What is an air fryer | Is an air fryer useful?

Fried food is simply mouth-watering but the health issues it has cannot be ignored. Continuous intake of these meals causes cardiac problems, cholesterol issues, and other health problems. An air fryer prepares the best-fried meals with less oil consumption.

In this way, you can eat these food options regularly without worrying about developing any medical problem. In comparison with the normal deep fryers, they require less meal preparation duration. Considering the busy routine that people have, it suits them.

What is an air fryer?

The question what is an air fryer is new to most people even the ones who have a large collection of cooking gadgets. Deep-fried food is undoubtedly mouth-watering.

It is hard to avoid the crispness of fried chicken or beef sausages. However, all the oil consumed along with these meals can result in major health hazards.

Do you want to enjoy these tasty food options without adopting the risks of high cholesterol, blood pressure, or heart problems? If yes then an air fryer would surely work for you. It prepares all sorts of fried food with minimum oil usage. This helps in avoiding critical health issues.

If you talk about the composition of an air fryer, there is a fan and heating unit located at the very top. The fan spreads the heat to different parts of the meal and reduces the cooking time by a good margin.

In terms of operating processes, air fryers are much simpler than conventional deep ones. You need to be an experienced cook to use a deep fryer and comparatively, inexperienced cooks easily operate air fryers.

Is an air fryer useful?

An air fryer is definitely one of the most useful kitchen appliances you need to have and compared to a conventional deep fryer, it consumes much lesser oil. While enjoying your favorite fried meals, you do not need to have apprehensions about any health hazards.

The meals are crispier and prepared with better taste and you can have them more frequently.

A good air fryer is suitable for everyone who wants to enjoy fried meals. It is much safer than a standard deep fryer which undoubtedly leads to health issues. In a nutshell, you can have scrumptious fries or chicken drumsticks without having the slightest of worries.

Why You Should Use an Air Fryer?

There are countless reasons which emphasize what you should have an air fryer. Cooking healthy fried meals with lesser oil consumption is one of them.

It prepares mouth-watering meals without creating cholesterol or blood pressure risks.  Using a standard deep fryer means spending long hours in the kitchen. This is not the case with an air fryer.

It has a heat circulation mechanism which helps in shortening the preparation time. Another plus point is the compactness it has. Air fryers are smaller in size and require less storage space.

While cooking, you do not need to monitor things. Set the temperature, place the ingredients, and finally, begin the cooking process.

Top 5 Best Air Fryers for 2021 Reviews

Searching online before purchasing something means looking at an endless list of options and Serious buyers do not have the time to look at even half of them. Instead of going through this lengthy process, you can glance at our list of 5 best air fryers.

1. Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8

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Cosori is placed in California, USA, and counted among the top companies producing kitchen appliances. The Air Fryer Max XL 5.8 is among the top-rated products offered.

Features

This air fryer does not consume a great deal of fat. In comparison with other fryers, it uses 80 to 85% less fat. However, the taste is much better than conventional frying. Hence, if you are planning to have some delicious fried stuff for lunch or dinner, this is one of the best fryers you can have.

The frying capacity is amazing and allows food to be fried for approximately six people.  It carries a squared shaped 5.8 –quart non-stick basket that can be used to fry a full chicken.

There are 11 present options used to cook default meals.  According to their preferences, users can choose from steaks, fries, desserts, and several frozen food types.  You do not have to go through any complicated cooking process.

Simply select the appropriate preset meal with the click of a button and set the cooking duration. This quality air fryer would handle the rest.

It has an easily removable non-stick basket. You can wash it in the dishwasher without any worries. It requires lesser cooking time than the normal deep fryer. A good practice is heating it in advance before cooking.

Pros

• Preset options to cook meals
• Capacity to cook for 5 to 6 people at a time
• A non-stick basket safe for dishwashers
• 100 mouth-watering recopies come with the air fryer
• Customers can approach a dedicated support team based in South California

Cons

• Build quality is strictly average
• The basket has steam leakage problems.

2. GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer

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GoWise is another USA based brand that has been producing quality cooking appliances since the year 2013. The headquarters are based in Arizona. The GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer is among the most impressive products launched by this company.

Features

This air fryer consumes very little oil and you can perform key cooking tasks including frying, grilling and even baking with minimal effort.  Tasty meals like steaks, fries, pizzas, and drumsticks can be made in a quick time.

This product is compact in size which makes it easy to be placed on the kitchen counter and the overall design is sleek. Secondly, an easy to use touch screen menu has been provided to the user. There are a total of 8 preset menu options to choose from.

There is a diverse temperature range and users can make a selection according to the meal being cooked. You can set anything between 180 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Users can use a start/stop button to initiate/conclude the cooking process and this helps in completing tasks more systematically.

The ingredients added need to be stirred. This air fryer has a built-in alarm function reminding about cooking completions. Set the alarm for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or any other time slot so it helps to get properly cooked meals without monitoring them continuously.

If you don’t have recopies of your own, there is nothing to worry about. The air fryer comes with 50 original recipes that can help inexperienced chefs. There is a one-month money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product.

Pros

• Consumes very less oil for all meals
• An alarm feature to set reminders
• 80 preset meals
• Touch Screen menu
• Compact and sleek design
• 50 recipes to try

Cons

• Cleaning can be time consuming and messy
• The food basket also has a 30-day guarantee like other components

 3. Ninja Air Fryer 4 Quart

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Ninja is among the top sellers of air fryers.  It is a US-based company that manufactures a lot of products including coffee makers, air fryers, and other similar appliances.

Features

This air fryer cooks the most tempting fried meals with a fat reduction of 75% or even more.  Whether you want to have fries, pizzas, or steaks, you can enjoy your favorite meals without overconsumption of fat or oil.

There is no need to restrict to a certain temperature figure as you can make adjustments between 105 degrees and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

By using this air fryer, you can have food that is amazingly crisp and moisture-free. The utensils of this cooking tool are impressive as well.

It has a non-stick basket that can easily be washed in the dishwasher and a ceramic plate to prevent sticking food.  In terms of capacity, you can cook 2 pounds of delicious meals at a time.

A good practice to cook meals in the right way is preheating. Pre-heating is done for 3 minutes or more depending on the meal type. In this way, the ingredients do not stay half-cooked at the time of serving.

The washing process is a major concern for most users whether they are buying an air fryer or any other cooking tool. As compared to other options, the process for this air fryer is much simpler and involves lesser effort.

The cooking basket as well as the plate can easily be removed, washed, and dried. Once you have washed and dried them, they can be reinstalled simply. There is no need to use any gadgets or tools for fixtures.

Pros

• Easily removable cooking basket and plate
• Meals prepared with reduced moisture
• Very small oil consumption levels
• Varying temperature range to prepare a variety of meals

Cons

• Only standard features
• No auto-pause option to stop the cooking process if needed

4. Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer Oven

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Dash is a global brand that deals in air fryers and similar kitchen appliances. The DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer is among the most successful products the company has introduced.

Features

 The air fryer reduces fat consumption by 80 percent or even more. Therefore, it offers safer health.  This also improves the taste standard and helps in preparing crispier food.

The cooking process is quite simple and you do not need to be an expert to use this air fryer. All you have to do is place the meal in the 1 2 quart basket and adjust the timer. Once the duration is complete, you would find top-quality fried meals ready to serve.

The auto shut-down option avoids harmful hazards so when the cooking timing has been completed. Therefore, the fryer will shut down automatically. As safety guidelines enable, kids can also use it without any apprehensions.

Meal Option

In terms of cooking variety and capacity, this fryer has a lot to offer. You can prepare anything from streaks, fries to desserts. If you have a lot of family members or your routine is tough, there is nothing to worry about. The fryer allows you to cook for 7 to 8 members at a time with ease.

At times, kitchen gadgets are heavy or cover a lot of space which is a problem. Such appliances cannot be carried without immense effort. In addition to that, you cannot carry them for traveling as well.

Best Small Air Fryers. This fryer is compact, light-weighted, and easy to move from one place in the house to the other. Therefore, you can carry it while traveling to another destination as well.

Dash provides online and telephonic support to the users. If you have any questions about usage or any of the features, get in touch for the resolution.

Pros

• Fat reduction by 70 to 80 percent
• Light-weighted and easy to carry
• Cooks various meal types
• Auto shut down feature
• Compact design and slim appearance

Cons

• Digital display not available

5. Chefman TurboFry 2 Liter Air Fryer

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Chefman is a top seller that has the reputation of producing top standard kitchen appliances. This air fryer has high standard cooking options.

Features

This air fryer has a very slim appearance so carrying and kitchen counter placement is easy which means a lot of space is not needed. The capacity is amazing and allows a maximum cooking limit of 2 liters.

It has multiple cooking options so you can get rid of various extra appliances. Along with that, preparing meals with less oil and fat is a key plus point that this fryer places on the table.

Fat is eliminated by 70 to 80 percent for meals so you can eat more frequently without fearing health issues. Above all, less oil consumption minimizes heart risks.

Lack of proper protection can cause burns when you are dealing with an air fryer. The Turbo Fry 2 does not have any such problems since it has a rubber handle. Thus, you can hold it without any worries.

There is no need to wait for the fryer to cool down since the rubber part does not get heated. Secondly, there are heat indicator lights that highlight a particular temperature. Therefore,  monitoring the air fryer after every few minutes is not needed.

It automatically turns off at a specific temperature which helps in balancing other tasks apart from cooking.  However, with this safety feature, kids can use it as well.

Cleaning Procedure

The cleaning procedure is a major concern for people when they are considering air fryer options. Hence, no one wants to spend hours or go through a tough procedure when the cooking has been done. However, the fryer has a simple cleaning procedure and anyone can perform it without assistance.

It takes a lot of effort to clean when cooking utensils are not dishwasher safe. The cooking basket and tray are easily be washed in the dishwasher without manual activities. Simply place the accessories in the dishwasher, push the button and the job will be done.

Users face problems while unscrewing parts of the air fryer for cleaning and reassembling them. Hence, it becomes very hard to use. To clean this fryer, you only have to lift the basket/tray and remove them.

There is a complete user guide that provides awareness about all the features that this fryer has to offer. Therefore, you can go through it before the first usage. Other than that, if you have any queries, get in touch with the support team for resolutions.

Pros

• The sleek structure will less weight
• Reduces fat consumption by 80% or more
• Rubber handle to prevent burns
• Used to cook various meal types
• The simple cleaning process and dishwasher safe
• Place it on the kitchen counter due to compact structure

Cons

• No off / on buttons with a time switch.

Our Picks – The Best Air Fryer for 2021

The five top options for air fryers for 2021 are listed above. However, when you talk about the best pick, it is Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8. The features that it offers are much better than what the other alternatives have.

It reduces oil consumption by a major margin. Therefore, you do not have to keep a check on the frequency of meals.

This fryer is an award-winning option which clearly elaborates its progress. It has preset options so you don’t have to explore new meal options in the beginning.

The 11 preset options are for vegetables, fried chicken, desserts, bread, and other meal types. Hence, if you are not an expert cook, try these default options to get a grip. More importantly, it is quite simple to wash the fryer since the basket is removable.

A major reason for buying an air fryer is the reduction of cooking time. A look at the time span of a deep fryer shows that it consumes a longer duration and makes frequent cooking harder. This is not the case with air fryers.

Have a look at the operating procedure before picking an air fryer. This is one of the key areas where Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8 has an edge on the other options listed above and you can use it with basic cooking abilities.

In a nutshell, if you are looking for the best air fryer, the Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8 is the finest option you can consider.

Conclusion

What is an air fryer? Why should you purchase one?  These questions surely exist in the minds of people who have not used this cooking tool in the fast.

There is no doubt that the air fryer is better than a standard deep fryer in a lot of ways and most reasons are health-related. With air fryers, you do not have to worry about heart attacks and high cholesterol problems.

One of the key reasons is that deep fryers consume a lot of oil and fat. If you regularly consume deep-fried meals, you would be at several medical risks. However, this air fryer is much better since its fat usage is much lesser. Thus, cooked meals are crispier and more importantly safer.

Among the top 5 options, Cosori Air Fryer Max XL 5.8 is the best one because it has the most impressive features.