Unless you are on a strict diet, deep fried chicken is probably on the list of your favorite staples. Well, there is nothing wrong with that until you think of the amount of oil used to prepare such crunchy chicken or fries. Fortunately, some brilliant minds have already thought of a great solution to that. It comes in the form of an air fryer. So, what exactly is an air fryer? what are the best air fryers?
There are still a few people who may be unfamiliar with this very useful modern appliance. This guide is meant to help you familiarize with which are the best air fryers?, how it works and most importantly the air fryers in the market today. If you’re going to get an air fryer as an addition to your beloved kitchen, you might as well get the best.
What is an air fryer?
Some people have only heard of an air fryer or seen it on an advert but don’t really know what it is. It’s no secret deep frying foods involve using profuse amounts of oil. This means that you will not only be consuming lots of calories but also a fair share of unhealthy fats. What if I told you there is a way you can make your favorite treats less unhealthy? Yes, you heard me right!
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that is used to prepare fried foods without using too much oil. As a matter of fact, you only need a few ounces of oil (a tablespoon would do) and you are good to go. Normally, the traditional way of making crispy fries would involve downing them in a whole lot of oil.
Guess what! The fries will come out drenched in all that unhealthy fat which is definitely not good for your health. On the other hand, an air fryer barely requires any oil. With this modern appliance, anyone eating fried foods will no longer have to feel guilty.
How does an air fryer work?
The majority of us know that a bath of extremely hot oil is required to make crusty chicken or those delicious crispy fries. So, how is it that an air fryer can use only a tablespoon of oil to create the same foods? It all comes down to how air fryer works and this is pretty simple. Unlike the traditional deep fryer, an air fryer uses hot air to cook the food.
At the bottom of the air fryer, there is a convection fan that provides hot air each time the appliance is in use. The hot air flows from the bottom all the way up and goes through the food, cooking it. At the end of it all, you will have tasty and crispy food which is also healthier. Furthermore, the time it takes to cook food with an air fryer is basically shorter than that of a typical deep fryer.
Advantages of an air fryer:
Tasty but healthier foods
We all have that guilty pressure and in this case, it might be some fried treats. An air fryer uses little amounts of oil to prepare meals. This means you won’t be ingesting excess calories or fats.
Air fryers are versatile appliances
You can do just about any kind of cooking with your air fryer. Some people even use their air fryer as an oven to prepare pizza. Depending on the model you pick, there are features for roasting, steaming, broiling and baking.
Barely takes up space in the kitchen
Air fryers are quite small and compact. A typical model is about the same size of a coffee maker. Therefore, you no longer have to worry about the limited space in your kitchen or kitchenette.
Perfect for preparing tasty vegetables
You might think this is not a big deal until you have a household with kids who want any vegetables on their plates. Well, an air fryer is not just meant for fries. Use it to prepare some delicious and crisp veggies. The kid will be thanking you later for this.
It’s safer to use
The traditional deep fryer involved using copious amounts of super-hot oil. Any small mistake would result in serious scalds and other safety risks. On the other hand, air fryers are quite safe since there is scarcely any oil used. Hence, there are no accidental splashes and spills.
Here is the list of best air fryers of 2020:
Recently, there has been a surge in the air fryer popularity with more and more people buying these appliances. Healthy eating is a hot topic and since many people are now gaining awareness on the same, things like air fryers are only becoming more popular. The market is filled with all kinds of air fryers, to the point you might not know which one will serve you best. Here is a list of the best air fryers of 2020;
COSORI Best air fryer
Cosori is among the top-rated air fryers on amazon. This goes a long way is describing its usefulness and convenience. Nowadays, people look for kitchen appliances that not only do more but also make their lives easier. The Cosori premium air fryer costs way less than other high-end models but still gets the work perfectly done. The 5.8 quartz cooking capacity is more than enough to prepare a meal for two without breaking a sweat.
Users like the LED display and the fact that the fryer is pre-programmed to notify you when it’s time to shake the basket. Personally, I am among the forgetful lot and something like this would be invaluable. The air fryer has great cooking abilities and is bound to deliver the texture and tastes you desire. Additionally, this appliance has a pretty impressive preset functionality. It’s able to take on almost any recipe that comes to mind.
There are people who think that the basket unit is too deep and this makes it take more time to cook food. Also, the condensation tends to accumulate at the bottom of the air fryer.
Amazon Best Sellers Instant Vortex air fryer
If you have been looking for a highly functional air fryer, this is definitely where you end the search. The air fryer from instant vortex has enough power to evenly cook crispy meals. This means that there is no such thing as half-cooked foods.
The manufacturers provide both a tray and basket for frying purposes. Frying in the basket is usually the most preferred, but the tray does a good job too.
One of the notable features found on this air fryer is the rotisserie. With this, you are able to grill your sandwiches or roast some chicken wings. Additionally, this air fryer consists of a touch screen for ease of use. The only drawback may be the sound it produces. All in all, this is not a major setback considering all its desirable features and great functionality.
Ultrean air fryer
The Ultrean air fryer is among the top rated and best reviewed air fryer in the market today and this is for a good reason. It’s a versatile machine and frying is not the only thing it can get done. You can use it to grill, bake or roast most of your favorite treats.
After cooking, you definitely have to clean up. The machine consists of a non-stick pan that is super easy to clean. Its detachable basket is suitable for cleaning in a dishwasher. Owners are also impressed by the LCD display that shows both temperature and time.
The only issue is that there are gaps at the sides of the tray. If you tilt, grease comes out and may result in a mess. However, this is a small setback which doesn’t outweigh the benefits.
Best for Small Kitchens: Dash air fryer
Who said anything about only preparing delicacies while at home? This air fryer will be your best companion when out camping, on a long road trip and other outdoor activities. It’s compact and highly portable. The dash compact air dryer has a capacity of only 1.6 quartz and it’s meant for people who are not into big kitchen appliances. For its size, it does quite a great job at frying different kinds of foods as long as you follow the user instructions.
People who have limited storage space in their kitchen should opt for the Dash compact air fryer. Since its small in size, it can fit in one your kitchen cabinets or at the countertop. Additionally, it requires absolutely no preheating and this means it starts working on the go. Though, you have to keep turning your food items a couple of times for it to cook well.
I noted that the user manual is a bit confusing. For instance, the temperatures specified on the manual are different from those set on the appliance. You have to do some trial and error to get things right.
Chefman TurboFry air fryer
The Chefman air fryer offer convenience not easily found in other brands. For starters, the Chefman digital air fryer consists of two racks. With this, you can cook two meals all at once. People also like the fact that the racks are easy to clean and are made of non-stick material.
If you like occasionally peeping at what is cooking, this air fryer has a small window, especially for that purpose. There is a clear display screen that lets you see whatever you’re cooking. Additionally, this best air fryer is designed to prepare mots meals and recipes. You can cook anything including eggs, veggies, roasted potatoes and fried chicken juts to mention a few.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
Ninja was amongst the first to introduce a pressure cooker that could also air fry. It uses the brand’s signature TenderCrisp technology to pressure cooks while air frying, so you’ll get soft, juicy meats with crispy skin. Plus, Ninja’s air fryer comes with a reversible rack that lets you roast vegetables, fries, and more above your meats, so one-pan dinners are a whole lot simpler to make.
The Ninja Foodi has a large footprint, but also a large capacity. The air fryer lid is not removable, which seemed like a con at first, but we quickly got used to it, especially since it worked so well.
ENKLOV Air Fryer
ENKLOV Air fryer comes with exclusive patented cold-hot air convection technology. ENKLOV Air fryer can instantly heat up in 360° All directions with 2 unique ventilation openings! Serve you mouth-watering food by bringing in fresh cool air and pushing cooking oil fumes out, crispy outside and juicy inside!
ENKLOV has been a pioneer in researching and developing optimum quality air fryer oven & smart kitchen Appliances for more than 50 years!
This Best air fryer comes with exclusive protection mechanism of using heat shield to protect Air fryer high power motor from getting burned out, avoid heating pipe from being damaged by steam, which ensures lifelong optimal performance.