" drawer model.

Another negative point is in terms of energy consumption; in fact, this appliance can consume between 800 and 2.000 watts. It is also true that the cooking speed allows food to be cooked in half times (e.g. French fries cook in about 16/18 minutes) and if used as an alternative to the traditional oven, it also saves on the energy consumed to preheat. .

Differences between the various models

Air fryers are not all the same; on the market it is possible to choose between the following types:

• traditional or drawer: this type has a basket ranging from 3,5 to 6/7 liters. They can be digital with different preset programs, or manual and with knobs. Unlike the oven models, they are equipped with a removable front drawer, i.e. the basket, in which to introduce food.
• to oven: these models have a basket that can hold up to 10/12 liters. The design is reminiscent of an oven, because they are equipped with a door. Most of the oven models are equipped with a spit to cook, for example, a roast chicken, shelves and a grease tray at the bottom. Furthermore, the oven air fryers are also suitable for drying food. 
• multifry: these are more advanced models that in addition to the classic frying, allow the preparation of other foods such as risottos, cous cous, stews, pizzas, savory pies and desserts. Usually these models cost more, they are much more versatile, but less powerful 

Air fryer: how to choose the ideal model

Before proceeding with the purchase it is good to observe the characteristics of the various models on the market, in order to have a general overview of the different products and compare them with your needs. If we are 4 people in the family, for example, it is advisable to focus on models with a higher capacity (usually the drawer air fryers on the market vary from 3,5 kg - suitable for 2 people) to 6,5 kg, while the models "Oven" with vertical loading reach up to 10-12 kg.

Another element to consider is the power: the higher this is, the shorter cooking times will be, but the consumption and crunchiness of the food will increase. In general, a good air fryer should have at least 1600 kw / hour.

In summary, the features The main ones to look out for before buying an air fryer are:

• Maximum temperature which must not be below 200 °
• The temperature must be adjustable
• Shape and size
• How to load the basket, whether it is horizontal or vertical
• Power to evaluate consumption 
• The presence of a timer 
• Basket capacity 
• Warm-up times (no more than 3 minutes)
• Presence or not of extra accessories
• Number of resistors used for cooking (one or two)

I Costs they vary from a minimum of 70 to a maximum of 400 euros; the most advanced and technological models are able to reach even 1800 Watts of power and, usually, are equipped with a large basket, digital timers and various cooking programs.

Air fryer: top brands and models:

• Innsky 5.5L Hot Air Fryer IS-EE003: it is a classic fryer with a basket of about 5 and a half liters, which allows you to cook even for a large number of people because it can also contain an entire chicken. It is equipped with 8 easy-to-use preset functions, an integrated timer that can be set up to 60 minutes and a recipe book for cooking various dishes. The price is around 130 euros.

• Princess Digital Aerofryer XL 182020: its main feature are the 7 different programs that can be selected on the touch screen display. But that's not all, because with this appliance you can make different dishes, as it allows you to grill, roast, make bread and desserts. The cheapest: around 90 euros.

• Uten hot air fryer: this traditional model has a capacity of 6 and a half liters. In addition, it is equipped with 8 preset function programs, LED touch screen, detachable and non-stick circular basket. This deep fryer is dishwasher safe, and reaches a power of about 1800W. The low cost around 110 euros.

• Tristar FR-6964: oven model with a capacity up to 10 liters; ideal for large families. Equipped with 10 preset programs to cook many foods, not only fried but also desserts. The inside of the fryer is a real oven, because it also has two removable shelves, in addition to the basket. Cost: 104 euros.

• Philips Fryer AirFryer HD9216 / 80: it is a high-end model with timer and patented technology, which consists of a whirlwind of hot air inside the cooking area for frying, grilling and baking. It is a truly innovative and latest generation multifry fryer, one of the best on the market. Cost: around 110 euros.

• De'Longhi FH1394 / 2 Multicooker: it is a multicooker model with a fairly high price, around 270 euros, equipped with quick cooking saves time, only 27 min for 1 kg of frozen chips. In addition, it is equipped with 3 special functions (oven, pan and grill) and 4 preset recipes.

• Tefal ActiFry Genius XL: an innovative product, the cost of which is around 200 euros. Exclusive dual motion technology that guarantees perfect cooking results through the combination of hot air and an automatic stirrer. Among the features we find a recipe book, 9 automatic menu settings, different cooking methods, not only fried, but also desserts, snacks, pastries and meat and vegetable balls.

Could it be interesting for you:

• Is fried food bad for the heart? No, if you use olive or sunflower oil
• How to properly dispose and recycle used frying oil
• How many times can the same frying oil be reused (before disposing of it properly)