Is an air fryer healthy?
In this brief blog we will address the query,”Is an air fryer healthy?” We will explain what an air fryer is and how it works. We will guide on what foods can be air fried. We will also discuss the benefits of an air fryer. We will briefly talk about a few risks of air fryers.
Is an air fryer healthy?
Yes, an air fryer is healthy and when compared to a deep oil fryer, it is a much healthier alternative. Air frying is able to cut calories between 70 percent to 80 percent and has much less fat as compared to deep oil frying and can also result in less inflammation.
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is quite similar to an oven because it can bake and toast. However, its heating elements are only located at the top and it also comes coupled up with a large and powerful fan that assists in making the food crispy in a very short duration of time.
An air fryer is basically a combination of both a deep fryer and an oven. It comes with a basket that suspends the food and it’s well located to receive heat from all of the sides which is important in making foods nice and crispy enough.
The food is usually strategically exposed to hot circulating air similar to a convection oven as opposed to being placed in steaming hot oil like in a deep fryer.
What foods can you cook in an Air Fryer?
Air fryers are a good substitute for deep fryers and they can basically cook anything that would normally fry in oil. The following foods can be air fried:
An air fryer can cook pretty much anything that you would normally fry in oil, such as:
- French fries
- Chicken and also chicken fingers and nuggets
- Veggies such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, zucchini, mushrooms, cauliflower and onions
- Crispy bacon
- Onion rings and french fries
- Cheese sticks
- Crispy roast potatoes
- Fish
- Doughnuts
- Pizza
To learn how air fried foods taste click this link.
What are the benefits of Air fryers?
They can promote weight loss
Consumption of fried foods has been associated with an increased risk of obesity because fried foods have been linked with an increased link of being obese. Deep fried foods have high fat and calories.
Switching from deep fried foods and consuming air-dried foods can assist in your weight loss journey.
They are safer than deep fryers
Deep frying foods usually involves heating foods in a large pot full of scalding oil. This presents a safety risk. However with air fryers even if they get hot, there is no risk of spilling, splashing or inadvertently touching scorching hot oil.
If air dryers are operated safely while following all safety instructions, they are very safe to use.
Reducing consumption of deep fried foods reduces disease risk
Cooking foods with oil and consuming foods that are fried in oil has been associated with many adverse health conditions. Substituting deep frying with other types of cooking methods can drastically reduce the risk of these diseases.
What are the risks of air fryers?
They do not guarantee a healthy diet
Air fryers are capable of providing more healthy food options than the traditional deep fryers however air fryers still make fried foods and studies have linked limiting fried foods intake with an increased boost in the person’s health.
Replacing deep fried food with air fried foods does not guarantee a clean and healthy diet. People should seek to consume a varied and balanced diet that incorporates veggies, fruits, whole grains and lean protein.
They can create other harmful compounds
Air fryers have been found to reduce the likelihood of acrylamides formation but other harmful compounds can still be formed.
There is still a risk of air frying forming acrylamides and not only that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic mines can be created because of the high heat used to cook the meats.
Studies have associated these compounds with increased risk of certain types of cancer however more research is required to show how air frying contributes to these compounds.
Conclusion
In this brief blog we have addressed the query,”Is an air fryer healthy?” We have explained what an air fryer is and how it works. We have guided on what foods can be air fried. We have also discussed the benefits of an air fryer. We have finally briefly talked about a few risks of air fryers.
