Air fryers are back in fashion lately thanks to the great advertising campaigns in which manufacturers are investing. Their claim: cooking healthier and spending less than in the oven.
But is this so? How does this device work? how much do you consume? Can we improve our diet just by adding a small appliance?
1. It is not true that the air fryer consumes very little
A claim to buying this type of appliance is that it consumes less than an oven. This comparison is a bit misleading. It’s like comparing what a car consumes with what a bus consumes, and stop using public transportation to buy a car.
Of course, an oven consumes more, but it has a capacity of 60-90 liters, which allows you to cook large quantities of food in the same time, and not just one or two servings. The capacity of an average air fryer is 3.5-5 liters.
If we compare it with a tabletop oven, which is usually 20-30 liters and a similar power (1000-1800W), we will see that they consume the same but in the oven you can do more things and in more quantities.
How much does an air fryer consume?
Well, depending on the size, model and brand, there are air fryers that consume from 800W to 2000W. They always specify this.
The most common consume, on average, 1500W. If we use the air fryer twice a day (lunch and dinner), about 60 minutes a day (since between preheating and cooking this is the time it is usually on each time we use it), we can calculate the monthly consumption.
If it is a month like April 2022, in which the average price of electricity was 191.52 euros/MWh, Using the air fryer (not counting anything else, other appliances or lighting or anything) will cost us about €8.62 per month. If electricity is more expensive, as happened in March 2022, with an average price of €283.3/MWh, using the air fryer will cost us €12.75 per month.
A ceramic cooktop consumes a little less and an induction cooker even less, since, although they have the same or greater power, their consumption is more efficient (and you do not use all the stoves at the same time to the maximum) and, most importantly, they allow you to cook in many other ways: boiling, steaming, toasting, browning, sautéing, frying, sautéing, poaching… in larger quantities than in the air fryer.
2. Cooking in the air fryer is like baking
To begin with, it must be made clear that «frying» is a cooking method that involves submerging food in hot oil. That said, the device is not a «deep fryer.»
It is actually a small convection oven. That is, an oven with a fan. What it does is heat the air a lot. to imitate as best as possible the result of frying: a crispy exterior and tender interior.
However, when we use air instead of oil, What we do is dry out the outer layers of the food. We need even a small amount of oil so that it is minimally crispy and not hard or chewy.
The result is the same as when we bake food in the oven instead of frying it. So why do you want a new appliance in your kitchen?
Add one more appliance to your kitchen the only thing it does is increase your electricity consumptionand, potentially, your consumption of unhealthy or less healthy foods.
And as for sustainability, remember that, always, the most ecological and sustainable is what is not bought.
3. Air fryer recipes are unhealthy
The main selling point of these devices is that it is very healthy, but it is very relative. This statement only takes into account the amount of oil used, not the quality of the food.
Keep in mind that in the air fryer you can only cook those things that you would fry or bake, but it does not allow you to cook the vast majority of healthy foods:
- You cannot cook leafy green vegetables in the air fryer, For example.
- In the air fryer you can’t make legumes(unless you want them «fried», and always cooking them first), cereals or derivatives.
- The air fryer It does not allow cooking things that have a lot of water, such as broths. It also does not accept liquid batters.
Thus, even if you prepare some fries, croquettes, nuggets, «fish» sticks or similar using little oil, these foods are still worse options than sautéed vegetables and legumes, which are made in less time. It doesn’t matter if you fry them or make them in a convection oven, The problem is not the oil, it is the food.
If using an air fryer you consume more of these types of dishes, You are not gaining in health at all.
small appliances and utensils that I would buy
Especially for people who are just starting out in the kitchen, small appliances are always a good option. Surely they are missing some basics, like an arm or glass blender, or a chopper, a food processor, a spice and coffee grinder, a mixer-kneader, a dehydrator, a toaster or even a small sized oven.
These appliances They are essential If we want to be able to make fine creams and sauces, our own spice mixes, preserves, homemade pizzas and other foods. Choose a quality product, with its guarantee, clear instructions, etc.
Other utensils that I would definitely incorporate in the kitchen are those that have to do with the good presentation of a dish. To make special cuts, there is a wide variety of utensils that, although they are not for daily use, do come in handy when we want to make a special meal.
For example spiralizers, that allow you to do noodles or vegetable noodles, punches to make fruit balls and vegetables or to empty vegetables and fill them,apple corers for easy filling, citrus groovers, vegetable carving tips, julienne peelers, vegetable sharpeners, utensils for preparing pasta, etc.
With a selection of these utensils you can do a lot of different things.
On the other hand, a good chef’s knife or onion knife, a santoku or Japanese knife, a set of knives, a good quality cutting board made of resistant plastic (those used in hospitality), solid wood or bamboo, are always welcome. a set of cooking utensils (palette, wooden spoon, spatula, soup ladle, tongs or skimmer), a good mandolin…
They are very basic utensils but, due to continued use, they can deteriorate after a few years and you have to replace them. Don’t be guided by price as much as by quality of materials.
- In the case of knives, that are stainless steel and with non-slip handle, heavy and with good finishes.
- Kitchen utensils should be made of one piece and made of resistant materials and not as porous as untreated wood: bamboo or stainless steel They are much more resistant and durable.
- Along with them you can also add some other utensil that complements them. For example, with a knife or set of knives, a sharpener or a cutting board. With the cooking utensils, some good quality kitchen cloths, made of cotton or bamboo fiber.