What are the benefits and harms of an air fryer? What advantages and disadvantages does the device have?

Various household appliances, designed to make household chores easier, sometimes turn out to be indispensable, especially when it comes to cooking. Today, in almost any kitchen you can find many electronic assistants.

And one of the most underrated of them today is the air fryer. We suggest in this article to figure out whether it is worth buying an air fryer.

Types of air fryers

There are two types of air fryers. The first one for preparing delicious, simple everyday dishes from fish, meat, poultry, and vegetables. Others are multifunctional, designed also for baking products from any type of dough (choux pastry meringue, sponge cake, bread and even Easter cakes), hot and cold smoking, preparing dairy delicacies - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk and even yogurt, and much more.

The first line is naturally cheaper. On the control panel, special functional switches regulate temperature and time. The timer of such devices is usually designed for 60 minutes and you need to set the required cooking time. At the right time, the device turns off automatically, which is quite convenient.

Expensive models are most often equipped with an electronic rather than mechanical (as was the case in the first case) control system. This is due, first of all, to the operation of the device, which has many functions and operating modes, so the switches here are replaced with buttons for convenience. These air fryers have an additional timer that delays the start of cooking, the so-called “late start”. Sometimes, the timer is designed to preheat food to a certain, set temperature at a designated time.

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The temperature modes of the air fryer allow you to heat food from 65 to 260 degrees and set the intensity of convection. Such devices provide an indication of operating modes.

The higher the power of the air fryer, the better, as the food will cook much faster. However, you should not go too far. When the house has old wiring that is not designed for a large load, it is better to take a model with a power of 1300-1400 W. If there are no problems with the wiring, take a 1750 W unit. The presence of a stabilizer will save the device during voltage surges.

Air fryer is perfect for the garden to diversify the menu. City dwellers, of course, may find it useful in the kitchen, but many users rarely use it after several uses, taking it out from the shelf once every three months. One wonders why it is needed if meat and fish in the oven turns out much more appetizing. But those who want a healthy diet will certainly choose the air fryer.

An air grill is a multifunctional device that can:

Boil soups and eggs.
Roast chicken or vegetables.
Steam.
Bake a variety of baked goods.
Make crackers.
Roast nuts or seeds.
Dry mushrooms.
Smoke fish.

Thus, one device combines the functions of various household appliances: oven, grill, smoker, dryer and steamer. The air fryer is made in such a way that, during the preparation of various dishes, the smell of the food being prepared does not penetrate into the kitchen. Condensation does not leak through the connecting joints, which means that grease and oil stains do not form on the surface of the tabletop. At the same time, they cook in an air fryer without adding oil, and such food is considered healthy.

⇡#Aerogrill: which one to choose?

When choosing an air fryer, the first thing you should think about is the list of potential kitchen tasks that it will have to solve, as well as realistically assess the availability of free space for such a voluminous unit, and only then navigate the variety of offers according to the selected parameters.

An air fryer will certainly be an indispensable purchase for owners of compact kitchens without a powerful electric or gas oven, especially those who have to manage with a minimal set of kitchen utensils.

For complete clarity, it also wouldn’t hurt to compare the functions of an air fryer with a multicooker, which is also electronically controlled and has a partially overlapping list of functions. As a result, it may be more prudent to choose just one thing. A multicooker is a compact automatic saucepan with a capacity of 2-5 liters that can stew, prepare soups, milk porridges, steam (if it comes with a wire rack), bake and simmer. Like a convection oven, you can load food into the multicooker and set the program.

On the one hand, unlike an air fryer, a multicooker usually weighs no more than 3 kg, so you can always take it to the dacha or on vacation. The multicooker is easy to clean and can be easily washed both manually and in the dishwasher. On the other hand, there are culinary masterpieces that a multicooker is simply powerless to handle. For example, there is no way in the world you can stuff a large holiday turkey, goose, duck or plump chicken into a slow cooker, and even more so you will never achieve the wonderful crispy golden crust that only an air fryer, an oven and some types of microwaves with a grill can achieve.

Can an electric convection oven in your kitchen replace a real grill or barbecue that runs on coal or wood? This is unlikely, at best, only partially. Will an air fryer be able to significantly diversify your diet with truly delicious unusual dishes? Without a doubt.

In our future publications, we will definitely confirm the theoretical recommendations with real tests of real retail samples of air fryers from different manufacturers. But right now one cannot help but confirm one of the most common promises of air fryer advertising: the dishes in it turn out to be truly tasty and healthy.

Design features

The design of the device is based on a glass container, which is closed on top with a lid. A fan is installed inside the latter, blowing the interior of the device. The standard container has the same dimensions: width - 30 centimeters, length - 45 centimeters, height in the range of 30-60 centimeters. Depending on the height of the tank, the volume of equipment is selected. This parameter in the product passport is indicated by two numbers: 8-12 liters, 10-14 and 12-16 liters. The first value is the nominal volume of the air fryer, the second value is the increased volume. It is obtained through the use of special expansion rings supplied in the kit. The ring is installed on the neck of the glass container and closed with a lid. The height of the ring determines the additional volume, which in all models is 4 liters. Some manufacturers offer devices with two rings, which increases the volume to 8 liters.

Glass or ceramic dishes with food are placed inside the glass tank. The cookware must be heat-resistant. In addition to the rings, the air fryer also includes:

several skewers;
a frying pan with holes that functions as a steamer;
a special attachment (roaster) for grilled chicken;
gripping tongs;
baking tray;
three racks (lower for boiling eggs, middle universal, upper for toast).

Like any household appliance, in addition to its advantages, the air fryer also has several disadvantages. In addition, an air fryer cannot replace all kitchen appliances. So, the disadvantages of the device include:

The glass container heats up to high temperatures during operation of the device, so it is operated with great care. It is better to keep children away from the air fryer.
The double boiler mode is a lengthy process that takes a lot of time. It's easier and faster to cook food in a real steamer or in a saucepan on the hob.
It is not recommended to heat food in an air fryer; it will be faster in the microwave.
It is better to bake flour products in the oven.

How food is prepared

The operating principle is based on the convection process: the heating element heats the air flows carried by the fan. Their temperature varies between 60 °C and 260 °C. The speed is constantly changing - this is necessary to prevent overdrying. Therefore, the dish will be evenly cooked on all sides.

You can adjust the speed and temperature parameters yourself, but mostly the owners trust the built-in timer, which will turn off at the right moment.

Pros and cons of air fryers

Here's how an air fryer works - its main advantage is the ability to cook food without using oil and fat. This is achieved by circulating hot, dry air around the food. The excess fat formed during this process flows into a glass flask. So, you can preserve all the beneficial substances and vitamins in the products.

Air grills are equipped with a self-cleaning function.

You can prepare soup or porridge in any container. Thanks to different temperature conditions, you can prepare a variety of dishes. The air grill has a compact size, which makes it easy to transport it to the dacha.

As for the shortcomings, there are them too. For example, baking in a convection oven does not always turn out perfect. It may turn out to be undercooked on the bottom and burnt on top. Also, it will not be possible to cook large chicken or goose in an airgyl due to the small capacity of the device.

The disadvantages of this device are the strong heating of the glass flask, a fairly long cooking time and the consumption of high power, which increases energy costs.

Choosing a convection oven

Before choosing an air fryer, decide what dishes you want to purchase it for. If this is a standard set of dishes for an air fryer, then it is enough to purchase an inexpensive model. For a wider range of dishes and experiments, it is better to purchase a model with a large number of different functions.

The average power of air fryers is 600-1500 W. It depends on the temperature regime in which the appliance operates and what its blowing speed is during the preparation of a particular dish.

Another important parameter for choosing a particular appliance model is the volume of the pan. Typically, the instructions indicate two volumes: in the normal position and with magnifying rings.

The air fryer fan can operate in one or several speed modes. Three-speed fans are optimal. Budget convection oven models are equipped with a mechanical control unit and have one fan speed mode. Models with an electronic control unit have a larger selection of modes.

There are devices with the function of automatically heating food and delaying start. The timer should be designed for the cooking time of the most complex dish that you intend to cook in the air fryer.

The lids of air fryers are also different. They can be removable and fixed to the body using a special bracket. The removable cover may not be convenient enough due to its heavy weight. When it's hot, it's difficult to remove. But devices with a removable lid are more compact in size.

Budget and expensive models of devices are equipped with a self-cleaning function.

Another parameter that you should pay attention to before choosing an air fryer is its weight, since sometimes the flask needs to be washed by hand.

Multicooker and convection oven in the same design from Redmond

The air fryer has two control methods: mechanical control and electronic control. The first is two knobs, with the help of which modes are set and the temperature is set. Electronic convection ovens are improved designs that are easy to use and have greater capabilities. For example, such models have three air convection modes (65-260C), which allows you to diversify the range of prepared dishes.

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The presence of a mode for constantly maintaining a certain low temperature allows you to keep food hot for several hours. Another function is delay cooking, the essence of which is that in the morning food is placed in a glass container, the mode is set, and in the evening you get a ready-made hot dinner. But if with mechanically controlled air fryers you can postpone cooking for only one hour, then with electronic ones you can postpone cooking for a whole day. And also all devices of any model are equipped with a self-cleaning mode.

The REDMOND company has released a rather interesting model RAG-240 - a universal convection oven without a bowl. Essentially, it is a cover with a fan and a built-in heating element (halogen). The device is installed, for example, on a regular pan into which food is placed. The desired mode is set, and after a few hours a healthy dish is obtained. The diameter of the lid is 22.5 centimeters, which means it will cover any container in which food is prepared of the same size. These come in pots and pans, and this type of air fryer is also installed on baking dishes, bowls from multicookers and steamers. The main thing is that the dishes are heat-resistant.

Reviews

Maria
We bought a Philips HD9231 air fryer when we moved. It is ideal for a small kitchen; it cooks vegetables in just 15 minutes and chicken in just half an hour. Among the disadvantages is the opaque body, which makes it very difficult to control the process. I advise you to add all the spices at once, and add salt after cooking, this way the taste will be more natural.

Oleg
I bought the Hotter Fitness Grill to cook my favorite chicken, but without the fat. Even well-fed broilers fit into the large bowl; the crust is always perfect if you set all the values to maximum. A lot of fat drains into the pan, and the chicken itself turns out soft. I set the grates as high as possible, so the baking time is much shorter.

Using an air fryer as an alternative to a conventional oven and even a microwave is justified when you need to reduce fat consumption, switch to a healthier diet, or simply make cooking easier for a large family. Among the best models of 2018, there are both compact but powerful, and easy to operate, with an attractive price tag.

Air fryer rating

The sales leader on the Russian market is. High quality, extensive range, thoughtful design, no complaints from consumers. The only disadvantage of the brand is the high price of the device. But there are more expensive brands on the market, for example, “Bork”. Consumer reviews indicate that the brand is overpriced. Air fryer rating>>>

The most popular among Russian buyers is the air fryer.

Such brands. like Bosch, Philips, Tefal are also in the expensive price segment, but they cost a little less, while having high technical characteristics. In the middle segment there are brands such as Zelmer, Farog and others.

Instructions for using the air fryer

Recommendations for working with the device:

Choose a recipe from the book included with your air fryer. It describes in detail the technology for preparing a particular dish and gives detailed recommendations on using the device and setting the necessary parameters.
Place the required products into the machine’s container and close it tightly with the lid.
Set on the control panel the parameters necessary for preparing this dish: temperature mode, fan speed and time.
When the temperature in the convection oven reaches the required level, the fan will start, which will circulate hot air inside the device.
To clean the unit, use the self-cleaning function. If necessary, you can remove the work container and wash it by hand.

Device functions

Now regarding the functions and capabilities of the air fryer. The buyer should be aware that the list of functions presented and options for using the device depend directly on the brand and type of model. Accordingly, the more options, the higher the price. Most popular features:

Temperature maintenance.
Temperature regulation.
Setting the speed. Most often, more speeds are available on expensive models.
Delayed start.
Self-cleaning.
Smoking. The principle of operation comes down to smoking any product - from fish to cheese. But this will require sawdust from fruit trees, and you also need to take into account the features of smoking products. For example, meat must first be marinated.
Double boiler.
Mixing. This model includes a special stirrer.

How to use an air fryer? To do this, you immediately need to read the instructions, it describes in detail how to enable this or that option, which buttons on the control are responsible for which mode, etc. Then you can additionally watch videos on YouTube.

Summarizing

The air fryer can safely be called a “super cook”, because a variety of dishes are prepared in it. It allows you to boil or fry meat, fish, cutlets, cook shashlik, bake potatoes, stew vegetables, cook porridges and soups, bake and dry fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs. This is the only device that provides the ability to prepare hot and cold smoked dishes. Also, during the preservation process, the workpieces can be sterilized directly in jars. The air fryer is easy to use and easy to clean, which is so necessary for the kitchen.

Now you know how to choose a convection oven, and you can purchase exactly the model that will fully meet your requirements.