Updated: 13/11/2020

Health Benefits of Air Fryers

Air fryers are appliances that fry different foods using hot circulated air. Air fried food is said to be healthier than deep-fried food because it hardly requires any oil to cook. Deep-fried foods need to be dipped wholly in boiling oil, while air fried foods require a teaspoon of fat or less to cook the food. The difference in taste is minuscule, while the texture remains mostly the same. This difference and chemical reaction in air frying is known as the Maillard Effect, which is a reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids in the presence of high heat. This reaction leads to a change in the favour and resultant colour of foods.

Air fryers, like halogen ovens and mini hobs, can prepare all types of foods – meats, wafers, crisps, chips, fish, chicken wings, and so on. The exterior of the food gets crispy while the interior is cooked at extremely high temperatures. Air fried foods are widely considered healthier than deep-fried foods since they contain lesser fats and calories. With the onset of technology and the invention of the air fryer, there have been plenty of questions regarding the actual benefits of air frying and air fryers. 

Since air fryers are easy to use, the usability in cooking is quite high. They can dry, roast, bake, and grill foods with ease. As air fryers are also low maintenance, college students, elderly citizens, teenagers, working and busy mothers, and people who are watching their weight have taken an instant liking to these appliances. In addition to usability, air fryers are also easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. 

Let us look at some of the health benefits of air fryers.

Automatic Cooker Fryer: Air fryers are of two varieties – the basket one and the paddle cooker. The paddle cooker air fryer comes with a slow stirring paddle that gently stirs the food while allowing it to cook at a low to medium heat for slow cooking. The bowl inside the appliance rotates the food inside is slowly mixed thereby freeing up precious time to cook other foods like salads and dips. The basket variety of air fryers is straightforward to use and automatically cooks the meals with more significant cuts like meats on its own. Unlike the halogen oven, the air fryer does not need constant looking over. This automatic cooking option is healthier and quicker than most mini hobs also.

Low-Fat Cooking: This feature of low-fat cooking is hugely beneficial for elderly citizens, children, and people wishing to count their calories. Frozen foods do not need additional oil to cook when placed inside the air fryer. There is no oil required for cooking meats either. Air fryers use the inherent oil present in foods or a tablespoon of oil to cook the proteins and carbs directly. You can take foods straight from the freezer or the fridge and place them in the bowl or basket of the air fryer for quick and easy cooking without extra fats. Any excess fat from the proteins drips from the basket into the collection tray inside the appliance. This excellent fat control feature ensures you are not consuming more fat than is needed by the body. 

Safety Features: While safety is not necessarily a health benefit of food, it does directly correlate to better health. Almost all air fryers come with safety features like auto shut down in case the timer is over, and you are not watching over the appliance. The auto shutdown prevents overcooking of food and protects the food inside from drying out or burning. The machine also comes with anti-slip feet to avoid unnecessary slips and breakages. Closed systems of the air fryer also ensure there is no spluttering of food and no over boiling. This ensures that you are safe from oil splatters that may cause severe burns. 

Energy Efficiency: Air fryers are known to be highly energy efficient. Ovens, mini hobs, and halogen ovens tend to heat up the entire kitchen and cause an increase in temperature. This may trouble children, pets, and senior citizens. Apart from the rise in heat, air fryers also help curb the ever-increasing electricity bill per month. Since air fryers can be preset to cook at a particular temperature with a steady flow of air, the energy used in preparing food is less. This feature also helps control the overcooking and spoiling of food, thereby ensuring that the meal does not lose its nutritive value nor its benefit.