Recently, air fryers have appeared a lot in the kitchen of modern families and it is loved a lot by homemakers. So, what is it and its mechanism of action?. And with a convenient air fryer, what kinds of food can you prepare for your family, what are the best air fryer recipes you should know to cook delicious meals? Read all this post, you will have the answer right away!

What are an air fryer and its operating principle?

What is an air fryer?

Air fryers are an excellent alternative to traditional frying. They do not use oil and heat up food quickly. They also do not add to the calories. The air-powered device can be very convenient, as you can cook your favorite foods right in your kitchen! The cooking time depends on the type of food you want to cook and the temperature of the unit. Depending on the type of food, the frying time will vary.

This cooking equipment uses very little oil, often no oil at all, which is an important benefit. This means that you can enjoy deep-fried foods without having to worry about the health risks. In addition to using 80% less oil, air-fried food is also better for your diet and can be a great way to satisfy your family’s cravings. These air-fried foods can also be delicious because they cook quickly.

The operating mechanism

An air fryer does not actually fry your dish. It’s because “fry” means food cooked in hot oil. Depending on each kind of food, the cook will use a suitable amount of oil. The food can be deep or half fried in oil, then the hot oil helps the food be cooked well.

However, it has a heating element that directs the heat toward the food, creating a deep frying experience. In addition, a fan connected to the heating element pushes the air in the cooking chamber upwards, causing a strong airflow in a vertical direction. The heat energy produced by the heater reaches the food molecules, creating the nutty taste associated with fried foods.

Because the food is fried in the air, a big disadvantage of an air fryer is that it uses a very low amount of oil. Since it operates on the principle of convection, food items must be separated from each other to allow hot air to circulate evenly. This means that a full basket will not brown evenly. Therefore, you need to cook in small batches, so you can enjoy the benefits of cooking healthy food without the added calories.

Best air fryer for family

These air fryers have been carefully selected based on their features, performance, capacity, and overall customer satisfaction. Whether you have a small or large family, these appliances offer convenience, versatility, and healthier cooking options. Join us as we delve into the details of each air fryer, highlighting their unique qualities and benefits, so you can make an informed decision and find the perfect air fryer to meet your family’s needs in 2023.

How to use an air fryer optimally?

You may think that this kind of cooking equipment is really easy to use because all you need to do is put the food into the equipment, collect electricity, adjust the desired temperature and time button, and then your foods begin to be cooked. However, not everyone knows the way to use an air fryer effectively that helps extend the life of the equipment and enhance the flavor or attraction of the dishes. Listed below are some tips to use your electric air fryer safely and effectively. When using this equipment, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Heating the pot before using

It is essential to heat the pot for around 3 minutes before controlling the desired temperature and putting the food in the pot to cook. This helps cook well the food because a standard temperature is set up in advance.

Taking advantage of the food’s available oil

Some foods need to be marinated oil before being cooked in the air fryer such as seafood, potatoes,… This helps the foods not be dried and more delicious. However, for foods containing fat such as dark chicken, ground beef, fatty meat, … you can take advantage of the oil content available on them without further seasoning.

Apply a bit of oil to the pot to prevent sticking

For some foods having a high stick content, you can apply a bit of oil on the grilles of the pot to make sure your foods are not broken and look more eye-catching. You can use spray frying oil to limit the amount of oil if needed. Spray cooking oil always uses less oil and is more effective than traditional spreading.

Don’t put too much food in the pot

The air fryer operates by hot air circulating in the inner pot to cook the food. Adding too much food at once will not only make your food is not cooked evenly, but it will also cost you more time to fry. To prevent this, you can divide the food into small parts and cook them many times. Or you can consider buying a bigger air fryer if your family needs it

Stir well when frying small foods

When cooking small foods, it is necessary to stir well to make sure the food is cooked evenly. Don’t worry about opening the pot to check if the food is cooked because the air fryer will temporarily automatically stop and run again when you close it

Pour water into the pot when white smoke appears

When cooking some foods containing a high-fat content, it will not be strange if you see a white smoke flow exits from the pot. To solve it, you just need to pour a little bit of water (about 2 tablespoons) into the pot and then the smoke will disappear.

Benefits of air fryer recipes

You may have heard about the benefits of using an air fryer and wondered whether it is worth the money and time. There are a lot of advantages to using this cooking equipment and here are a few of the most important.

The food cooked inside an electric fryer does not lose any nutrients and ingredients
The food is cooked faster than it would in a conventional oven because hot air is circulating through the food instead of oil.
The air fryer uses less oil, which makes it much more eco-friendly than a conventional one. Also, it does not produce a lot of greases, which is an essential feature for any appliance.
An electric air fryer is easy to clean, so it is the perfect choice for a busy parent
An air-fryer is healthier than a regular oven. Compared to a traditional deep-fried meal, an air-fried meal contains fewer calories and is less likely to cause inflammation, which decreases the risk of chronic disease

Read Easy Air Fryer Greek Veggie Mix - Low Calorie and High Protein

Notices for air fryer recipes

An air fryer is not perfect for foods marinated a wet powder

Some dishes like chicken wings, shrimps, or chicken thighs are often marinated in a wet sifted flour layer before deep frying in oil. However, an air fryer is not designed to cook these kinds of dishes. It’s because instead of drying out, the powder layer will flow down during the cooking process, causing a loss of flavor to the dish.

Notices for air fryer recipe for chicken

Not every air fryers are appropriate to cook a whole chicken. As mentioned above, putting too many foods in the pot makes your dishes are not cooked evenly. This is similar to a whole chicken. To solve this, you can cut the chicken into small pieces before cooking it in the air fryer. Or you can use a large one if you want to have a cooked whole chicken.

Notices for air fryer recipe vegetables

Some kinds of vegetables may be perfect to bake in the air fryer, but some are not. Some vegetables such as spinach, broccoli,… can be too fried if you don’t add a bit of oil to them before preparing them in the air fryer. In addition, you can add 1 tablespoon of water to the tray below to ensure the moisture of the ingredients.

Don’t use too many dry seasonings

Most air fryer products use fan blades to expend warm air within the pot. Dried spices with small portions such as paprika, salt, or pepper need to be used sparingly. The warm air can blow these substances away, which ultimately clogs the engine.

Top air fryer recipe dishes for healthy meals

Pumpkin Oatmeal by Air Fryer

For a healthy and filling breakfast, try making pumpkin oatmeal. This recipe is very versatile. The sweetness of pumpkin can be substituted with maple syrup or honey, and the texture will remain creamy and fluffy for hours. You can also make it gluten-free if you prefer. This pumpkin oatmeal is also a good choice for breakfast and can be eaten for lunch or dinner, and it's good to keep in the fridge for up to four days.