Airfryers, also known as air fryershave become popular in modern kitchens due to the promise of healthier cooking. However, they do feature some often overlooked negative aspects. Here’s what you should know before buying one.
Disadvantages of air fryers: an expense to be carefully considered
Air fryers are not cheap. The best performing models can cost between 200 and 400 euros or more. If you intend to use it only for frying chips or similar foods, consider that one traditional fryer costs up to ten times less. The investment is only justified if you plan to take advantage of the airfryer for a variety of dishes such as chicken, vegetables or even desserts.
Space requirement: space needed in the kitchen
Another disadvantage is theoverall dimensions of the appliance. Larger capacity models, such as the popular 10-liter NINJA Foodi, can have considerable dimensions: 19.5 inches deep, 12.5 inches wide, and 12.5 inches high. In a small kitchen, finding space for this appliance can be difficult. On the other hand, opting for a more compact model will limit the quantities of food you can prepare, making it difficult to cook, for example, a whole chicken.
Noise: the price of the crispy result
Airfryers work thanks to a powerful fan that circulates hot air, generating a noise similar to that of a convection oven. If the appliance has to remain in operation for a long time, the continuous hum can be annoying. For those who have kitchens close to relaxation or work spaces, noise could be a problem.
Crunchiness: results not always up to par
Many associate air fryers with the promise of crispy food without the use of oil. However, the results do not always live up to expectationsespecially with economical models. Paradoxically, you will never get a crunchiness equal to that of a traditional frying with hot oil, especially for foods such as chips. It is, in fact, a mini ventilated oven.
Significant benefits
Despite these flaws, airfryers deliver notable benefits. They allow cooking healthierdrastically reducing the use of oil and, consequently, calories. Furthermore, they are efficient in terms of energy consumption: a good model can save up to 70% electricity compared to a traditional oven. They are therefore a more economical and ecological choice in the long term.
Airfryer: the least polluting cooking method
A study ofUniversity of Birmingham confirmed that airfryers are the cooking method that produces the least indoor pollution. The research compared different cooking methods, measuring emissions of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results showed that the airfryer emits significantly fewer pollutants than pan frying or other traditional methods.
