Choosing an airfryer

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Airfryer manufacturers claim that these devices in the kitchen can replace the oven, microwave, double boiler, deep fryer ... At the same time, the food turns out to be tasty and healthy. Is it so? Let's talk about this. Where, in fact, did the name "airfryer" come from? In the mid-80s of the last century, the United States invented a device in which food was brought to readiness using a stream of hot air. Moreover, in it it was possible to cook dishes similar to those that are cooked in the grill. That's why he got the name "aerogrill". Despite the versatility of this device, the domestic buyer still looks at it with disbelief.

Airfryer design

The first thing that catches your eye when looking at the airfryer is a large cylindrical glass bulb. It is installed on a massive plastic stand that protects the table from the hot flask, which gets very hot during cooking. At the top of the device there is an impressive lid that covers the flask. There is a heating element and a fan inside the cover, and a control panel outside. In airfryer two types of heaters are used: tubular electric heaters (heating elements) or halogen. In models with halogen elements, the air heats up faster. The built-in fan can have one or several speeds (the more, the wider the range of prepared dishes).

A glass flask can accommodate several racks and / or trays (usually no more than three, both are included). This feature allows you to cook several dishes at the same time. But here you need to keep in mind that the smells of different products will mix, therefore, when cooking simultaneously, it is important to learn how to select them correctly. For example, you can arrange chicken and potatoes at different levels, but not fish and cake. Also, combine only those foods that require the same cooking temperature. In this case, the cooking time does not play a special role, since the “ripe” dish can be pulled out earlier than others without any problems. To accommodate a large dish, the airfryer is equipped with a magnifying ring.

The cooking process in the airfryer is simple: they put food in the flask, close it with a lid, and then set the required parameters on the control unit (temperature, fan speed and time). The heating temperature varies between 65-280 ° C. As soon as it reaches the set value, the fan will turn on, which will begin to drive hot air inside the flask. This airflow ensures uniform heating of food.

Airfryer capabilities

The possibilities of this miracle device are quite wide. You can cook almost anything in it - from soup to dessert. For example, meat in it can be baked, stewed, fried and even slightly smoked (for this it is allowed to use a little wood shavings or flavoring "liquid smoke"). The same can be done with fish. But do not expect that at the end you will get a real kebab or smoked ham. The airfryer will also cook soup and porridge, bake pies and pizza, pamper households with jam and meringues. He can even sterilize canning jars and reheat food. But when it comes to heating, you should know that this process takes longer in an airfryer than in a microwave.

However, not every airfryer will cope with a wide range of dishes. It mainly depends on the number of fan speeds. The airfryer will cook only simple dishes at one speed: soup, porridge, grilled chicken, fried potatoes, etc.Three-speed units, among other things, are available for smoking, stewing, making yoghurt, meringues, pies, mulled wine and others. However, practice shows that some dishes are still more convenient to do on an ordinary stove or in the oven. For example, when preparing a dish, where it is necessary to present products in the process, the airfryer will not be entirely convenient. In addition, some housewives claim that baking in a gas or electric oven is still better. In any case, after buying an airfryer, the user will have to get used to it for some time and only then will he please with tasty and healthy dishes.

By the way, about the benefits of cooking in an airfryer. The hot air stream melts excess fat from food, reducing their calorie content. There is no microwave radiation in this device, since the process is due to the influence of hot air. Food can be cooked in it without oil, so food does not burn, and harmful carcinogens are not formed in products. They also retain the maximum amount of vitamins and useful microelements.

Characteristic details

A standard airfryer is a rather bulky device. In the kitchen, he will need a space of at least 40x40x40 cm. The lid of the device can be removable or hinged. The latter is equipped with a shock absorber in case of accidental slamming. During the operation of the airfryer, the glass body becomes very hot, so it is better not to touch it.

To keep the airfryer clean, the self-cleaning function is activated: water, detergent are poured into the flask and the corresponding mode is turned on. After half an hour, the glass will be clean. But hand washing is also required, and it is best to do this in the bathroom, being very careful not to break the glass case.

The airfryer is a powerful device, but it works for a long time, so this will definitely be reflected in the electricity bill. When placing food in the flask, leave a small gap between them so that air can circulate freely. Based on this, it is easy to conclude that food cooks faster on the wire rack. Any heat-resistant cookware can be used in the airfryer, including ordinary metal pots and pans.

Fedorov S.


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