Best air fryer consumer reports in 2022
Everyone loves fried food, but no one loves the unhealthy consequences that come with it. That’s where the air fryer comes in- a appliance that promises to give you all the deliciousness of frying without any of the guilt. With so many different air fryers on the market, how do you know which is the best for your needs?
Luckily, Consumer Reports has done the hard work for you and released a list of their top of best air fryer consumer reports. Keep reading to learn more about these appliances and find out which one is right for you.
Table of Contents
What Is Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks with hot air. The most common use of an air fryer is to fry or crisp food using little or no oil. These appliances have become popular because they require less oil than deep frying and do not produce the same smell as traditional frying. They are also more energy efficient and have a smaller footprint than most ovens, making them a good choice for small kitchens or cooking just a few servings at a time. There are two types of air fryers: those that look like mini-appliances, similar to convection ovens, and those that resemble rice cookers. In this article we will take a closer look at some of the air fryer models on the market and what features to look out for when shopping.
A Short History of Air Frying Since 2010, brands such as Philips and GoWISE have been marketing the original “air fryers” in Asia, which use hot circulating air to cook foods without any oil. In 2013, American manufacturer ActiFry introduced a countertop appliance considered by some to be one of the first domestic “air fryers” using a similar technology that had launched previously in France and South Africa. The term “Air Fry” was coined by European appliance manufacturer Rowenta in late 2015 before being patented in 2016. This has led some people to believe that there is only one true “air fryer” and that all other appliances using a similar technology are simply air fryer-like devices as opposed to true air fryers. In this article we will refer to the type of appliance that circulates hot air as an “air fryer”, not just those with oil.
Types Of Air Fryer
There is no doubt that for anyone who wants to be healthy, they will make sure that they eat food like fish and vegetables or meat and not junk. Since few years ago, the air fryer has been gaining popularity because it saves you from consuming calories since you can cook food with little oil.
When you want to buy an air fryer, there are different types of these products available but before making the final decision on which one you will buy, it’s important that you know what these types are and their difference so that you can choose the best one for your purposes.
The Different Types Of Air Fryers
There are basically four main types of air fryers:
– Countertop Type
This type of air fryer is usually big in size and it requires more space on your countertop. However, this is the simplest one to use because you can put bigger items like chickens, fish or ribs inside it.
– Handheld Type
This type of air fryer is relatively small in size compared to the first one and it’s not that difficult to carry around especially if you want to cook for few people.
However, most of these types are not compatible with different recipes since you cannot add much food at a time so expect that it will take longer for preparation.
– Tower Type
If you have a small kitchen area, then this type should be perfect for you because it’s easier to store. The only downside is that the food will take longer to cook because this type requires deep frying rather than air frying.
On the other hand, cleanup will be a bit difficult since you cannot separate parts of these types unlike with other types of air fryers.
– Portable Type
If you want a best air fryer consumer reports that can fit in your suitcase or storage bag when traveling, then this should be perfect for you because it’s lightweight and small in size just like the handheld type.
However, these are not good for cooking large foods but they’re best if you want to cook fries or chips while camping or at picnics.
Some Factors To Consider When Choosing A Good Air Fryer
– Power Capacity
How powerful is your air fryer? This is a very important consideration especially if you want to prepare several servings at once, so be sure to check the wattage required by your chosen product. You can also find those with adjustable temperature controls which might come in handy depending on what type of dish you’re cooking. Don’t forget that an energy saver does not equal a weak cooker, so only go for those that have been rated with the wattage that you need.
– Weight Capacity
Will your fryer be able to handle food items that require longer cooking times? It’s a must that you check the capacity of your chosen device so don’t forget to consider this important aspect. Whether you’re a pro in deep frying or just a beginner, always remember that bigger capacity means less waiting time which can save you from overcooking. Most kitchen appliances have a maximum capacity of around 2 pounds but there are also those that can accommodate larger serving sizes such as 3 pounds and even 5 pounds at once. Just make sure that you choose an air fryer that is made from durable materials and has enough safety features for your peace of mind when used in your kitchen.
– Price
If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider some cheaper models in the market but don’t expect them to last long since they are sometimes made from low grade materials. You can always find the best air fryer consumer reports within your price range but make sure that it doesn’t sacrifice quality just to be more affordable. Professional-grade air fryers are not cheap so if you want something that is worth its price tag, look for an appliance that has built-in safety features and delivers tasty results every time. Cleaning And Maintenance Of Your Air Fryer You should never underestimate proper care for your appliances at home especially when we’re talking about pricey kitchen tools such as air fryers. High quality models will come with detachable parts that are dishwasher safe so they can be cleaned quickly and safely. If you’re looking for something that is eco-friendly, most brands today offer fryers that have non-stick interiors which means it will require little to no oil at all when cooking your favorite dishes.
Benefits Of Air Fryer
There are many benefits that one can enjoy by having an air fryer. The appliance is easy to use and it saves one time spent in the kitchen. More than just frying items, this appliance promises healthy cooking. Best of all, You Can Save Money With This!
Your food’s smell will linger for hours, especially after you make something delicious with your air fryer like these air fryer ribs . It certainly beats using an oven or deep-frying vegetables, meats and more in oil on the stovetop. Here are some ways that owning a best air fryer consumer reports can benefit you:
– Air Fryer Uses Little Oil When Cooking
Typically, foods prepared with an air fryer use less oil (if any at all). This is because the appliance uses hot air to cook food quickly and efficiently. Cooking with little or no oil means that you can enjoy your favorite fried foods (chicken wings, french fries, etc.) without feeling greasy after eating them.
– Air Fryer Preserves The Flavor Of Foods
Foods prepared in an air fryer retain their flavors better than those prepared in an oven, for example. For this reason, you can season your food (salt and pepper is all you need sometimes!) before cooking it in the air fryer instead of afterwards. Moreover, there’s no need to worry about bloated bellies after taking down too much salt; less salt will make it easier on the stomach!
– Air Fryer Does The Cooking For You
The hot air circulated by the appliance does all the cooking for you. That’s it! After laying down your favorite oil or spray, placing items in the basket and setting a time, you can leave the air fryer alone while it works its magic. This is amazing when you want to take a shower or work out before heading out for errands – just set an alarm so that you don’t forget about your food!
– Air Fryer Saves Time And Money
As mentioned above, preparing food in an air fryer takes less time than using other methods of cooking. Because of this, one can use their air fryers frequently without feeling overwhelmed by a long list of chores. Furthermore, frying methods with less oil and manageable temperatures save you money, as you don’t need to buy a lot of canola oil or something similar.
– Air Fryer Is Easy To Clean And Safe For Use
Many air fryers are dishwasher safe, which means that the appliance is not difficult to clean. In addition, many models come with removable parts which can be removed for cleaning as well as cooking! So, there’s little hassle in preparing your meals. The best part is that this appliance is relatively new compared to other kitchen tools so it does not have an extensive history of being hard to use or ineffective. It’s perfect for novice cooks and experts alike! There are numerous benefits when using an air fryer instead of a deep-fryer or oven to cook your meals with.
Tips To Use An Air Fryer
An air fryer uses the power of hot air to cook your food. It is meant to be an alternate method of cooking (an alternative for frying) that helps you cut the calories without having the thought of looking at boring, bland “healthy” recipes.
There are several models of air fryers out in the market but they all work with the same principle – hot air circulation around your product which cooks it evenly with less oil compared to deep frying. And unlike deep fried foods, an air-fried dish is crisp and not as oily as a conventional one as well as healthier as it does not absorb too much oil during the process.
– Cooking Time
Understanding how an air fryer works can greatly help you come up with a perfect and delicious recipe. First and foremost, to use an air fryer you must know that it does not cook your food from the inside out. Instead, it cooks your food from the outside in. The heat from the hot air will penetrate into your food as you go through each layer of it. This means that cooking time is a very important factor especially if you consider that you might ruin your dish if parts of it are overcooked while others are undercooked. To avoid this lapse, take note of cooking time for every ingredient as well as for different steps of how to make a certain recipe. When baking something in an airfryer, take note that the process is faster compared to traditional ovens so be sure to take out items that are already cooked.
– Heat Setting
Cooking time is not the only factor that you need to consider when using an air fryer. You also have to think of how hot your machine can get too which is basically its heat setting. In general, most models of air fryers have a knob or buttons where you can choose from light to dark cooking settings depending on what dish you are preparing. This allows users to cook their food at a precise level that will meet their preferences. For instance, if making something crispy and brown like french fries , then put your dial on the higher side while if deep frying a whole chicken for example, keep it on low so it does not burn right away.
– Air Circulation
The way an air fryer works is that heat from the hot air reaches your food via convection. Your food does not have to be submerged in oil, just a few drops will do as it adds flavor and browns it at the same time which is why manufacturers of airfryers boast about how their product allows you to cook without draining away its “good” nutrients. This means that during cooking with an air fryer, make sure you turn or stir your food now and then so that those parts exposed to the hot air will be cooked evenly.
– Cooking a whole chicken
By now, we hope that you understand better what an Air Fryer does and how it works. If you’re planning on using one soon but you don’t know how to start, never fear for this section will guide you through cooking a whole chicken using an Air Fryer.
Preparing your ingredients
– 1 whole chicken
– 2 tablespoons of olive oil or melted butter
– Salt and pepper to taste
If you are preparing an air fried roasted chicken, then no need to read further since the process is very simple – just season your bird with salt and pepper then rub either olive oil or melted butter all over it so that it is moist when cooked. If you plan on stuffing the inside of the bird though, read further. Using a sharp knife cut along the length of its body without cutting in half completely. Make sure you cut up until where the neck would be or just above it. This will let you add the stuffing inside without worrying about food spillage.
Steps of cooking an air fried whole chicken
– Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
– Prepare your ingredients
– Place chicken breast side up in a baking pan and season with salt and pepper then place in preheated oven for 25 minutes
– Turn the bird on its other side and brown for another 15 minutes while adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter on top
– Flip again and repeat step 3 after 10 more minutes of cooking time
You can check if the chicken is already cooked by inserting a skewer or inserting a meat thermometer on thickest part (thigh) of the thigh. If your chicken is already browned and crispy, then you’re good to go!
– Cooking In Bulk
Recipes that require a best air fryer consumer reports usually have a lot of ingredients which means they can feed a whole family or anyone with a big appetite so cooking in bulk will be favorable here. Most importantly though, always remember to prepare more seasoning than usual since flavors become more concentrated as food cooks together for a long time. If cooking multiple items, take note that most foods cook faster compared to baking or roasting them using a traditional oven so consult recipes beforehand on how much time each dish will need before everything is done).
FAQs About Best Air Fryer Consumer Reports
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
Due to the rapid circulation of the hot air inside the cooking area, you’ll get tasty, crispy results in a fraction of the time it takes to cook with conventional ovens. Because air fryers use little or no oil, they are not only healthier than deep fat frying but can be used for almost anything that would normally be cooked in an oven.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?
You can cook all kinds of recipes in a best air fryer consumer reports from steaks and chops to roasted vegetables and even bake cakes! Because you’re not using much oil, there is no need for you to add any more while cooking your food. This makes it perfect for low-fat cooking – healthy eating made easy!
How Long Does It Take To Cook Food In An Air Fryer?
For foods like fries, chips and onion rings, cooking time is reduced by around 80% compared to deep fat frying. Other foods like meat and fish will be ready in a quarter of the time it takes to cook them in an oven.
What Air Fryer Capacity Is Best For You?
You should consider what kind of food you’ll normally cook before deciding which capacity air fryer is best for you. If you’re feeding a family or regularly cooking up big batches of fries, chips or other snacks then we’d recommend buying an extra-large capacity fryer that can accommodate large amounts at once.
See more: Air Fryer 101 – How to Use an Air Fryer – Beginner? Best air fryer consumer reports
Conclusion: Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, and there are many different models to choose from. It can be difficult to determine which one is the best air fryer for your needs. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best air fryer consumer reports. We hope it will help you make an informed decision about which air fryer is right for you. Have you tried using an air fryer? What has been your experience?
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