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There is a good chance you have heard of air fryers before, but are you wondering how to choose the best air fryer? This article should help you narrow down the specifications that are best for you.
You can use it to make easy side dishes such as roasted vegetables, or even main dishes such as chicken, with a fraction of oil, and in less than half the time of cooking in the oven.
Air frying is also one of the greatest methods for reheating crispy dishes or pizza as well as the ideal method for preparing frozen appetizers.
While maintaining the crunch and flavor that we all enjoy, it reduces your intake of calories and fats. The many selections make it simple to get confused if you’re thinking about purchasing one. To help you find the best air fryer for your kitchen, scroll down to figure out everything running through your mind.
What is an Air Fryer?
It is a countertop device that functions as a small convection oven. It harnesses heat and wind from an internal fan to cook your chicken wings fully and crisp up your French fries easily without using a lot of oil or fat.
Air fryers are secure, functional, and simple to clean. The majority of foods, including chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, burger patties, and more, can be cooked in them. The fact that you don’t have to wait for anything to heat up makes them speedier than ovens or stovetops at cooking food.
A Must Needed Appliance
Types of Air Fryers
1- Classic
These are the traditional, first-generation air fryers, which include a basket for food storage. They are classified into two types: square and egg-shaped. Compared to egg-shaped air fryers, the square-shaped ones have the advantage of providing greater room for cooking meals in a single layer.
Make sure to get one with a basket that’s large enough to feed a family or to crisp up appetizers or dinner from time to time.
2- Lids
Air fryer lids are a great choice if you already possess an instant pot and have limited countertop space. They turn your existing “electric pressure cooker” into an air fryer with a lower budget.
In order to convert your pressure cooker into an air fryer, you must add an air fryer lid to it. You’ll also need an air fryer basket that fits your pressure cooker in addition to an air fryer cover.
3- Toaster Ovens
While taking up more space, air fryer ovens are more than just your typical air fryers. They toast, bake, broil, reheat, and some even have a rotisserie feature.
An air fryer oven, also known as an air fryer toaster oven, has the appearance of a small oven. It differs from a typical convection oven in that it is smaller, heats up faster, and includes a mesh basket or tray. This means that the advantages of hot air circulation are the same as those of a square air fryers.
Key Factors to Consider while Purchasing this appliance
You may choose the type that is best for you by understanding how they differ in a few key aspects.
1- Size
Air fryers are available in a range of sizes, from extremely small to quite large. How many people you plan to cook for at once will determine what size you should buy.
The size of the basket should be taken into account; there is a quart capacity for every air fryer. The surface area of the basket matters, as it is recommended to fry food in a single layer for it to crisp properly with the hot air. The deeper depth of air fryers is not really important to you.
A 2-3 quart one will work great if you are only cooking for 1-2 people and plan to mostly make side; a size of about 6 quarts might be appropriate for large family-sized air fryers (a family of four people) and the larger air fryers toaster ovens are definitely an option for even larger families.
2- Space
Counter space is an additional factor to take into account. Air fryers may be heavy and need to be kept on the counter. You also want to consider leaving some space behind them because they should be kept a little away from walls.
If you need to keep the air fryer in a cabinet, think about getting a smaller, lighter basket air fryer that is simpler to pick up and move.
3- Price
You may wonder if it is worth paying for an air fryer while having an oven at home. Well, you have to take into consideration the other criteria to figure out the most appropriate price for your air fryer.
Depending on the size and functionality, air fryers can cost anywhere from $50 to $400. I am aware of the vast variety. The lower cost is primarily for basket air fryers, and the higher cost is for bigger toaster oven air fryers.
If you want the air fryer to perform all the tasks, including bake, roast, and so forth, then splurge on a bigger toaster oven.
4- Easiness of Cleaning
The majority of air fryers contain parts that can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but double-check that the model you are contemplating has this feature.
I don’t think cleaning the non-stick ones is a hard job. I often just add a little dish soap and pour warm water into the air fryer basket if there is food stuck. Next, I allow it to soak for 20 minutes. By doing this, I can easily remove the stuck food and clean the air fryer basket.
A Simple and Healthy Way of Cooking
Is Air-Fried Food Healthy?
Although it depends on what you are cooking in your air fryer, air-frying is almost always healthier than deep frying or pan frying in oil.
Air frying is certainly a healthier alternative if you commit to using just 1-2 teaspoons of a plant-based oil with seasoning and stick to air-frying vegetables more often than anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
When deep frying, a lot of oil is needed, and the food should preferably be completely submerged. While using only a teaspoon of oil, air fryers can be considered healthier.
Yes! It can be used to cook multiple things at once. It is also feasible to cook them all at once, but to determine which foods to cook simultaneously and which in stages, you must first know how long each meal takes to cook.
This is a relatively common question. Did you just purchase an air fryer and wish to make clean up easier? Sure, as long as it’s weighted down with food, parchment paper can be used in an air fryer.
Do not panic and assume that you are doing anything incorrectly or that the appliance is malfunctioning because we encounter this question frequently. Modern air fryers have a protective layer, and when they heat up for the first time, they release a smell similar to burnt plastic. After using it a few times, it will go away.
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