Make healthier fried foods with an air fryer
Air fryers are compact, countertop small kitchen appliances that can be used to make a wide variety of fried foods with little to no oil. Rather than submerging food in oil to get that crispy exterior, place it inside an air fryer with a bit of, or, in some cases, no oil, and the food will cook.
Air fryers work similarly to convection ovens with a heating mechanism and fan at the top. Once turned on, hot air circulates down and around the food. This rapid and even heating process results in foods with the same crispy texture you’d get when frying them the traditional way.
Available in silver stainless steel, black, or white, a stand-alone air fryer or basket air fryer is available in sizes ranging from 0.8kg up to 1.5kg so they can accommodate whole chickens, there are options for small and large families and entertaining. There are also other types of air fryers including different types of air fryers including an air fryer grill, an air fryer microwave, and an air fry oven.
What kind of food can you make in an air fryer?
Air fryers are great for making any food you would typically fry, like French fries, fried chicken, vegetables, meat, fish, chicken nuggets, and chicken wings. You can also use one that has a basket that can flip for desserts like doughnuts.
They are also great for frozen foods, like chicken nuggets, French fries, and mozzarella sticks that all benefit from a nice, crispy exterior. You cannot, however, make foods that have a liquid batter base unless you freeze them first.
Generally, food, like homemade fried chicken or fried fish, made in an air fryer is healthier than if you were to fry it the traditional way, submerged in oil in a deep fryer. Frozen foods you might otherwise baked in a convection oven, however, won’t be any healthier. But they might cook faster, and clean-up is a breeze.
What features should you look for in an air fryer?
Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes, but you want one that will suit your family’s needs. Each type has different features and capacities. A larger one is great for making big batches of food, like an entire bag of frozen French fries.
Basket air fryers are easy to use, easy to clean up, and perfect for single meals or meals for two. They work for larger meals too, but you may have to cook in small batches.
An air fryer grill will air fry and sear your food so it’s grilled just like a BBQ. If you choose a type of Ninja Air Fryer, the Ninja Foodi Grill, you’ll be able to sear your food with perfect grill marks and switch to air frying your French fries, all in one versatile appliance.
An air fry microwave oven can be used for microwaving and air frying, and some types can also roast and bake as well. If you live in a small apartment or dorm, you might appreciate having this capability, especially if you share a stove or don’t have one at all. You could also choose an air fryer oven that can air fry your favourite food as well as bake or cook a chicken on the rotisserie.
Other features worth looking for in the best air fryers include cool touch handles, overheating protection, the ability to adjust the temperature to suit different cooks, and an anti-odour filter to help get rid of unpleasant smells. The basket is important: you want one that is non-stick and can be easily removed for washing; dishwasher-safe parts are a plus.
Shop for your air fryer, air fryer grill, air fryer microwave, or air fryer oven right now at Best Buy.