Air fryers have slowly gained popularity, especially since it is touted as a healthier alternative to regular frying. But what really are the different air fryer benefits and side effects, and are they really a healthier option?
Air fryer benefits and side effects
These days, more and more people are starting to become more conscious about their health. People are being more active, and they’re trying to eat more healthy. And one of the recent trends is using an air fryer instead of regular frying.
People claim that it’s a much healthier method of cooking compared to regular frying, because it uses air to “fry” the food. But is it really healthier? And are there any possible risks to air frying?
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers function similarly to convection ovens in that they both use heated air to cook food.
Inside an air fryer is a heating element and a fan. The heating element generates heat, which is then circulated inside the air fryer by the fan. This air circulation is important because it allows the air fryer to cook foods evenly.
While air fryers don’t actually “fry” anything, they work in a similar way to cooking with oil.
This is because when you fry foods normally, you use the hot oil to transfer heat into the food you’re cooking. Similarly, air fryers use hot air to transfer heat into the food inside it.
Because air fryers use hot air, this also has the added effect of drying out the surface of the food you’re cooking. This also has the effect of making food crispy, albeit not as crispy as foods fried in oil.
What are the benefits of an air fryer?
One of the biggest benefits of using an air fryer is that you can cook food with less oil. By using less oil, you can cut down on your fat intake, and cook healthier food.
Another upside to using an air fryer is that it cooks food very quickly, as the air inside can get very hot. This means that if you’re usually eating out or just cooking instant food to save on time, using an air fryer might make you more inclined to cook at home.
And having fresh home-cooked meals is much healthier, since you can control what exactly goes in your food. If you want less salt, you can do so, and the food you cook also has no additives or artificial flavorings.
Air fryers are also great for cooking vegetables. Food that’s cooked in an air fryer tends to be crisp and tastier compared to just sauteeing or boiling it.
This means that you can add vegetables to your diet without sacrificing their original taste.
What are the drawbacks?
While there are a lot of benefits to using an air fryer, there are some drawbacks to it.
First, the air fryer can get really hot, and if you’re not used to it, you can burn your food. Additionally, burnt food can be a possible carcinogen.
Another drawback is that air fryers can’t usually accommodate a lot of food at one time. Most air fryers are only able to cook food for about 2-3 people. So if you’re cooking for a large family, it might take some time as you do it in batches.
It’s also possible for you to miss out on healthy fats if you’re using an air fryer. Healthy oils such as avocado oil or olive oil can do a lot of good for our bodies, particularly to our brain and hormones.
Some people also tend to eat more food because it’s air fried. However, this is not healthy because eating too much food, regardless of whether it’s fried or not, can be bad for your health.
Key Takeaways
Air fryers are a great addition to any kitchen. However, it is important to remember that having such an appliance won’t automatically make you healthier.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to do is to have a healthy diet and engage in daily exercise.
Learn more about Healthy Eating here.
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