Oil-free fryers are becoming a popular trend in households because of their ability to fry and bake without oil, making food more delicious and healthier. So how does an oil-free fryer work? Let’s find out in the article below!
What is an air fryer?
The air fryer has become one of the most popular kitchen appliances today. First launched in 2014 under the name “vacuum fryer,” this device operates on the principle of using heat to cook food without cooking oil. This helps reduce the amount of oil by 70-90% compared to traditional frying methods while maintaining the dishes’ delicious flavor and appealing appearance.
The air fryer is the perfect choice for those who love fried foods but are concerned about health or fear the risk of oil splatter. Today, the air fryer market is diverse, with many designs, features, and price ranges to meet the needs of every family.
How an air fryer works
An air fryer works by circulating hot air to cook food instead of using oil. Inside the fryer are two main components: the heating element and the fan. When you turn on the fryer, the heating element heats the air to a specific temperature, usually ranging from 135°C to 200°C, depending on your settings.
Then, the fan blows this hot air around inside the fryer. Thanks to this fan, the hot air surrounds the food from all sides, ensuring it cooks evenly and creates a crispy outer layer without much oil. This quick process helps make the dish less greasy while retaining its delicious flavor and crunchiness.
Uses of air fryer
The air fryer is a favorite product in the kitchen of housewives. So why is it so popular, what are its uses?
Cook a variety of foods
The air fryer is a versatile device that can cook many different types of food, from simple dishes such as French fries and fried chicken to grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables. It helps food cook evenly from the inside out without losing its delicious taste.
In addition to frying food, users can use the product to dry fruits, nuts, beans, or lemon leaves. If you want to bake but don’t have an oven at home, the air fryer can also be used instead of a conventional oven. It can bake sponge cakes, pizza, bread, cookies, egg tarts, etc.
Reduce fat in food
The air fryer helps you reduce up to 70 – 90% of the oil used in the cooking process by not needing or using very little oil. This not only makes food healthier but also helps reduce the risk of diseases such as overweight, obesity, heart failure, prostate cancer, lung cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. In addition, food cooked with an air fryer retains its delicious flavor without being smoky or spreading food odors in the kitchen, thanks to the modern odor and smoke filtering system.
Helps save cooking time
When using an air fryer, you prepare the food, put it in the pot, cover it tightly, choose the appropriate temperature, and set the cooking time. While the pot is running, you can comfortably do other things without having to keep an eye on it.
Cooking time will vary depending on the dish type, usually only 5 to 20 minutes. Thanks to modern frying technology, the cooking time is significantly shortened, only half compared to the conventional frying method, helping you save both time and effort.
Reduces the risk of toxic acrylamide formation
Acrylamide is a possible carcinogen that forms when foods are cooked at high temperatures, such as deep-frying, baking, or roasting. Starchy foods like French fries and toast often create this chemical during cooking.
Switching from deep-frying to using an air fryer can significantly reduce the amount of acrylamide in your food. Air fryers use hot air for cooking food, requiring less oil, which reduces your risk of ingesting acrylamide and, therefore, your risk of cancer.
Outstanding technologies of oil-free fryer
To achieve optimal cooking efficiency, air fryer manufacturers have continuously researched and applied many advanced technologies. Notably:
Air heating technology (Rapid Air)
Air heating technology, also known as Rapid Air, is the core technology of the air fryer. This technology is widely applied in many fryer brands, such as Philips, Magic, Bluestone, and Mishio. Rapid Air works by using hot air to cook food. The heat from the heating element will be transmitted in two directions: one direction is directed directly to the top surface of the food. In contrast, the other direction is the fan in the pot pushing hot air along the two sides and down to the bottom of the pot. Then, the hot air will reflect, helping the food to cook evenly from all sides. Thanks to this method, cooking time becomes much faster and more economical.
TurboStar Technology
TurboStar is Philips’ exclusive technology, improved from Rapid Air technology. The TurboStar fryer’s unique design can circulate heat in two different directions. The bottom of the pot is designed with a vortex shape, allowing hot air to move from top to bottom and reflect, creating a steady flow of heat. Thanks to this way of radiating heat, food will be cooked evenly and crispy without flipping it over. Moreover, you can stack multiple layers of food in the pot while ensuring they are cooked thoroughly and evenly. This is an excellent improvement over Rapid Air technology, making cooking more accessible and more efficient.
Resistance heating technology
Many air fryers use heating elements to heat the air. They are usually placed above, below, or on both sides of the oven. When the oven is running, the hot air is divided into two parts: one part goes from above to the top of the food, while the other part goes to the bottom of the oven and reflects back, heating the bottom of the food. This heat transfer method cooks the food evenly on both sides without being flipped over. However, this heating technology has some limitations: the temperature is unevenly distributed, which can cause the food to be burned in some places.
Integrated thermal sensor technology
One of the technologies widely used in air fryers today is the temperature sensor. It helps to control the temperature precisely, preventing food from burning. This sensor works by measuring the temperature inside the food during cooking. When it detects that the temperature is higher than the desired level, it will automatically adjust the temperature of the heating element, ensuring that the temperature in the pot is always stable and suitable. Thanks to this feature, the food is cooked evenly and retains its natural flavor and moisture, making the dish more delicious and attractive than ever.
Some outstanding features of the oil-free fryer
The air fryer is equipped with many convenient features, bringing maximum convenience to users during the cooking process:
- Convection fan: This feature helps food cook evenly and golden brown without having to flip it over. The fan is mounted directly inside the pot, allowing for fast cooking and saving energy.
- Cooking timer: You only need to set the cooking time on the pot without having to wait. While waiting for the food to cook, you can comfortably do other tasks. Most air fryers allow for a timer of up to 30 – 60 minutes.
- Oil separator tray and frying tray: Safe design for health, limiting the situation of food sticking and burning. The tray can be removed and is easy to clean thanks to being made of hard, durable metal.
- Control panel: Air fryers often use three popular types of control panels: rotary knob, electronic push button and touch, helping users easily adjust the cooking mode.
- Heat-insulating plastic handle: This design ensures safety when using, avoiding burns. In addition, the handle also has a button to help you remove the frying tray quickly and easily.
Notes when choosing to buy an air fryer
The current oil-free fryer market is very diverse in types, designs and prices. To choose a fryer that suits your needs, you need to note the following:
- Capacity: Oil-free fryers usually have a capacity of 5 liters, 6 liters, 8 liters, 12 liters. For a family of 4 people, you should choose a pot with a capacity of 6-8 liters. If the family has more people, you can choose a larger capacity.
- Power: The capacity of the fryer usually ranges from 1200W – 2200W, the larger the capacity, the faster the oil-free fryer heats up and saves cooking time. However, a large capacity also means higher power consumption.
- Material: The pot is usually made of plastic and stainless steel. You should prioritize choosing products with materials that are safe for health, easy to clean and durable.
- Price: The price of oil-free fryers is very diverse, from a few hundred thousand to a few million VND. You should carefully consider the price and quality of the product.
- Brand: You should choose to buy products from reputable brands with good warranty and customer service. Some famous fryer brands such as: Mishio, Philips, Magic, BlueStone, Malloca, Rapido,…
With its convenience, superior features and many useful functions, the oil-free fryer is becoming an indispensable kitchen appliance in many families. Understanding the operating principles, technology and notes when choosing to buy will help you choose the right product and make the most of the benefits that the oil-free fryer brings.
