If you've been wondering what all the rage is about, and why you should get an air fryer, this guide is for you. We've gathered the eight most important reasons why you should get an air fryer - and three reasons why you shouldn't.
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I got my first air fryer more than three years ago now, and I immediately fell in love. But it took quite a while for me to get there! I resisted for years because I just didn't see the point. I knew super health-conscious people loved it, and I understood that, but I'm not one of them. You know I like my butter, and I don't mind some extra fat in my diet, so why would I need one?
Well, it turns out the air fryer is not just great for those who are very careful about their diet. There are multiple other reasons why you should get one - keep reading to find out what they are!
It's Great for Cooking With Less Fat
Let's get this one out of the way first, shall we? Yes, it is great for cooking healthy (or at least healthier) food. As long as by "healthy", you mean "less fat".
When cooking in the air fryer you can often skip adding oil or butter, which means less added fat. Most air fryers also cook the food in a basket where any excess fat can drip down and be easily removed, which means it actually removes some fat from the food.
You know all that fat that ends up in the pan when cooking bacon? The air fryer separates it from the bacon, so even your bacon has a bit less fat!
It Cooks The Food Quicker
If you've ever used a convection oven, you know the food cooks quicker, and at a lower temperature, than in a regular oven. Well, the air fryer is basically just a mini convection oven!
While cook times do differ, a general rule of thumb is that food cooks in about half the time in an air fryer compared to a regular oven. You'll also find that you can reduce the temperature slightly.
It's Perfect for Kiddy Food
If there's one thing the air fryer is great for, it's cooking separate food for the kids. It excels at cooking frozen meatballs, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, sausages, and French fries quickly, so you can free up the stove for dinner for the grown-ups.
And if you're like me and love "kiddy food", then the air fryer is definitely for you!
It's Great for Cooking Food From Frozen
Thanks to the circulating air in the air fryer, you can cook a lot of foods straight from frozen, and still get a good result.
You might not be surprised that you can cook different types of pre-made food like fries, spring rolls, and wings straight from frozen, but how about salmon, steak, bacon, and green beans?
It's Great for Reheating Food
I'm one of those people who used to reheat everything in the microwave. And some things I still do - the air fryer isn't great for reheating soups or stews or pasta dishes.
However, if you want to reheat steak, chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, pizza, or wings - the air fryer is your best friend. The result is food that tastes as good as new, so you can enjoy your leftovers just as much the next day.
It's Great If You Don't Have a Kitchen
If you don't have a kitchen - whether it's because you're living in a dorm room or remodeling your kitchen - you can still cook in your air fryer. You can find models that take up very little space compared to other mini ovens, and you can cook most types of food in it.
It's Easy to Clean
Most air fryer models have baskets that can go in the dishwasher, which means super easy cleanup when you're done cooking. Yes, you will occasionally need to clean the main air fryer unit as well, but this is easily done with a damp cloth, and much easier than cleaning a regular oven.
This being said, there are air fryer models that you can't wash in the dishwasher. Please check to make sure what's the case for your model.
You Don't Have to Watch It (As Much)
I'm not saying set it and forget it and leave the house for an hour. But the air fryer definitely doesn't need as much watching as cooking something stovetop, not to mention deep fat frying.
While you will want to keep an eye on it to make sure the food doesn't burn and the unit doesn't malfunction, you can go about your business and prep other stuff in the kitchen while the food is cooking.
Why Should You NOT Get an Air Fryer?
As I see it, there aren't that many reasons NOT to get one. However, there are three cases where I would maybe reconsider:
First, if you often cook for a lot of people at the same time, the air fryer might be too small. Even larger models don't come close to the capacity you get with multiple pans in a convection oven.
Second, if you're after a deep fat fried result, a deep fat frier is better. The air fryer makes delicious food and crisps it up much better than a conventional oven. But to get really crispy fried food from scratch... a deep fat frier is the better choice. Not as low in fat, of course, but then again, does deep-fried food really need to be?
Third, if you don't have room for it. If your kitchen is really small with very limited counter and cupboard space, and you already have a regular oven, another appliance might not be what you need.
I hope this guide helped you with your decision! Please leave a comment and let me know if it did - and if you did end up getting that air fryer or not.
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