An air fryer is almost a must have these days. The health-conscious we want to avoid oily food at all costs and traditional ways of cooking fried items does consume a lot of oil. Technology, it appears, keeps up with all our aspirations and the air fryer as a kitchen appliance has slowly and steadily been taking a prime spot in most kitchens. There’s no need to dodge those fries anymore, as things get fried with hot air that’s circulated at high speed around the food, rather than use oil. Fryers come fitted with mechanical fans that help circulate the air inside the fryer and heats up food to as much as 250-degree Celsius in a matter of minutes, thus providing the convenience of being easy as well as simple. You can put nearly any food in the fryer, and you might even be wondering “can you put foil in an air fryer?”. Most people use foil to keep meat and fish moist, and the answer is yes. It’s perfectly safe to put foil in an air fryer, but with the right fryer, your food should be kept moist anyway.
However, not all fryers may be suitable for your needs. Before you buy one, do make sure you have read up the best air fryer reviews on appliances. Here is a list of some key things that you definitely need to keep in mind when you go shopping for a fryer. A healthy lifestyle is just a want away and you would be surprised to know that a good fryer consumes 80% lesser oil as compared to traditional ways of cooking. No more running away from that deep-fried fish or the crispy fried potatoes, you can consume them when you want without the worry of obesity and health nagging you continuously.
The size of your fryer
Not all sizes would sit perfectly in your kitchen top and neither do all of them have the capacity to cook enough food, quickly for your family and your guests. Getting the right sized fryer is therefore of utmost importance. You should buy one that would fit perfectly on your kitchen counter and that would also have the capacity to fry food in sufficient quantity. The average air fryer that’s available in the market would be able to accommodate around two pounds of food, including the ingredients that would go along with it. Therefore, make your selection accordingly, so that your needs are adequately accommodated.
Controls and features
These days when we buy any electronic appliance, the thing that we always look for is how feature-rich the appliance is. This includes flexibility as well as comfort. It is no different for an air fryer as well. Do definitely look at the control systems that come along with the appliance. For example, does it have a timer? It is of prime importance when you would want to control the amount by which your food is cooked, do you want it crispy or would you like it to be a little soft? Again, does your appliance have temperature controls, so that you can decide whether to slow cook your food or not? Can you switch between different modes of cooking? Take a good look at all the features and then decide which appliance suits you the most.
The capacity of your appliance
Any electrical appliance is susceptible to damage if improperly used or if used with wrong connections. Hence, it is extremely important to know what wattage your appliance would operate properly. Moreover, if there are incongruities in the wattage at which your air fryer is operated, then it might cause irreversible damage to the appliance. Generally, the capacity ranges between 700 to 1500 watts. If the device is overheating for no visible reason, you might want to check your electrical circuit. Old circuits can get overloaded and damage any appliance. Therefore, you might want to give a call to Barnett Electrical or similar electrical companies to get the circuit panel repaired or replaced.
Should cost dictate choice?
When making your final purchase decision, you need to obviously weigh-in the costs and your budget. Firstly, air fryers do definitely cost higher. However, that initial costs are offset by the health benefits that you derive out of cooking in one. In addition, there is the added factor of savings in oil, so in the longer term it keeps your health and adds a little to your wealth too! Also, do a thorough comparison of features by reading the best reviews available online. After all, you should also be mindful of the other value-adds that an appliance may provide. For example, consider the after-sales service quality that comes along with the brand that you choose. Are they reliable? Read up customer reviews. Besides, also inquire about the warranty of the appliance itself, the component parts, and the replacement costs if any of the components. Make sure that the brand that you choose is well-known and has a reputation in the market. It is always wise to pay a little premium if you know that the appliance comes from a brand you can trust. So, if two brands offer the same features, go for the one that has a better reputation.