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The recent invention of an air fryer that fries food with the help of hot air without using any oil is becoming very popular among health enthusiasts. An air fryer is a product that has been marketed on the grounds of health and the use of no oil in the cooking process. Since only a little or negligible, oil is required to fry or cook anything in an air fryer, it automatically makes the food low in calories. It is a healthier way of cooking your favourite snacks that require you to deep fry the food.
However, many people are not convinced with the whole concept of cooking with the help of hot air and fear the possible threat of toxins in the food and even cancer. Let us look at the possible benefits and harms of using an air fryer at home.
Air fryer Vs traditional cooking methods
An air fryer is your healthier alternative to not just frying, but also it can replace traditional cooking methods like roasting, baking and grilling. The product is your all-in-one solution to cooking any kind of food that you want. Also, it is very easy to use as all you have to do is set the temperature and time to cook your food. It would be a lie if we said that an air fryer can replicate the flavours of a deep-fried chicken. But it does give a good crunch to the food and you can not ignore the almost negligible oil that it uses for cooking. The texture and the flavours are almost similar and your meal is a lot healthier than usual.
Using high levels of vegetable oil in your food can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and higher rates of inflammation. There are many other appliances available in the market that provide healthier alternatives to your traditional cooking methods. One of the biggest examples is the Tandoor Oven. These appliances, however, cannot exactly replicate the flavours and texture of your deep-fried or roasted food.
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers have a very simple mechanism in which hot air circulates the food to create the same crispiness as traditional fried food. This can be accomplished by not using any kind of high-calorie vegetable oil in the cooking process. All you have to do is coat your food with very little oil with the help of a brush.
Air fryers use the fine droplets present in the heated air to take the moisture out of the food. This is the reason why the resultant product called an air fryer is so crispy and crunchy. Like other cooking methods, air fryer also leads to a chemical reaction which is called the Maillard effect. This improves the colour and the flavour of the air-fried food.
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Benefits of an air fryer
Let's look at some of the top benefits of using an air fryer and how it can lead to a healthier lifestyle by using it at home.
* It leads to weight loss
Consuming high amounts of high-calorie food can lead to an increase in weight and a higher risk of obesity. Switching to an air fryer from conventional cooking methods can help reduce the amount of oil used in your cooking. There are so many healthy recipes that you can make at home by using an air fryer. You also do not have to restrict yourself to just eating salad.
* Safety in Cooking
Air fryers also promote a higher level of safety as it is a modern-day kitchen equipment that comes with all the safety measures. Deep frying food and Skelding oil can be very dangerous and someone who is just starting to cook is always at the risk of doing something wrong.
* Reduce the risk of toxic acrylamide formation
Frying food can lead to the development of compounds like acrylamide. This is a compound that is formed in the food during the process of deep frying. It has been linked to ovarian, pancreatic, breast, and oesophageal cancer.
Video Credits- CHEF NEHA DEEPAK SHAH
Harms of using an air fryer
Air fryers use hot air for cooking food. The higher temperature used in air frying can also lead to the production of acrylamide and polycyclic hydrocarbons in a certain kind of food. Air fryers can also contribute to the production of Advanced Glycation End Products that can lead to ageing, diabetes and inflammation.
To avoid these problems, it is important to cut your starchy vegetables into small pieces before cooking your food and air fryer. Also always choose products that have high-quality equipment installed. make sure that the body of your air fryer is solid, both externally and internally.
We hope that you have been able to understand how an air fryer works and everything that you should take care of before you decide to buy an air fryer. Although an air fryer is not a perfect kitchen invention, it is a successive step towards a healthier diet and lifestyle.
