Air fryers are known to be a healthier alternative to oil fried food. Below we give you the benefits and risks of it.
Nothing better to satisfy your cravings than dipping into a bowl of deep-fried potato fries or potato bites. But we all know the health risks that come with it.
So what’s the alternative? Air fryers offer the same taste but without the calories and risks. But do they work and offer the said benefits?
How does an air fryer work?
An alternative to traditional frying, air fryer circulates hot air around the food to give it the crispy and crunchy exterior and the moist interior to the food. This creates a chemical reaction called the Maillard effect that advances the colour and taste of the food. Instead of using cups of oil, you need only one tablespoon of oil to achieve the equivalent taste and texture as an oil-fried food with lower fat and calories.
Benefits of air fryer
Using an air fryer can have many health benefits, including:
It helps cut down on the fat content compared to conventional deep fryers. Many manufactures claim that air fryers lead to a 70% reduction in the fat content and 70%-80% calorie reduction in fried foods.
It promotes weight loss as you switch from consuming high oiled foods to minimal oil foods, resulting in the intake of lesser calories.
Air-frying your food can decrease the likelihood of formation of acrylamide, a compound that forms during high-heat cooking methods in carbohydrate-rich foods.
Replacing deep-fried foods with air friend foods reduces the disease risk that comes with overconsumption of oily foods.
Risks of air fryer
Air fryers offer many potential health benefits but also come with its set of hazards.
While air fryers are a healthier option to deep-fried food, it does not guarantee a healthy diet as it still uses a little oil. You should instead add fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grain to your diet for healthy eating.
Air frying decreases the change of formation of acrylamide, but it can still form the compound. Additionally, it can still form heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Not a health risk but air frying is a slower method of cooking with lesser quantities. Therefore, you can’t cook for a large family in this device.
Research is limited on the benefits of eating air-fried food. However, you should cut the total intake of fried food and opt for other cooking options like baking, roasting, sautéing and more for a longer and healthier life.
