Air fryers have become extremely popular in recent years. These countertop convection ovens claim to cook foods to be crispy and delicious using little to no oil. With the healthy eating trend on the rise, many people are wondering if air fryers live up to the hype or if they are just another fad. Here’s a comprehensive look at the pros and cons of air fryers to help you decide if purchasing one is right for you.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven that circulates hot air around food to cook it. The technology allows the machine to fry foods like french fries and chicken wings with little to no oil needed. Air fryers use rapid air technology to cook food quickly and evenly. A mechanical fan circulates hot air around the food at high speed to create a crispy, browned, fried finish.
Air fryers are square or egg-shaped devices that sit on your kitchen counter. Most hold around 3-5 quarts of food. Air fryers have temperature and timer adjustments like a traditional oven or toaster oven. Models range from $50 to $200+ with more expensive options having larger capacities, more features, and more power.
Manufacturers claim air fryers create the same tasty crunch of deep frying with up to 80% less fat. The machines are marketed as a healthy way to enjoy your favorite crispy foods without all the fat, calories, and guilt of traditional frying.
Pros of Owning an Air Fryer
There are many benefits that make air fryers an attractive kitchen appliance.
Healthier Fried Foods
The biggest pro of air fryers is that they significantly reduce the amount of oil needed to cook fried favorites. Cooking with an air fryer only requires about 1-3 tablespoons of oil to make an entire meal vs. the cup or more needed for deep frying. The reduction in oil leads to lower fat and calorie content.
For example, a chicken breast fried in a deep fryer contains around 433 calories and 33 grams of fat. The same chicken breast cooked in an air fryer has only 192 calories and 8 grams of fat. French fries, fried chicken, and other traditionally oily foods can be cooked to crispy perfection in an air fryer using a fraction of the oil.
Crispy Results
While air fryers use less oil, they can still achieve the same crispy texture as deep frying. The rapid air circulation technology dries out the exterior of foods to make them crispy while keeping the interior tender and moist. Foods cooked in air fryers get that same crunchy, crispy coating as deep frying.
Many users say foods like french fries, fried chicken, and vegetable chips come out of the air fryer with amazingly crispy results. The crunch satisfies fried food cravings without the grease.
Quick Cooking
Air fryers cook food very quickly, often in as little as 15-20 minutes. The small capacity and powerful heating elements mean food cooks rapidly. Things like frozen fries, wings, or pizza bites come out perfectly cooked in under 30 minutes. The speed makes air fryers ideal for quick weeknight meals.
Convenience
Air fryers are very simple to use. Just toss your ingredients in the basket, set the time and temperature, and let the machine work its magic. The appliances take up minimal counter space and are easy to clean with removable, dishwasher-safe parts.
Many air fryer models have digital interfaces with preset programs that automatically set the time and temperature for common foods like fries, nuggets, fish, etc. This makes cooking super simple.
Versatility
While air fryers excel at crispy favorites, they can also be used to cook a wide variety of everyday dishes. You can make crispy bacon, toast, roasted vegetables, baked goods, and more. Many models come with inserts like cake pans for baking as well as skewers and grilling trays. Air fryers are surprisingly versatile – you can cook an entire meal with just one machine.
Cons of Air Fryers
While air fryers have some great benefits, they do have some downsides to consider.
Small Capacity
The capacity of most air fryers is quite small, averaging around 3-5 quarts. That allows you to cook only 2-3 servings of food at a time. Large families may find this limiting for cooking bigger meals.
Larger 5+ quart models are available but take up more counter space. Given their size constraints, air fryers work best for cooking quick meals for 1-3 people, not giant family feasts.
Occasional Flipping Required
While air fryers do not require as much attending as deep frying, some flipping or shaking of foods mid-cycle is needed for best results. The rapid air flow can leave some spots exposed or undercooked if foods aren’t tossed occasionally. You can’t just set it and forget it.
Special Accessories Needed
To really take advantage of the versatility of an air fryer, having additional accessories is helpful. While main kits come with a basket, buying extras like a cake pan, grill pan, skewers, etc. allow you to expand your cooking options. These specialty accessories can add to the cost.
Learning Curve
Air fryers come with a bit of a learning curve. Each model works slightly differently, so it takes some trial and error to get used to cooking times and temperatures. It can take several tries dialing in the settings to get your favorite dishes just right.
Easy to Overcook
The speed at which air fryers cook makes it easy to accidentally overcook food. Just a couple extra minutes can lead to charred, overdone results. Keeping a close eye on foods and not straying from recommended cooking times is important, especially when trying new recipes.
Fat and Calories Still Present
While air fryers use less oil than deep frying, some fat and calories are still present. Meals are lower in fat and calories than traditional fried foods but higher than other cooking methods like baking or grilling. For those strictly monitoring fat and calorie intake, air frying may not align with health goals.
What Foods Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
A huge range of foods can be made in air fryers. Here are some of the most popular air fried dishes:
| Food | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| French Fries | 15-20 minutes |
| Chicken Wings | 15-20 minutes |
| Chicken Nuggets | 10-15 minutes |
| Frozen Pizza Rolls | 10-12 minutes |
| Burgers | 10-12 minutes |
| Bacon | 8-10 minutes |
| Fish Fillets | 10-12 minutes |
| Brussel Sprouts | 12-15 minutes |
| Asparagus | 6-8 minutes |
| Cauliflower Bites | 10-12 minutes |
In addition to fried favorites, air fryers can be used to cook proteins like chicken breasts, pork chops, and steak as well as foods like eggs, toast, and even cake. With the right accessories, you can bake, grill, and dehydrate foods in an air fryer.
Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer
If you’re sold on the benefits of air frying, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a model:
Capacity
Consider the size of your household and what you’ll typically be cooking. Capacities range from 2-7 quarts. Go for a 3-4 quart for 1-2 people and 5-6+ quart for more.
Settings & Features
Look for adjustable time and temp controls. Digital displays with presets for common foods make using it even easier. Extra features like shake reminders, keep warm settings, and auto shut-off are also useful.
Power
Higher wattage means faster preheat times and more even cooking. Most quality air fryers range 1200-1800 watts. Go for at least 1400W.
Accessories
Models with extra accessories like pans, skewers, and inserts allow you to expand cooking options down the road.
Budget
Consider how much you’re willing to spend. Quality air fryers run $100 to $200+ with higher-end options having more features and versatility.
Brand
Stick to well-known kitchen appliance brands like Philips, Ninja, Instant Pot, Cosori, etc. for best performance.
Size & Footprint
Make sure you have adequate countertop space for the air fryer you choose. Measure dimensions to ensure it fits.
Style
Air fryers come in digital touchscreen, dial knob, or button control options. This is mostly personal preference.
Top 5 Air Fryers of 2023
Based on factors like features, performance, durability, and value, here are 5 of the best air fryers available for 2023:
| Brand & Model | Capacity | Wattage | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja AF101 | 4 qt | 1500W | Dehydrate function, dishwasher safe | $119.99 |
| Instant Vortex Plus | 6 qt | 1700W | Oven functionality, rotisserie | $119.95 |
| Philips TurboStar | 3 qt | 1400W | Digital interface, keeps warm | $199.95 |
| Chefman 6.3 Quart | 6.3 qt | 1700W | Large capacity, shake reminder | $99.99 |
| Cosori Premium | 5.8 qt | 1700W | 11 presets, 100 recipes | $119.99 |
Air Fryer Recipe Ideas
Here are 5 delicious, popular recipes to make in your air fryer:
1. Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Crispy, juicy air fried hot wings in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients:
- Chicken wings
- Seasoning blend like Cajun, lemon pepper, or buffalo
- 1-2 tbsp oil
Instructions:
- Pat wings dry. Coat with oil and seasoning.
- Cook at 400F for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Toss with sauce to serve if desired.
2. Air Fried French Fries
Perfectly crispy fries in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients:
- Russet potatoes, cut into fries
- 1-2 tbsp oil
- Salt
Instructions:
- Cut potatoes into fries, pat dry, and coat with oil.
- Cook at 400F for 15-18 minutes until crispy, shaking basket halfway.
- Toss with salt to serve.
3. Air Fried Chicken Nuggets
Satisfy your nugget craving the healthy way!
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast, cut into pieces
- Flour, egg, breadcrumbs
- 1-2 tbsp oil
Instructions:
- Cut chicken, then coat pieces in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
- Spray pieces with oil, cook at 375F for 8-10 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
4. Air Fried Fish Sticks
Crispy, crunchy fish sticks kids will love.
Ingredients:
- Fish fillets, cut into strips
- Flour, egg, breadcrumbs
- 1-2 tbsp oil
Instructions:
- Cut fish into strips, coat in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs.
- Spray strips with oil, cook at 400F 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
5. Air Fried Donuts
Fluffy, oil-free donuts in minutes!
Ingredients:
- Canned biscuit dough
- Cinnamon sugar
Instructions:
- Separate biscuits and shape into donuts.
- Cook at 350F for 6-8 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.
- Toss hot donuts in cinnamon sugar to coat.
Conclusion
Air fryers allow you to enjoy all your fried favorites with less guilt. The appliances use rapid hot air to create crispy textures with minimal oil needed. Air frying makes traditionally oily foods much healthier and faster to cook.
Benefits like crunch, speed, and convenience make air fryers worth the investment for many. Downsides like small capacity and learning curve can be overcome with the right model and recipes. Air fryers excel at cooking quick meals for 1 or 2 people.
When shopping, look for convenient features, adequate power, and desired capacity in brands known for quality. Refer to cooking time charts and have fun experimenting with all the tasty foods you can make. Follow recipes to create next-level wings, fries, nuggets, and more.
If you love fried foods but want a healthy way to enjoy them, an air fryer is a smart addition to your kitchen arsenal.