If you’re like many people, you love fried foods, but not the havoc they can wreak on your skin and your waistline. What if you learned of a way you can have genuine fried food that uses almost no oil but still gives you the crispiness and flavor you like? There’s a new product on the market called the air fryer, and it has even been endorsed by the likes of Chef Gordon Ramsey.
How Does it Work?
Although the design may very from maker to maker, all of the air fryers on the market work in basically the same way. Air fryers use super-heated air and a convection system to get food super-crispy on the outside while leaving it moist and tender on the inside. You need only add about a tablespoon of oil, and any excess drips out and away from the food into a drainage pan that sits below the cooking basket. However, cooking isn’t limited to fried foods; many of these cookers can also grill, roast or steam foods.
An air fryer is small enough to use on the counter top and doesn’t take up much space. Most air fryers use 800 and 1400 watts of power, and they can cook 1.5 – 2.5 pounds of food at a time, depending on the model. Some models have extra features like precise temperature settings, digital programming and non-stick surfaces.
What Can You Cook With It?
Manufacturers claim that this product eliminates about 70 – 80% of the oil from the frying process without affecting the taste or appearance of the food. That beats ‘oven frying’ and other methods, and many reviewers have gotten great results with this product. The constant circulation of hot air is what does the trick, and cooking times are very comparable to traditional frying. Try your air fryer with such food items as:
– potato chips
– chicken
– fish
– pastries
Where Can You Get One?
This product is manufactured by some of the top names in the kitchen appliance industry, including Philips and T-Fal. The price starts at $200. but you can expect it to go down slightly after time. The product is available at most stores that carry small appliances, at online retailers and from the manufacturer’s website.
You can check out the best air fryer reviews from blogs that provide consumer reviews, by browsing website that provide product reviews and information or by visiting the manufacturers website. Once you get an idea of which brand will work best for you, you can buy it and try it yourself. Just try to find reviews that are from people who have actually used to product themselves for more accurate information.
