18 Air Fryer Recipes For Anyone Who Really Misses Eating Fast Food (2024)

FAQs

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

And because they also use little to no oil compared to other traditional cooking methods, they're also seen as a healthy alternative. But now, shoppers have been ditching their air fryers in favour of a different gadget that's said to be even cheaper - and even healthier - when it comes to preparing meals.

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.

Air fryer health risks

COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions. You may have also heard about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogens that are produced as fumes when foods are cooked at a high temperature.

AIR fryers have been a hot topic in recent years, with a huge rise in sales as people look for healthier and more cost-effective ways to cook food. But now shoppers are searching for an alternative kitchen appliance that's said to be a better (and cheaper) alternative to air fryers: halogen ovens.

While an air fryer can technically take a burger patty from raw to cooked, the exterior won't brown as quickly as it would on, say, a grill, which means medium-rare (and even medium) burgers are out of the question. You also won't get that irresistible char.

Generally speaking, air frying is regarded as being healthier than deep frying. This is especially true given the link between fried foods and heart disease.

Researchers state that air fryers use heated air that contains fine oil droplets to take the moisture out of the foods. The result is a product that has similar characteristics to fried foods, though with significantly lower levels of fat.

What do professional chefs say about air fryers? ›

“It's very easy to clean compared to a traditional deep fryer, and with the price of vegetable oil skyrocketing, it's a much cheaper option than replacing the oil every so often. The smell of deep fat frying is unmistakable in a household kitchen too. It's great not to have that lingering around.

It's worth noting that air fryers don't actually fry food, which requires submerging food in hot oil. Air fryers use hot air circulation to mimic frying food. There are some downsides to air fryers. They're bulky, can be difficult to clean, and have limited cooking capacity.

We're talking omelets, muffins, avocado toast, sausage, bacon, pancakes… We know, WILD, right? It's just as good at helping you make delicious lunches and dinners too. If you've got a main dish you want to spend more hands-on time with, pop your sides in the air fryer and let it do all the work.

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity? Air fryers don't use a lot of electricity, with most requiring between 800 and 1800 watts (W) to run, though some large models need more. Air fryers also use less electricity than electric ovens, which typically use around 2,200 W to 5,000 W, and therefore cost more to run.

Sales are still steady, but nothing like the astronomical levels reached last year. And according to a recent report by retailer Currys, microwaves are rising fast on the air fryer's tail, with sales up by 50 per cent since last year.

Anything that significantly reduces the litres of oil required for deep-fat frying is still an attractive prospect. Although air fryers have been around for more than a decade, Google Trends data shows interest climbed vertiginously in 2020, with little sign of slowing. Sales at John Lewis were up 400% in 2021.