With so many people looking for healthier ways to cook, Air Fryers are becoming pretty popular! But, is this gadget something you just can’t live without or a fad that will end-up on some shelf in your garage in a few years? Let’s take a look. 👓😎
What is an Air Fryer?
So, what is an Air Fryer, exactly?! It’s a counter top appliance that cooks food by using hot air. The air is heated and then a high-speed fan circulates it around the food (in a metal basket). This process cooks the food evenly and it gets crispy, as if you’ve fried it. Basically, it’s a fat-free way to make ‘fried’ foods. I say fat-free because that’s the only way I’ve ever used mine, but some air fryers suggest you use a small amount of oil.
What can you cook in an Air Fryer?
French fries and sweet potato fries are easy to make. Cut-up the potatoes and place them in the basket, sprinkle with whatever seasoning you like (I usually use a bunch of garlic powder, onion powder, and Mrs. Dash). Set the temperature to 400 degrees F. and the timer to 20 minutes. As it cooks, remove the basket every 5 minutes or so to shake the fries so they don’t stick and they brown evenly. They turn out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I won’t lie to you – they aren’t exactly like fries made in a deep fat fryer. But, they are pretty darn tasty!
Other yummy foods are crispy garbanzos (photo below), roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted garlic, and even tofu! You can also bake potatoes in this gizmo. Just scrub a couple potatoes, poke steam holes and cook at 375 degrees F. for 30-45 minutes.
What does it cost?
The prices range from around $50 to $300 depending on the capacity and features. Mine cost under $100 when I got it a couple years ago. Having only experienced my brand, I looked up some reviews of other brands. Consumer Reports rated these gadgets and you can read their report here: Best Air Fryers of 2019.
Great gadget or a fad?
PROS:
- It’s a healthy way to “fry” foods.
- The results are better using an air fryer over oven frying.
- It doesn’t heat-up your kitchen.
- Perfect for two people.
CONS:
- Air Fryers are bulky. So be aware that they do take up some space.
- You cannot make large quantities of food in the air fryer. You may opt to just use your oven when you are cooking for a family.
- They are noisy.
I don’t personally use this gizmo nearly as often as I use my electric pressure cooker or my Vitamix. However, it is a pretty nifty little appliance to add to your kitchen. If you get one, I suggest you join a Facebook air fryer group (there are tons of them!) or buy yourself an Air Fryer cookbook.
What are your thoughts? Do you own one of these gadgets? Do you use it more than I do? I’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions in the comment section below.
