The air fryer has created a buzz in modern society some even going as far as calling it the magic machine.
It’s not a claim with no backing though. This appliance will literally blow your mind with what it can do and by the way there is no end to what it can cook.
From your thin, crispy fries to the crispy chicken wings, gone are the days of deep frying, say hello to the age of hot air convection cooking.
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot temperature air using a high-powered fan around it.
1. VON VSYA45MGK AIR Fryer - 4.5L – Black
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This is probably the most high-quality, affordable air fryer in the market. The 4.5L capacity can reasonably cook for 1-3 people.
This sleek, compact design air fryer comes with two knobs; temperature control and a time knob. Depending on the food you’re preparing, set the ideal temperature and time and let it cook. e.g 200 degrees for 40min for crispy wings.
It has a non-stick coating that makes it easy to clean after cooking. Even though it doesn’t cook really fast compared to other air fryers mentioned here it only takes 3-4 min to heat up.
2. Nutribullet Nutricook NC-RAF36 Rapid Air Fryer 3.6L - 1500W
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The Nutricook is a beautiful, intuitive appliance designed with the end user in mind. The unconventional square model allows more space for the food compared to a round model of similar capacity.
It’s equipped with a sleek one-touch LCD panel that makes it intuitively easy to use. One of the things you can do on this panel is select one of eight pre-set options and watch your food cooked without the hassle of setting time and temperature for yourself it’s already been done for you.
Nutribet know how much you love your crispy fries and wings, with that in mind they equipped this model with 360 degree circulation and perfect crisp system to crisp your food on the outside while keeping it nice and tender on the inside.
3. Philips HD9216/81, Daily collection Air fryer
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Philips is one of the most reputable appliance brands in the market. It’s no exception when it comes to air fryers.
This model has a modern and elegantly designed appeal to it. It has a starfish design at the bottom to that allows superior air circulation leading to evenly cooked food and at a shorter time compared to other air fryers.
It is a 4 in 1 meaning you can fry, grill, roast and bake your favorite foods in a healthy manner all because of the state of the art Rapid Air™ technology.
Factors to Consider when Buying an Air Fryer
- Price
A quick glance will reveal to you that air fryers are not cheap. For that reason, keeping within your budget is crucial although in the long run the cost is off-set by the health benefits of the air fryer coupled with the drastic reduction in use of cooking oil and if you follow our review we will sure guide you to get the best value for money. - Capacity
Air fryers come in different capacities. A 3L to 4.5L model is ideal for 1 – 4 people whereas a 4.5L – 6L model is suitable for 4 – 6 people. Note, different sizes come with different advantages and drawbacks. - Features
With modern appliances comes a plethora of features and settings that we can adjust to suit our individual needs. Does it shut off automatically? What is the maximum temperature it can attain? Does it have a timer? Better yet can you switch between different modes of cooking? All these factors should be carefully considered to determine the right fit for you. - Size
Air Fryers come in different shapes and sizes. Deciding on a model that would perfectly fit on your kitchen counter is crucial. The size and capacity should go hand in hand in your decision process to satisfy both the aesthetics of your kitchen and also the amount of food the appliance can cook at a go.
How to Clean an Air Fryer
As is the case with most kitchen appliances, cleaning immediately after use is the best way to go. As much as it sounds like a lot of work, it not only maintains your air fryer sparking clean for the next use but it may as well last longer.
Besides the usual clean-after-use strategy for a thorough cleaning of your valued appliance we recommend:
- Unplug the air fryer
Turn of the power from the socket, unplug it and let it cool for 30 min if you were using it. - Wipe inside and out
Using a damp micro fiber cloth or cotton cloth wipe down the inside and outside of the appliance. - Dried food residue
The expert mix of baking soda and warm water always does the trick in such a case, be it a fridge, microwave, cooker or in this case an air fryer. Dip a microfiber cloth or cotton cloth in the solution and apply or rub off the sticky food stains off. - Basket and the pan
Clean the basket and the pan either in the dish washer which is safe and recommended or soak them in warm water with soap solution for 10 -20 min then rinse and dry with a dry cotton or micro fiber cloth or just the old school way of using a non abrasive sponge dipped in a solution of warm/hot water then use a non abrasive sponge to clean. - Dry the parts
When all is nice and shiny, use a dry cotton cloth to dry the parts or let them air dry for a few minutes then reassemble. Wings are good to go!
What not to use when cleaning your Air Fryer
Don’t use steel wool, metal utensils or anything abrasive that could scratch the appliance. Air fryers are non-stick, anything abrasive will scratch the appliance.
1. What is an Air fryer?
It’s simply an appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air on the food for a pre-set amount of time.
2. Does it need oil to cook?
Usually a table spoon of oil is enough to cook 2-3 plates of fries.
3. Can an air fryer bake?
Yes, it’s also an oven. Don’t be shy to bake your favorite pizza, bread and cake in an air fryer it does it all and they come out pretty good too.
4. Is food cooked with an air fryer healthy?
Yes, compared to deep frying air fried food is far healthier and as delicious as the deep fried food. That’s what makes it so magical.
5. Can I use a plate in an air fryer?
Yes, as long as the accessory is microwave or oven safe you can use in your air fryer.
Conclusion:
The air fryer is worth all the hype around it. We tested different recipes and the results were outstanding from banana bread, pizza, burger patty, meatballs and of course fries, all came out as good as deep fried ones.