Air fryers use hot, moving air to create a deliciously crisp exterior on your favorite fried foods. In many ways, they are like a miniature convection oven, but they usually include a fryer-specific design feature: the basket. Air fryers with a removable basket allow the hot air to circulate thoroughly over your dish. In other words, a basket air fryer submerges your food in hot air similar to the way a deep fryer submerges food in hot oil.
Air frying has become a popular alternative to deep frying or pan frying because it avoids excess cooking oil. Air frying French fries, chicken nuggets and other foods eliminates some of the unhealthy chemical processes that happen when frying in oil. It also reduces the overall oil content, which can mean less saturated fat and trans fat. Compared to toasters, air fryers offer more versatility for crisping and reheating.
That said, it is important to remember that using an air fryer doesn’t automatically equal healthy food. The nutritional value of the food still depends on the ingredients you use in the dish, and the high temperatures used to create delicious crispness can diminish certain nutritional elements in food.
