What Is Air Frying?

Whether you're outfitting a new kitchen, seeking out gifts or browsing recipes online, you've probably heard about air frying. What started as a small appliance in 2010 has expanded into a cooking feature available on many wall ovens, ranges and toaster ovens, and a culinary technique that's all the rage on recipe blogs throughout the internet. We're here to give you all the delicious details on how air frying works, its benefits, and the types of food you can prepare with it. Read on and learn more about this amazing cooking method!

How Does Air Frying Work?

Air frying is the product of a chemical reaction called the Maillard (my-YAR) reaction. It happens when heat breaks down starches into sugars, which in turn react with amino acids. This sets off a rapid browning on the food surface, and hundreds of savory flavor compounds are created in the form of that crispy exterior that makes so many foods extra scrumptious. Think of a hard pretzel - that thin, crunchy, dark layer on the outside is due to the Maillard reaction. The same goes for that crackly surface you see on foods like seared steaks, toasted marshmallows, and freshly-baked baguettes. This phenomenon is key to air frying - hot air shoots downward and quickly circulates around all surfaces of the food simultaneously, harnessing the power of the Maillard reaction to create a crispy fried texture without actually frying!

What Kinds of Food Can Be Air Fried?

There are all sorts of air fryer recipes for delicious meals and snacks. Air frying works great on frozen fare like fish sticks, pizza rolls, taquitos, ravioli, onion rings and French fries (but you can also make air fry french fries from scratch if you're feeling adventurous). When it comes to fresh fare, your options include foods like air fry wings, fried rice, falafel, latkes and other kinds of veggies. Thinking about batter-dipping? Unfortunately wet batters like beer batter can't be air fried, but dry-battered cuisine works beautifully. This includes dry-battered fish, chicken, shrimp, chicken-fried steak, and even pickles! If you've got a sweet tooth, don't forget that air frying is fair game for desserts like air fryer cake, too.

Is Air Frying Healthy?

Foods do need a spritz of oil before they can be air fried, but that's still just a small fraction of the amount that would be used in a conventional deep fryer. Of course, the healthiness of the foods you choose to air fry is a separate issue, and we regret to inform you that preparing four-cheese ravioli in an air fryer won't magically make it a zero-calorie meal. However, air frying is great for delivering that delectable crunch you crave from fried foods, without all the extra calories and fat that comes with traditional oil frying.

Besides Health, Are There Other Advantages to Air Frying?

In addition to eclipsing oil frying in the healthiness department, air frying wins out in other categories, too. For one thing, an air fryer is much safer to operate - zero risk of burns from splattered oil is a benefit that the clumsier cooks among us certainly appreciate. The process is as simple and safe as placing the food in a basket (or baking sheet if you're using an air fryer oven), sliding it in, and closing the door. If you're using a countertop air fryer, most models include an auto-turnoff feature that many traditional deep fryers don't offer. Another great benefit is that air-frying is more low-maintenance than deep frying, with a much easier and faster cleanup. As with any appliance, before you start air frying, review the appliance's instructions to ensure safe operation.

Now that you know all about air frying, why not bring it into your own kitchen? There are plenty of models available to suit any space consideration or budget, so find the perfect model now and get ready to air fry!