Is Air Fryer Worth It? Does Its Pros Outweigh The Cons?

Over the years, there has been a constant surge in the popularity of air fryers, both for meal prep and quick reheating, and why not!

Air fryer is easy to use, versatile, and have the same or comparable flavor as in a deep fryer but with much less oil.

Yes, air fryer is worth buying. It cook food quickly with less oil than deep frying. It reduces fat consumption by approx. 70% and electricity consumption, leading to lower operating costs.

Why Is An Air Fryer Worth It?

Even if you have the best air fryer, some aspects might still need improvements. Read on to know the Air fryer pros and cons and learn if investing in an air fryer is worth it or not.

Crispy Crust On The Food

If you are fond of crispy crust on the food, you must make some place for an air fryer on your kitchen countertop.

In an air fryer, food cooked gets beautiful browning and perfect crunchy texture.

This is why air fryers are much liked for cooking fries, onion rings, buffalo wings, and KFC-style chicken wings.

Cooks Healthier Food

Health-conscious people who always count the calories of their food find air fryers an essential appliance for their kitchen.

Air fryer does not use oil for making most foods. When it does, the quantity is 50% less than the oil used in a deep fryer.

The excess oil dribbles down through the bottom of the perforated air fryer basket. 

Plus, you are not consuming food cooked in the oil reheated multiple times as you do in deep frying, so excess carcinogens, especially acrylamides, stay away from you. 

Fast Heating and Cooking

An air fryer heats up quickly and cooks faster than a toaster oven— no question.

When cooked in an air fryer oven, recipes require 25% less temperature and 20% less time.

If you have been using a gas oven, you will know it takes 10-12 minutes, or even more, to reach 400F.

In the case of an air fryer, it is mostly 4-5 minutes.

Easy Clean-Up

While the texture and taste of the food are similar to what you get in a deep fryer, cleaning up is not the same.

Most air fryers have a ceramic non-stick coating on accessories, so cleaning them is a breeze. These accessories are also dishwasher safe.

| READ NEXT: How To Clean Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Great for Cooking Frozen Food

Air fryers outshine traditional cooking methods when cooking pre-packaged frozen foods. Here's what you try:

• Spring rolls
• Nuggets
• Fish fingers
• Frozen fries
• And more

Air fryers are perfect for families who regularly prepare frozen meals for kids. Also, check what you can cook in an air fryer.

Here is what Redditiers think about the air fryer:

Is getting an air fryer worth it?
byu/therealbitchwaffles inCooking

Disadvantages Of An Air Fryer

Air fryers are not without limitations. However, these cons do not apply to everyone.

Here is a quick breakdown of their disadvantages.

Health Assumptions Are Not Always True

Though air fryers reduce oil use by more than 80%, they still cannot match the healthiness of steamed and broiled foods.

Cooking large quantities of processed food, such as fries and nuggets, in an air fryer cannot be considered healthy.

The bottom line is that the healthiness of an air fryer comes down to your food choices.

Cumbersome Design

Air fryers often come in a bulky body and take up ample space on your countertop permanently.

Air fryers also have a heat release vent at the back, so they must be placed a foot away from the wall.

Moreover, you cannot keep them under the cabinets or near other appliances because they often get hot from all sides.

Learn, where to put air fryer in kitchen.

Limited Cooking Capacity

You can cook a range of foods in an air fryer compared to a convection oven.

Air fryers often have limited cooking capacity unless you buy a jumbo multifunction air fryer oven combo.

Overloading an air fryer with food can malfunction, and it can turn off automatically.

Short Power Cord

An air fryer’s short power cable is a concern for many users.

A short cord restricts you from placing your unit at your desired place.

If there is already an appliance on your counter, you will need an extension cable to supply power to your air fryer.

Should You Buy an Air Fryer

Air frying was introduced as a convenient way to cook food with the least to no addition of extra calories. This research conducted by the University of Porto has successfully substantiated this fact.

This study used various air fryers and deep fryers to fry potatoes. The results showed that air-fried potatoes had 70% less fat, meaning air frying leads to a decrease of 45 kcal per 100 g compared to deep frying.

The same study found that air fryers also perform better regarding the formation of a toxic biochemical substance called acrylamide. Air frying reduces the formation of acrylamides compared to deep frying.

So, as “Air Fryers Toxic?” or “are air fryers healthy?” is concerned, this study has proved that air fryers and air-fried food is non-toxic and healthy.

FAQs

Are Air Fryers Overrated?

No, air fryers are certainly not overrated. First, you don’t essentially require oil for cooking. Secondly, they generally consume considerably less electricity than deep fryers, which makes it an economical option.

Is an air fryer good for a single person?

Yes, an air fryer is also good for a single person and couple, who is not looking to make big meals. It is perfect for cooking small quantities of frozen food, crisping up veggies, and quickly reheating food items.

Is an air fryer worth it for keto?

Air fryer is an excellent cooking appliances for people on a Keto diet. As it doesn't require the use of oil, so excess calories stay away.

You can also make low-carb veggies, chicken, steak, snacks, and much more. Moreover, you can also cook food with more keto-friendly coatings.

Do I need an air fryer if I have an oven?

No, you don't need an air fryer if you have a convection oven because both appliances work on the same convection mechanism. However, air fryer size is smaller compared to an oven, an air fryer heats up much more quickly than an oven.

Are air fryers worth it for vegetarians?

While most think that an air fryer is only suitable for meat lovers, in fact, an air fryer comes as an excellent appliance for vegan and vegetarian users.

Air fryers cook plant-based recipes to perfection. Simultaneously, it keeps the calories in check too. Roasting and dehydrating veggies and fruits are among the most cooked foods in an air fryer.

Wrapping Up!

To sum up, air fryers are not a waste of money! Buying an air fryer is worth it for people who love eating fried food but fret about gaining extra pounds. You can make a much healthier version of vegetables, steaks, French fries, salmon, and whatnot. But a small air fryer might not be worth the effort if you want to make large quantities per batch. For that, you may need a big air fryer oven combo.