If there is one household appliance that has achieved great success in recent years, it is Air Fryers with more than 1 million units sold in 2023. Manufacturers are becoming more and more numerous (Philips, Xiaomi, Ninja, Seb… the list is very long) compete fiercely to offer the best oil-free fryers.
They are particularly appreciated for their speed and their ability to make foods crispy without oil, but they are not free from defects. An English consumer media has also denounced the presence of spyware in the applications which accompany certain models of Chinese air fryers.
Air fryers, a threat to food safety?
But the risks do not stop there and they are currently the subject of particular attention in terms of food safety. Indeed, isolated cases of foodborne illnesses have been reported due to their useespecially for cooking breaded products that appear cooked on the outside, but are not cooked on the inside.
Lydia Buchtmann, PDG du Food Safety Information Council, an Australian association which conducted a survey of 1,229 adults on their cuisines and culinary habits, highlighted this issue.
“We encourage food manufacturers to include specific cooking instructions for air fryers”Buchtmann said. According to its research, 44% of owners have consulted the instructions, while 44% of them only find them occasionally. Making these guidelines more common would improve food safety.
The United States Food Safety Agency (USDA) advises against cooking certain raw foodslike breaded chicken breasts, in air fryers. The device, which works by circulating hot air, can make the food appear well-cooked, even though it may remain raw in the center.
Typically, foods require between five and 25 minutes of cooking at a temperature between 180°C and 210°C. The USDA recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions and checking the internal temperature with a food thermometer.
Among the Other Potential Risks of Using Air Fryers These include leaving food in the basket too long after cooking, not washing the basket between uses, or improperly reheating leftovers. Uneven cooking may also occur if the basket is overloaded.
The USDA offers four key tips for safe use:
- clean hands and surfaces regularly before and after food preparation;
- separate raw foods from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination;
- avoid overfilling the basket to ensure uniform cooking;
- refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking to prevent bacteria growth.
