Should You Buy An Air Fryer?

Air Fryers have become increasingly popular recently, and many models are available. But the first question you should ask is "Do I need an air fryer?".

Part of the question pertains to cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency, while another revolves around the health benefits (are air fryers really a healthier alternative to deep frying?). Yet another angle is that some multi-cookers like Instant Pot have an air fryer built in, so do I need to buy another kitchen appliance?

Let's examine an air fryer, its different styles, and whether or not you should buy one.

Jump to:

How Does An Air Fryer Work?
Is Frying In An Air Fryer Healthier Than Deep Frying?
Do You Need Oil To Air Fry?
What Can I Make In An Air Fryer?
What Shouldn't I Make In An Air Fryer?
Pros And Cons of Cooking In An Air Fryer
Safety Concerns
How Much Do Air Fryers Cost?
Is An Air Fryer Worth The Cost?
Different Types of Air Fryers
Which Air Fryer Is Right For You?
Wrapping Up

How Does An Air Fryer Work?

The way an air fryer works is pretty simple. The heating is similar to a convection oven, but hot air blows over the food for a crispy exterior, whereas most convection ovens rely on ambient heat.

Air fryers are worthy competitors to deep fryers because both frying methods envelop the food during cooking to achieve the desired result. The key difference is that deep frying wraps the food with hot cooking oil, while an air fryer wraps the food in hot air.

The reason an air fryer cooks food so fast, in part, is due to the small cooking chamber. This small space allows the air fryer to circulate hot air and heat up faster, cooking food faster. The heat reaches the food faster than in traditional ovens.

Is Frying In An Air Fryer Healthier Than Deep Frying?

An air fryer can be healthier than pan or deep frying, depending on what you are frying. Air fryers require little to no oil which means less fat, cholesterol, and calories.

Do You Need Oil To Air Fry?

The short answer is no, you do not need cooking oil to air fry. In fact, I have never used cooking oil in an air fryer. However, some foods benefit from a light brushing of oil or cooking spray to develop a more crispy crust. This is optional however and I recommend trying both methods on different foods to see which way you prefer.

Spraying food with cooking spray right before air frying produces a great crispy exterior. You can opt for a healthier oil like canola or olive oil. Be careful not to spray the heating element as this is a potential fire risk.

What Can I Make In An Air Fryer?

You can make many things in an air fryer, and some may surprise you. Just the other day, I cooked a frozen personal pizza (don't judge) in the air fryer. The inside of the pizza was a little doughy, and the top was a little dark, so next time, I will adjust the temperature from 375℉ to 360℉.

What can you make in an air fryer? Below are just some of the things you can cook:

Crispy chickpeas
French fries
Chicken nuggets
Chicken wings
Fried chicken
Vegetables
Donuts
Bagels

What Shouldn't I Make In An Air Fryer?

Although air fryers are versatile and turn out delicious foods, there are some things you do not want to air fry. Keep in mind that hot air is going to wrap the food, so you do not want to cook anything that dries out quickly. See examples of no-go foods below:

Leafy vegetables like kale.
Broccoli (unless it is wrapped in aluminum foil).
Steaks or tough cuts of meat (though possible, the meat will likely dry out and turn out tough).
Anything with a wet batter.
Cheese - Cheese melts and unless you want to be cleaning cheese out of the basket all day, this should be one of the foods you skip.

Air frying tips

Do not crowd the cooking chamber. If food overlaps with each other, it will cook unevenly.
For extra crispiness, spray a light mist of cooking spray over the food after it is prepped.
Spray the cooking rack or basket with cooking spray to prevent food from sticking.
Use air fryer liners to make cleaning less of a hassle.
Preheat the air fryer while you are prepping the food so that it cooks more evenly (see safety concerns below).

Pros And Cons of Cooking In An Air Fryer

instant pot air fryer vortex display screen

As with any kitchen appliance, there are pros and cons to cooking in an air fryer. There are space limitations but the fast cooking times ease the pain a bit. You can serve the meal and start batch cooking and the subsequent batches of food will probably be done before the meal is over.

Pros

Energy efficient
Air-fried food is a healthy alternative to deep-fried food
Cooks food faster than a traditional oven
Air fryers do not heat the kitchen as much as traditional ovens

Cons

Takes up counter space
If you are preparing a large meal, you have to cook in batches
The parchment paper can flake off and lodge in the heating element

Safety Concerns

There are some safety concerns that need to be discussed that are easily avoidable if you know about them. The heating element is at the top of an air fryer and hot air blows down and around the food.

It is safe to use parchment paper in an air fryer but it should always be weighed down. If you preheat the air fryer, do not preheat with the parchment paper inside the cooking chamber. The fan could dislodge the parchment paper and it could lodge in the heating element which is a potential fire hazard.

Another safety issue is the air fryer overheating due to faulty wiring, though this is rare. Air fryers also pose a burn hazard as the heating element is exposed.

You can prevent injury or burnt food by inspecting the power cord and being cautious when removing food. Overall, air fryers are safe to use if they are used properly.

Cleaning Tips

Cleaning any kitchen appliance goes hand in hand with safety concerns because you are dealing with an electrical device and a hot appliance. Always unplug your air fryer before cleaning it and ensure it is not still hot to avoid burn risks.

You should never submerge your air fryer base in water because of the electrical components. However, the base needs to be cleaned after each use and this can be done with a sponge or soft cloth and non-abrasive dish soap. Make sure the base is completely dry before using it or it could short out.

The air fryer baskets are dishwasher safe but I recommend hand washing them because dishwasher soap can be abrasive and the basket coating could wear off after long periods.

When you clean the air fryer base, always inspect the heating element for signs of food debris, parchment paper, and grease. All of these are potential fire hazards, especially if grease has accumulated on the heating element over time.

How Much Do Air Fryers Cost?

Air fryer costs range greatly depending on the model, style, and accessories you want. The range is $25.00 for a no-frills model and $200 for air fryers worth all the bells and whistles.

Is An Air Fryer Worth The Cost?

An air fryer is worth the cost if you like a lot of fried foods but want a healthier option. Using less oil in your food is not only healthier, it saves you a little bit of money and you do not have to worry about burning yourself with hot oil.

Different Types of Air Fryers

There are four main types of air fryers: single basket, dual basket, toaster oven style, and multi-cooker (Instant Pot.) How you plan on using your air fryer, and how many people you cook for on average, will determine which style smaller air fryer is right for you.

Single basket style

The single-basket style is the old-school classic version of air fryers. As the name implies, there is one basket that holds the food, though not enough for more than a couple of people.

A major advantage of a single-basket style air fryer is that the burn risk is minimal as you are not exposed to the heating element. These air fryers cook food for 1-2 people and take up minimal counter space and storage space.

Double basket style

The double-basket style is the updated version of the single-basket air fryer. They hold double the amount of food and some newer models have a dual time option.

The dual-time option allows you to cook two kinds of food like fried chicken wings and roasted vegetables in two separate baskets. This eliminates the risk of cross-contamination and, though the food cooks at seperate temperatures, both baskets finish cooking at the same time.

Toaster oven style

The toaster oven style is one of my favorites. It is in the family of multi-cookers, with some versions having 12 different cooking methods. I like the glass door because it allows me to monitor the food as it cooks, which is especially helpful when trying new air fryer recipes.

This style of air fryer also has a larger cooking compartment than traditional air fryers. This added space allows you to cook more food than in the limited capacity of a traditional model.

The downside to these is that they are a little harder to clean than a single or double-basket style air fryer. There are ways to prevent a hard-to-clean mess. You can wrap the cooking rack in aluminum foil and perforate it which will contain most of the mess.

Multi-cookers

Several multi-cookers like Instant Pot come with an air fryer option and work fantastically. The biggest advantage is that, like the toaster oven-style air fryer, you only need one appliance for all your cooking needs. This not only saves space, it also allows the user to get very comfortable with their particular multi-cooker.

Which Air Fryer Is Right For You?

air fryer pineapple savory with lime on a white plate

Choosing the right air fryer for you is not only based on personal preference, it is based on several factors like kitchen space, how much food you can prepare at one time, and how often you plan on using it.

Though most air fryers are safe to use if used properly, the basket styles pose less of a burn risk than the air fryers with lids that open upward. Air fryers with lids have an exposed heating element that will burn you if you are not careful when removing the food from the cooking chamber.

Budget is also a concern so it is best to look for an air fryer within your price range that also has a decent range of features. Overall, I recommend air fryers because, after cooking with them for years, I see the benefits of owning one and have made a lot of good fried food with them. Pizza anyone?

Wrapping Up

Air fryers are great kitchen gadgets that will not only simplify your life, but they consistently deliver delicious food. The fried food is healthier than pan or deep frying because little to no cooking oil is required.

These appliances also cook food faster than a regular convection oven and they do not heat the kitchen. Because of their compact size and fast cooking times, air fryers are more energy-efficient. So yes, you should buy an air fryer to make your life convenient!