The air fryer has become more and more popular in recent years, and continues to gain a steady stream of devotees. A few members of our team decided to try it out to give us the lowdown on this device, as well as tips for using it at home.

What is an air fryer?

It is a small convection oven that circulates hot air using a fan. You can use it as a fryer that needs very little oil to make food crispy, but also to cook many different food items just like a conventional oven.

Small-space friendly

Thanks to its small size, the air fryer can be left on the countertop at all times. The device is equipped with one or two baskets and is ideal for a single person or a couple—but more difficult to cook a meal for a whole family. The air fryer is perfect to replace an oven in a student residence or seniors’ home where there’s no room for a conventional oven.

Time-saving

One of the advantages of the air fryer is its ability to quickly reach the desired temperature, so you’ll save time cooking meals since you can put them in the oven faster.

Reheat leftovers

While a dish reheated in the microwave rarely keeps the right texture of your food items (it often becomes too soft, too dry, etc.), the air fryer helps keep the crispness of certain foods while leaving the inside soft.

Ideas for cooking with the air fryer

You can cook anything you would cook in a conventional oven in an air fryer. It’s even more effective when you want a crispy texture. Here are some recipes that our team members often make with their appliance:

• Cookies for a craving
• A grilled cheese that’s not flattened
• French fries with a very small amount of oil (potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.)
• Grilled chickpeas as a snack
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cakes (there are suitable accessories)
• Frozen appetizers
• Grilled vegetables

Points to consider

While the air fryer has many advantages, our team has identified some things to consider before making the purchase.

• It takes a lot of space on the counter or when stored in your cabinets.
• There are not that many recipes suitable for the air fryer (although there are more and more), so you must use the basic instructions from the manufacturer to guide you.
• You can’t cook a lot of food at once.
• For a really thick breading, it’s better to use a regular fryer.
• When the device is running, it gets very hot, so make sure you have enough clearance around it when you use it.

To sum up, the team liked the air fryer for the speed at which it reaches its temperature, the perfect texture it gives crispy food items, and how easy it was to use. Want to try the air fryer too?