Air fryers are the fashionable appliances in recent times, since they allow, broadly speaking, to fry without oil and, therefore, to obtain much healthier and less caloric fried foods than those made in a deep fryer. conventional or in the pan. There are numerous brands on the market that sell air fryers, which can be purchased from around €45. They work with hot air, simulating a convection oven, so that the air circulates at high speed through the fryer basket, which then distributes the heat evenly throughout the device.
According to the owner of the flexitarian restaurant Bennu in Madrid, Ana White, "air fried foods are much healthier than fried foods, because significantly fewer additional calories (or even zero calories) are added when frying them. Air frying fries foods quickly and does not require much, if any, added oil. Speed is, therefore, another of the advantages of these devices, which coincide in the fact that, unlike the oven, they have a fairly fast preheating time.
It is worth remembering that frying with oil at high temperatures has numerous negative consequences for health. This is recalled by a study published in BMJ Journals, which ensures that the consumption of fried foods is related to a greater risk of suffering from serious heart disease and also suffering from a stroke. Another investigation, this time carried out by the University of Shenzen (China) published in the journal Heart concludes that people with a high consumption of fried foods have up to 28% higher risk of suffering a serious cardiovascular episode, while the risk Regarding coronary heart disease and heart failure, it increases by 22% and 37% respectively. The study also points out that this risk increases exponentially with just 114 grams more of fried foods per week.
"The optimal way to consume food is baked, steamed, cooked or raw, and as far as possible the oil should be consumed raw to maintain all its antioxidant properties," says nutritionist Paloma Quintana. This means that air fryers, which actually act as an oven, are a good way to cook food healthily while maintaining a texture that appeals to all palates.
White, for his part, also highlights among the advantages of these small appliances that "they are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, since they have removable parts" and also points out that most are small in size, so they do not take up lots of space in the kitchen.
The air fryer also allows you to leave behind all those inconveniences that conventional frying presents, such as splashes or the fact that the food is not fried evenly, since either we do not turn them at the same time or we do not get the right point of frying. frying. "Air frying fries foods evenly, so there's no need to turn them halfway through the frying process, although doing so helps with uniformity," says White, who also points out that "smell is not a problem." problem if we use this appliance as it would be with traditional frying. The owner of Bennu notes that "air fried food doesn't leave the fried smell everywhere, so it's perfect for when you have guests over and you don't want to send them home smelling like French fries."
Finally, among the advantages of air fryers, it is worth noting that most of them are really easy to use, since we simply have to set the temperature and cooking time, place the food in the basket and wait for it to cook. White also highlights that "unlike microwaves, these devices do not emit radiation, and also protect users from heat and oil splashes."
Although there are numerous users who claim that they could no longer live without their air fryer, the truth is that the results present some differences compared to those of traditional fryers with oil and even frying in the pan. It is important, however, according to White, to keep in mind that frying in an air fryer "is much healthier", so its use is highly advisable for all those people who want to take care of their health and do not mind giving up some of them. characteristics such as the typical crunchiness provided by well-done traditional fried foods. "Air-fried foods are generally not as crispy compared to other foods," says White, convinced, however, that it is a price worth paying since this type of cooking provides numerous benefits.
As for which oil to use, both in the case of conventional frying and if we want to add a splash to the air fryer, nutritionist Paloma Quintana is clear: always virgin or extra virgin olive oil. "What is marketed as plain olive oil is a mixture of extra virgin olive oil – which is nothing more than the juice of the olive – and other refined oils. It is not that refined oils are bad in themselves, but that refining causes the antioxidants to diminish and the oil to lose its properties," explains the expert, who also advises against buying "special frying" oils. "Not only are they refined oils, but there is also no obligation for them to be olive oil, so the consumer does not know exactly what they are buying," explains Quintana. The best thing if we want to maintain a good state of health is – he assures – to use a very small amount of oil and that it is always extra virgin.
"It's harder to air fry a whole large dish or even a small whole chicken, so it may require several air frying sessions," White notes. In addition to the fact that you cannot cook large dishes, so it will not be very practical if there are many of us eating, another handicap of air fryers is that they are not suitable for all foods. "Air frying may only be worth it if you're looking to air fry perfectly cooked foods with less oil," says White. Among those that should not be cooked in the air fryer are fried fish-style batters, wings, etc., since they require a temperature shock that the air fryer does not provide. Cheese and foods that have wet doughs are also not good options. On the other hand, you can cook potatoes and fine meats such as chicken, bacon or even a steak, as well as broccoli (which will be crunchy), cookies and other desserts.
Finally, another drawback of this appliance is that it is somewhat more expensive than normal fryers, and that frying is slower than traditional frying, even when we cook smaller quantities of food. Finally, White points out that "some foods taste better than others, so each person should try to cook what works for each individual case, since some will come out drier when air fried, which makes sense, since everything the cooking process is different."
