5 things to know about air fryers

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Your taste buds might have an appreciation for crispy, fried foods. But your arteries? Not so much. Over-indulging in crunchy fried chicken or state fair delicacies (read: battered and deep-fried Oreos) can contribute to heart disease.

Enter the air fryer. And, really, when we’re talking about these countertop convection ovens, the terms “fry” and “fryer” often end up in quotes. That’s because they aren’t conventional fryers, and though the food becomes crispy, it’s not actually fried.

Air fryers first hit the U.S. market in about 2013 and have moved beyond late-night television programming to become buzz-worthy kitchen gadgets. They’re able to give your favorite foods a crispy outer shell without dousing them in oil. Healthier french fries? Sign us up.

Here’s everything you need to know about air fryers, including how they work their calorie-reducing magic.

1. Air Fryers Use Hot Air To “Fry” Food

Deep fryers rely on oil to give food that signature crunchy exterior while still maintaining that soft inside. The air fryer, though, uses very hot air to achieve the same outcome, almost operating like a mini oven. A heating element at the top of the air fryer forces hot air down and around the food as it’s suspended in a basket. The air leaves the food with that crispy taste.

IFA 2013 Consumer Electronics Trade Fair
Getty Images | Sean Gallup

2. Air-Fried Food Is Healthier

Simply put, air-fried foods are healthier because it doesn’t use all that oil. Caitlin Bart, the senior marketing manager of kitchen appliances at Philips, told Mic that air-fried french fries had 75 percent less fat compared to homemade french fries.

Kathleen Zelman, meanwhile, a registered dietitian reviewing the Philips Viva Collection Airfryer, told Food & Nutrition that, “When you use small amounts of healthy unsaturated oils and the technology of an air fryer, fried foods can be back on the menu.”

Philips

3. You Can Still Use Oil

Lots of people get the air fryer for no-oil cooking. But a little oil can make a big difference, says JL Fields, a vegan culinary instructor and author of “The Vegan Air Fryer.”

“Consider using just a quick spritz or two of oil mist (canola and olive are excellent) on hand-cut potatoes or tortillas for a chimichanga,” she says. “You’ll get the color and crunch you crave.”

Pro tip: Don’t overcrowd the basket. “It’s tempting to put a lot of food in the basket but the reality is more space allows that rapid air flow to work it’s ‘frying’ magic,” Fields says.

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4. You Can Cook More Than Just French Fries

Air fryers are great at roasting veggies. But they can also whip up desserts like cakes, cookies and pies, Fields says.

“If you can bake it in the oven, you can make it in the air fryer,” she says. “But you’ll do so at 30 degrees lower temperature and in half the time.”

Also, battered foods work well in the air fryer. For example, you can make corn dogs by dipping the dogs in a thicker batter, wrapping them in parchment paper and freezing them for a couple of hours before setting them in the air fryer.

As for fried Oreos? Use a thinner, sweet batter and start them on a small piece of parchment paper before transferring into the air fryer, Fields recommends.

corn dogs photo
Getty Images | Joe Raedle

5. Air Fryers Can Get Expensive

When it comes to countertop appliances, air fryers can be an investment, running from as low as $60 all the way up to $400. For those looking to make the purchase, Consumer Reports did a round-up of seven air fryers that range in price. The lowest-priced one they tested out is the Bella Air Fryer, which costs just under $60 on Amazon, and the highest-priced one was the Power AirFryer XL, which costs $279.95.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

But considering the health benefits, it could be worth it. Would you splurge on an air fryer?

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About the Author
Brittany Anas
Hi, I'm Brittany Anas (pronounced like the spice, anise ... see, that wasn't too embarrassing to say, now was it?) My professional writing career started when I was in elementary school and my grandma paid me $1 for each story I wrote for her. I'm a former newspaper reporter, with more than a decade of experience Hula-hooping at planning meetings and covering just about every beat from higher-education to crime to science for the Boulder Daily Camera and The Denver Post. Now, I'm a freelance writer, specializing in travel, health, food and adventure.

I've contributed to publications including Men's Journal, Forbes, Women's Health, American Way, TripSavvy, Eat This, Not That!, Apartment Therapy, Denver Life Magazine, 5280, Livability, The Denver Post, Simplemost, USA Today Travel Tips, Make it Better, AAA publications, Reader's Digest, Discover Life and more.

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