Air fryers have become an extremely popular kitchen appliance in recent years. They provide a convenient way to make fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and more with little to no oil. But what country first invented this revolutionary device?
The Origins of Air Frying Technology
The technology used in air fryers – rapid air circulation and heating elements – has been around for decades. But it wasn’t until the 2010s that the first stand-alone “air fryer” appliances entered the consumer market.
In 2010, the Philips electronics company introduced the first air fryer for home kitchens. Called the Philips Airfryer, it used a patented Rapid Air Technology to fry foods with little to no oil. This new kitchen gadget was an immediate success.
Soon after, other appliance companies like Tefal, Cuisinart, and GoWISE began releasing their own air fryer models. The air fryer category grew rapidly as more brands entered the market.
So while Philips was the first company to package air frying technology into a counter-top appliance, the technology itself was not new. But Philips does deserve credit for turning air frying into a must-have cooking trend.
Air Fryer Origins: The Netherlands
Since Philips introduced the first commercially available air fryer in 2010, it’s clear the technology originated in the Netherlands. Philips is headquartered in Amsterdam, after all.
But digging a little deeper into history reveals air fryers have even earlier Dutch roots.
In the 1990s, a Dutch company called ACA Borgfeldt was experimenting with using air circulation and a grill component to fry foods. This technology eventually ended up licensed to Philips.
So while Philips made air fryers mainstream for home kitchens, the underlying technology was pioneered roughly two decades earlier by the Dutch company ACA Borgfeldt.
Key Dates:
- 1990s – Dutch company ACA Borgfeldt first develops air fryer technology
- 2010 – Philips introduces the home “Airfryer” air fryer
- 2010 and beyond – Many brands quickly enter the new air fryer appliance market
It’s clear that one pioneering Dutch company – ACA Borgfeldt – deserves credit for inventing the technology that enabled air fryers. While Philips made the key innovations to turn it into a counter-top appliance for homes around the world.
ACA Borgfeldt: Inventing Air Fryer Technology
So who exactly is ACA Borgfeldt? And how did they manage to invent the core air frying technology years before the Airfryer craze?
ACA Borgfeldt is a Netherlands-based home appliance company. They specialize in inventing and licensing breakthrough cooking technologies. The company was pioneering countertop oven designs and safety features in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, ACA Borgfeldt turned their attention to “healthy frying” methods. At the time, the health risks of fried foods were coming under scrutiny. The goal was to find a way to fry with less oil.
After extensive R&D, ACA Borgfeldt successfully developed an “air frying” technique. It used a chamber, heating element, and high-powered fan to rapidly circulate hot air. This allowed food to fry evenly with just a tablespoon of oil or less.
ACA Borgfeldt patented the technology and began licensing it to other appliance makers. But it failed to take off in a big way at the time.
ACA Borgfeldt Air Frying Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Early 1990s | ACA Borgfeldt begins R&D on “healthy frying” methods |
| Mid 1990s | ACA Borgfeldt successfully develops air fryer technology |
| Late 1990s | ACA Borgfeldt patents and licenses out air fryer tech |
This little-known Dutch inventor clearly pioneered the breakthrough concept of air frying. But it would take a consumer appliance giant like Philips to bring it fully mainstream years later.
Philips AirFryer Ushers in a Craze
Philips eventually acquired licensing rights to ACA Borgfeldt’s air frying patents in the 2000s. Their engineers set out to turn the technology into an easy-to-use countertop cooking appliance.
The trick was finding the ideal balance of air circulation speed, temperature, and chamber size to make air frying work for home kitchens.
After an intensive engineering process, the first Philips Airfryer was finally launched in 2010. It was an immediate success and quickly kicked off an air fryer craze.
Philips AirFryer Impact
- Introduced air frying technology into millions of home kitchens
- Sparking a hot trend that still rages today
- Inspired countless other brands to release their air fryer designs
Philips found the winning formula to bring air frying mainstream. Their key innovations were:
- Sleek, compact, counter-top design
- User-friendly settings and presets
- High power heating system and fan
- Mesh cooking basket with non-stick coating
These user-centric engineering decisions made air frying finally take off as a must-have cooking method after years of obscurity.
How Air Fryers Became a Global Sensation
In the years since the launch of the original Philips Airfryer, air fryers have become a global kitchen sensation. Millions of households worldwide now own an air fryer.
But how exactly did this Dutch technology go from obscurity to fame seemingly overnight?
Health Concerns Over Fried Food
Air fryers emerged at the right time to address growing health concerns about fried foods. Studies linking fried food consumption to obesity, heart disease, and other issues made headlines in the 2000s.
People wanted to enjoy fried flavors without all the oil and calories. Air fryers provided a timely solution.
Foodie Culture and Media
Foodie culture and social media also helped fuel the air fryer frenzy. Bloggers and vloggers shared air fryer recipes and rave reviews. This free word-of-mouth marketing on YouTube, Instagram, and food sites helped drive adoption.
Rise of Multifunction Appliances
The 2010s saw a rise in popularity of multifunction kitchen appliances like Instant Pots. Air fryers fit right into this trend of gadgets that claim to replace multiple tools.
Affordable Price Points
Air fryers hit a sweet spot of seeming high-tech but not budget-busting. Most models cost $100 to $200, making them an affordable must-have gadget.
These cultural and economic factors came together to help air fryers become a sensation. But it took Philips’ key product design work to unleash a worldwide craze.
The Future of Air Frying
While air fryers have exploded in popularity in recent years, the technology still has room for improvement and innovation.
Some areas air fryer manufacturers could focus on next include:
- More intuitive and precise temperature/time controls
- Expanded capacity for larger batches
- Integrating air frying into full-service ovens and toasters
- Connected smart air fryers with app control and monitoring
Air fryers have come a remarkably long way from 1990s patent paperwork in the Netherlands to one of the hottest kitchen gadgets on the planet. But there are likely still untapped opportunities in this product category.
The company that pioneered and popularized air fryers – Philips – will likely lead the way again in the future. But upstart appliance makers, especially those using crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, could also disrupt the space.
One thing is certain – air frying is much more than just a fad or passing craze. This transformative cooking technology is here to stay, with its global impact still unfolding.
Conclusion
In conclusion, air fryers originated in the Netherlands in the 1990s. The Dutch company ACA Borgfeldt pioneered the core rapid air circulation technology that enables air frying. They patented and licensed out the technology.
Years later, the Dutch multinational company Philips acquired licensing rights. Their engineers successfully adapted the technology into the first compact, countertop air fryer for home kitchens – the revolutionary 2010 Philips Airfryer.
This world-first consumer product sparked a global craze for air fryers that rages stronger than ever today. Millions of households now own an air fryer thanks to the innovations driven by two pioneering Dutch companies.