As air fryers become more popular, you may hear people saying that they are a great way to improve your health. But are they as healthy as people say? The answer to this question is yes, and no. Like with all food, how healthy food is depends on what you are cooking. Are the ingredients high in fat or sodium? Does the food contain large amounts of sugar etc? The health of your food does not change by using a different cooking implement. What does change the health value is your cooking ingredients. That is where an air fryer comes in.
Air fryers are generally considered a healthier cooking option because it requires much less oil to produce similar results to deep frying. Deep-fried food soaks up a large amount of oil causing you to ingest a large amount of oil. An air fryer on the other hand uses as little as 2 tablespoons. This means you are eating much less oil which is considered to be a much healthier option.
Cooking your deep-fried food with an air fryer can also help you with your weight loss journey. According to WebMD, air fryers can cut the calories of a food item by up to 70%. This is mainly because of the reduced fat intake by using much less oil to cook your food.
Recommended Air Fryers and Accessories
Air fryers come in a variety of sizes with an ever-increasing number of accessories available for purchase. To make sure you are getting the right air fryer, you should consider what size you will need. Air fryers can come in a small 3qt size but can be as big as 8qt. Some air fryers have a single draw for cooking, others have multiple draws with independent cooking settings.
Before purchasing your air fryer, you should carefully consider what you will be cooking, whether you will be cooking multiple different foods at once, and also how many people you will be cooking for. Your air fryer is an investment so you want to make sure you get an air fryer that is right for you.
Amazon Basics Air Fryer
This small air fryer is perfect for an individual or couple. It is relatively small compared to other models making it easy to store when not in use.
PROS:
- Capacity of 3.2 qt/3 Liters – Perfect for an individual or couple
- Cooking timer built into the machine
- Automatically shuts off when the timer ends
- Can fry, grill, or bake with just one device
CONS:
- An extra machine to store
- Can be expensive to purchase
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Ninja AF150AMZ 5qt
The Ninja AF1450AMZ is a great medium-sized air fryer. An air fryer with a capacity of 5qt is able to feed up to 5 people making it perfect for a small family or individuals that love to entertain.
Pros
- Medium size capacity of 5.5qt
- 5 in 1 machine that can air fry, air roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate
- 5 Customizable cooking programs
- Dishwasher safe easy clean baskets
- Dishwasher safe crisper plates
- Come with a cookbook containing 20 recipes
Cons
- Heavy, weighs 11lbs
- Large external size of 14 x 11 x 14.75 inches
- More expensive than other air fryers
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Ninja DZ201 Foodi
Cook up to 4lbs of chicken at one using The Ninja DZ201. The Ninja DZ201 is a much larger air fryer than the others on this list. This air fryer comes with a double draw and allows you to cook more than one item at a time.
Pros
- 8qt capacity making it the largest air fryer on this list
- Offers dual baskets that allow you to cook more than one thing at a time
- 6 in 1 machine that can air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate
- Easy clean baskets
- Dishwasher safe crisper plates
Cons
- The heaviest air fryer on this list, weighs 17.89lbs
- Large external size of 15.63 x 13.86 x 12.4 inches
- Most expensive air fryer on this list
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Air Fryer Hot Plate Gripper
Hot plate grippers are a must-have for any air fryer user. They help reduce the risk of burns and make removing food from the air fryer much fast, and easier.
PROS:
- Easy remove the food from your air fryer without burning your hands
- Allows you to hold the pan still while stirring/turning your contents
- This set of two provides peace of mind knowing that you always have a spare on hand
CONS:
- Does not remove the risk of steam burn
- Takes up extra storage space
- Is an additional cost to your air fryer
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Frequently Asked Questions-Is an Air Fryer Good for Health?
Are there disadvantages to using an air fryer?
Just like with any product, there are disadvantages to using an air fryer. One disadvantage is that air fryers heat up so quickly it can be easy to burn food. However, this issue can be overcome with practice.
How much oil does an air fryer use?
Air fryers use much less oil than the traditional deep frying methods. Instead of submerging your food in oil, you simply add a small amount. The exact amount varies depending on what, and how much you are cooking. But as a general rule, you won’t need any more than 2 tablespoons.
Can you still eat healthy food using an air fryer?
Yes, you can still eat a healthy diet when you use an air fryer. Because air fryers reduce the amount of oil used in your food, your general meals often contain much less fat. However, they are only as healthy as the food you put into the air fryer. They do not make bacon less fatty or baked goods less sugary.
Conclusion
Air fryers offer a healthier cooking method for your favorite deep-fried foods. Though you can cook much more than just your deep-fried dishes. Check out our post on what can be cooked in an air fryer here. Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes so you are bound to find one perfect for your cooking needs. Just remember to consider what size you need and the food you will be cooking before purchasing your new air fryer.