Who would not love deep-fried foods like fried chicken, French fries, and potato chips? Indulging in fried foods provides a certain level of comfort.
But, in spite of its taste, fried foods are deemed to be unhealthy because they usually contain a high level of calories and fat that contributes to high cholesterol.
An air fryer is the best option to cook fried foods in a healthy way. You can spare from fat and calorie as you need not submerge the food into oil.
People who are concerned about their health have switched from using the traditional deep fryer to a healthier way of cooking. Using an air fryer is about cooking with less or no oil at all. That’s why people who are on the lookout of their cholesterol level should consider an air fryer.
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
An air fryer works similarly like a deep fryer or countertop convection oven. The difference is that with an air fryer you need not use a large amount of oil to fry foods. Instead, the hot air circulating inside the fryer is enough to cook the food. Likewise, you can still enjoy the texture and taste of fried foods.
This kitchen appliance can help you to prepare fried foods but reduces the oil content to up to eighty percent. This means that there’s no need to fill the pans with oil. It is also very convenient to cook tasty meals in an air fryer than in traditional deep fryers.
In addition, there are other features that make an air fryer a smart addition for your kitchen including the following:
Rapid Air Technology
Rapid Air Technology allows hot air to circulate throughout the air fryer. This is one of the outstanding features of new models of air fryer that you can find. The good thing about this feature is that you can ensure that the food is not cooked in oil but through the hot air.
This feature makes the airflow consistent inside the fryer. With this, the food is quickly and evenly cooked.
Healthy
If you’re conscious about your weight, then you should practice healthy eating. But, how can you stay healthy if you love fried foods such as fried chicken and French fries? Worry no more because air fryer allows you to take indulgence with fried foods without using too much oil.
Using air fryer reduces the number of calories and fat without sacrificing taste. This kitchen buddy uses air to cook the food that’s why you can expect that the food does not contain extra calories from oil. However, the crispiness of the fried food is comparable with using a deep fryer.
Unlike using a deep fryer, with an air fryer the fat content of the food is reduced up to eighty percent while retaining the same texture and taste.
Fast
Using an air fryer makes the cooking process extremely efficient. It cuts the cooking time dramatically because it easily heats up. The temperature inside the fryer increases swiftly within three minutes, thus it’s never time-consuming.
Cooking Process
When it comes to the cooking process, an air fryer is very versatile as it can handle various tasks. This kitchen appliance won’t only provide healthy dishes, but also allows you to try different kinds of recipes.
Aside from frying, you can bake, grill, or roast. By adjusting the time and temperature, you can cook various meals that you want. It also works great in cooking fluffy or crispy baked foods.
Exhaust System
As the temperature reaches a certain point, the internal pressure also rises. The exhaust system is responsible for taking off a small amount of hot air circulating inside the fryer. Thus, pressure is released and the exhaust system forces the smoke and steam to come out.
However, through this system, the smoke is filtered before it goes out. The exhaust system prevents smoke or the smell of the food to fill your kitchen.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Food in an Air Fryer?
The average cooking time of an air fryer is about 15-30 minutes. Here is the Air Fryer Cooking Chart of the most common foods.
| Foods | Temperature (F) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | ||
| Breasts, bone in (1.25 lbs) | 370 | 25 |
| Breasts, boneless (4 oz) | 380 | 12 |
| Drumsticks (2.5 lbs) | 370 | 20 |
| Thighs, bone in (2 lbs) | 380 | 22 |
| Thighs, boneless (1.5 lbs) | 380 | 20 |
| Legs, bone in (1.75 lbs) | 380 | 30 |
| Wings (2 lbs) | 400 | 12 |
| Game hen (halved 2 lbs) | 390 | 20 |
| Whole chicken (6.5 lbs) | 360 | 75 |
| Tenders / Chicken strips | 360 | 10 |
| Beef | ||
| Burger (4 oz) | 370 | 16 |
| Filet mignon (8 oz) | 400 | 18 |
| Flank steak (1.5 lbs) | 400 | 12 |
| London broil (2 lbs) | 400 | 20 to 28 |
| Meatballs (1 inch) | 380 | 7 |
| Ribeye, bone in (1 inch, 8 oz) | 400 | 10 to 18 |
| Sirloin steaks (1 inch, 12 oz) | 400 | 9 to 14 |
| Pork & Lamb | ||
| Loin (2lbs) | 360 | 55 |
| Pork Chops, bone in (1 inch, 6.5 oz) | 400 | 12 |
| Tenderloin (1 lb) | 370 | 15 |
| Bacon (regular) | 400 | 5 to 7 |
| Sausages | 380 | 15 |
| Lamb loin chops (1 inch thick) | 400 | 8 to 12 |
| Rack of lamb (1.5 – 2 lbs) | 380 | 22 |
| Fish & Seafood | ||
| Calamari (8 oz) | 400 | 4 |
| Fish fillet (1 inch, 8 oz) | 400 | 10 |
| Salmon, filet (6 oz) | 380 | 12 |
| Swordfish steak | 400 | 10 |
| Tuna steak | 400 | 7 to 10 |
| Scallops | 400 | 5 to 7 |
| Shrimp | 400 | 5 |
| Frozen foods | ||
| Thin French fries (20 oz) | 400 | 14 |
| Thick French fries (17 oz) | 400 | 18 |
| Mozzarellla sticks (11 oz) | 400 | 8 |
| Pot stickers (10 oz) | 400 | 8 |
| Fish sticks (10 oz) | 400 | 10 |
| Fish fillets (1/2 inch, 10 oz) | 400 | 14 |
| Chicken nuggets (12 oz) | 400 | 10 |
| Vegetables | ||
| Asparagus | 400 | 5 |
| Beets (whole) | 400 | 40 |
| Broccoli | 400 | 6 |
| Brussel sprouts (halved) | 380 | 15 |
| Carrots (sliced 1/2 inch) | 380 | 15 |
| Cauliflower (florets) | 400 | 12 |
| Corn on the cob | 390 | 6 |
| Eggplant (1 1/2 inch cubes) | 400 | 15 |
| Fennel (quartered) | 370 | 15 |
| Green beans | 400 | 5 |
| Kale leaves | 250 | 12 |
| Mushrooms (sliced 1/4 inch) | 400 | 5 |
| Onions (pearl) | 400 | 10 |
| Parsnips (1/2 inch chunks) | 380 | 15 |
| Peppers (1 inch chunks) | 400 | 15 |
| Potatoes (small baby, 1.5 lbs) | 400 | 15 |
| Potatoes (1 inch chunks) | 400 | 12 |
| Potatoes ( baked whole) | 400 | 40 |
| Squash (1/2 inch chunks) | 400 | 12 |
| Sweet potato (baked) | 380 | 35 |
| Tomatoes (cherry) | 400 | 4 |
| Tomatoes (halves) | 350 | 10 |
| Zucchini (1/2 inch sticks) | 400 | 12 |
FAQ’s for Air Fryer
- Can we cook different varieties of food in an air fryer?
An air fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance that allows the user to cook different foods and recipes. You can fry, bake, grill, or roast your food using an air fryer.
Image from Jeanette Cordero Hernandez
- How much time an air fryer takes to cook frozen foods?
Before you throw the frozen foods into the air fryer, make sure to thaw them first. Otherwise, it will take longer time to fry.
- How much food can be cooked at a time in an air fryer?
The volume of food that can be cooked in an air fryer depends on the size and capacity. Most designs of air fryers can accommodate about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of foods at a time. Likewise, if you cook a large amount of food, then you should choose an air fryer that has double racks.
- Is there any specific type of oil required for air fryer?
Obviously, there’s no specific type of oil required when cooking in an air fryer. It’s up to you what type of oil to use, the important thing to note is that you’re cooking in a little amount of oil and that is beneficial to your health.
- Can we add more ingredients while the food is getting cooked in an air fryer?
Definitely, you can’t add more ingredients into an air fryer while the food is getting cooked. It’s because each type of food or cooking process has a specific temperature and time required.
- How many items can be cooked at a go in an air fryer?
The volume of food that you can cook depends on the size and capacity of an air fryer. But, you can find an air fryer that has sufficient surface to accommodate a few types of foods and different cooking processes.
- Do we need to preheat the air fryer?
Yes, you need to pre-heat the air fryer but it does not take too long. It takes about three minutes to heat up and achieve the required temperature appropriate for the cooking process and the type of food.
- How does hot air contribute to the crispiness of the food?
Air fryer allows you to indulge in crispy, tasty fried foods without worrying about the cholesterol content. The rapid air technology is responsible to distribute consistent airflow inside the fryer, thus achieve even and well-cooked foods.
Leave a Reply