How Does An Air Fryer Work: A Complete Guide

Are you trying to switch to healthier eating habits but can’t give up on fried food? Are you concerned about the amount of oil needed to deep fry your favourite foods? An air fryer lets you enjoy delicious fried food without guilt or worry. At first glance, the concept of frying food with air might seem confusing. However, this innovative technology has revolutionised the way we fry food, ultimately leading to healthier eating choices. Continue reading on to learn more about how does an air fryer work. 

What Is An Air Fryer?  

If you’re not familiar with what an air fryer is, it is a kitchen appliance that uses alternate modes of heating to fry food. An air fryer uses convection heat to cook food that would be usually deep fried. Cooking items like fries, chips, fitters, etc., in an air fryer allows you to enjoy the same crispy mouthfeel of deep-fried food using only a small amount of oil. Essentially, it is a device that allows you to fry food in a healthier way. Additionally, air fryers are fitted with an array of functions. So, you can use this device to cook food in a multitude of ways. 

How Does The Air Fryer Work? 

To help you understand how an air fryer does its job, here is a brief breakup of how this device works. Firstly, it’s important to clear up the misconception that an air fryer ‘fries’ your food. The word ‘fry’ automatically brings up images of food immersed in boiling oil. However, an air fryer functions more like a mini-convection oven. 

The appliance usually comes with a perforated basket. You simply have to place whatever food items you want to fry into this basket. Once you switch on your air fryer, it cooks food by circulating hot air around the basket with the help of a fan. This method of cooking food with the help of hot air is known as convection cooking. Convection heat is responsible for giving food crispiness that is associated with fried food while using very little oil. The only pre-requisite for air frying is that the temperature of the air should reach around 320°F. Once it reaches the required temperature, the air will heat the food in the basket and crisp its exteriors, turning items like frozen nuggets, fries, cuts of meat, etc., a golden brown. 

Since an air fryer can generate intense heat, it can also cook your food in other ways. If you want to roast food items like vegetables or fish, you can do so using an air fryer. It can also simulate the char you normally associate with cooking food on the grill. 

The Maillard Reaction & Air Fryer 

To get to the technical side of how an air fryer works, it is vital to understand the Maillard reaction. On the face of it, the Maillard reaction is quite a complex phenomenon. Findings suggest that the Maillard reaction consists of various smaller chemical reactions, all occurring simultaneously, when heat transforms the protein and sugar present in food. The result of the numerous reactions is the generation of new colours, flavours, and fragrances. In essence, the Maillard reaction is what contributes to making food more enticing to us. It is considered to be an evolutionary marker that signals to humans that food is nutritious, digestible and safe to consume. 

In practice, an air fryer also uses the Maillard reaction to cook food. The only difference is that rather than using hot oil, it does so using hot air. The hot air generated by the air fryers turns wedges of potatoes into crispy fries, gives raw hunks of meat a sear, and turns all sorts of dough brown. While you do need a little bit of oil to cook food in the air fryer, it is considerably less when compared to deep frying. The little bit of oil and hot air work in tandem to kickstart the Maillard reaction and turn food edible and delicious. 

How To Use An Air Fryer: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Once you know the mechanism behind how an air fryer works, using one is fairly easy. Here is a step-by-step guide that shows you how easy it is to use an air fryer: 

• Step 1: Preheat 

Since an air fryer works similarly to a convection oven, the first step would be to pre-heat it. Normally, an air fryer needs around five to seven minutes to pre-heat before it is ready to start cooking. Before you set it to pre-heat, make sure to choose a temperature at which you would like to cook your food. 

• Step 2: Prep Your Food 

One of the things to remember while using an air fryer is to ensure that any food you place inside it is dry. The drier your food is when you put it in, the crispier it will be when you remove it. Too much liquid in your air fryer can also cause splattering and eruption of smoke. So, make sure to pat your food with a tissue before you place it in the basket. 

• Step 3: Oiling 

While an oil-free coking process would be the ideal aim, cooking with an air fryer does call for a minuscule amount of oil. All you need is a tablespoon of oil or less, to toss your food in. Coat your food evenly in the oil and place it in the basket. Make sure that you leave enough space between the items, or they won’t cook and crisp evenly. 

• Step 4: Frying 

The last step of the cooking process is to make sure to stir your food or gently shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. Doing so helps cook your food evenly and helps you achieve a nice crispy texture. If you’re cooking something high in fat, make sure to check the bottom tray to empty any extra fat. Once your time is up, remove the base of the fryer and release the basket. Now, you can remove the food from the air fryer basket and let it cool before serving. 

What Are The Advantages Of Using An Air Fryer? 

Over the last few years, more and more people have switched to using air fryers to cook their food whenever possible. Here are six advantages of using an air fryer: 

1. Weight Management 

Deep-fried foods are usually high in fat and calories. Hence, a higher intake of fried food can have a direct link with an increased risk of obesity. Switching to an air fryer can help you cut down on the amount of oil you consume. Since you are not technically consuming deep-fried food, you can also manage or prevent obesity.  

1. Safety 

Since deep frying food often involves a vessel with scalding hot oil, it can be a dangerous activity. A spill or backsplash can cause mild to severe burns. Although air fryers do get considerably hot temperature-wise, you don’t have to worry about spills, splashes, or accidentally coming in contact with hot oil. You simply have to read any manual or operation instructions that come with an air fryer and follow directions to ensure complete safety.  

1. Non-toxic 

Frying food in oil can be the catalyst for the formation of dangerous compounds such as acrylamide. The compound usually develops in certain foods when they are cooked in high heat such as deep frying. The compound has been associated with various illnesses and ailments such as different forms of cancer. You can reduce the risk of acrylamide formation by investing in an air fryer and cooking your food in a relatively non-toxic way.  

1. Healthier 

Consuming foods traditionally cooked in oil regularly has been linked to the development of various health conditions. When you switch to cooking food with the help of an air fryer you can reduce the risk of developing serious chronic illnesses and work towards living a healthier life.  

1. Timesaving 

If you lead a fairly hectic life, it can be difficult to remove the time to oversee frying food in a pan of oil. However, an air fryer helps you address this concern. When you’re cooking using an air fryer, all you need to do is place your food in the basket and set the timer. Once the designated time is up, the air fryer will emit a sound to let you know the same. Meanwhile, you are free to carry on other tasks without having to keep an eye on the food. 

1. Clean 

When you deep fry food using the traditional pot of oil, you have to worry about spills and splashes. You also have to deal with very oil vessels to wash up later. However, using an air fryer helps you do away with all of this hassle. Since all the cooking takes place in a closed system, you don’t have to deal with spills and splatters of oil. The only real washing you are left to do is cleaning the basket. Most air fryers come with dishwasher-safe baskets to save you the time and effort of manually cleaning up.  

Takeaway 

There’s no doubt that the air fryer is one of the most revolutionary kitchen appliances today. From frying to roasting to grilling and baking, an air fryer almost does it all. It can be an excellent addition to your kitchen, given its obvious benefits and portability.  

To shop for premium air fryers that will transform the way you cook food, head to Crompton and choose from only the best kitchen appliances.   

FAQs On How An Air Fryer Works 

Is air frying healthier than deep frying?

Yes, since an air fryer uses much less oil when compared to traditional deep frying, it is considered to be a healthier form of cooking food. 

How much can an air fryer hold?

Most air fryers can hold two to four servings. However, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer or your food will not cook evenly. 

How does an air fryer cook food? 

An air fryer cooks food through convection i.e., using air heated at a high temperature.