the essential
The hot air fryer, also known as an “airfryer”, is on the rise as Black Friday and Christmas approach. Manufacturers are increasing the number of models. What does it offer more or less than a traditional fryer? We tell you everything.
It's the star product of the moment in household appliance stores: the airfryer. Also known as a hot air fryer or oil-free fryer, popular in the United States and South Korea, it allows you to fry, but also to cook, roast and grill foods, giving them a crispy appearance with little or no oil.
During 2023, sales will increase threefold in France. The peak of sales occurred during Black Friday and Christmas. Several stores were even out of stock last Christmas.
How does an airfryer work?
The airfryer works like a mini convection oven. Hot air is propelled at approximately 70 km/h inside the cooking basket. The heat is distributed evenly. Foods are coated in heat to allow them to become crispy and tender inside. The concentrated high cooking temperature produces a browning reaction. The airfryer heats up as soon as it is turned on, without preheating.
What are the advantages?
The main advantage of an airfryer is that it offers healthy cooking with little or no oil, unlike a traditional fryer. The versatility of the airfryer allows you to cook several types of food, from starters to desserts: cordon bleu, nuggets, fish, tartiflette, meat, pastries, etc. The appliance is suitable for small portions, it logically does not release any heat. smell of frying and it is easy to clean. Its electricity consumption is lower than a traditional fryer or an oven, around 70% according to Philipps and Moulinex.
What are the disadvantages?
Cooking fries can take a few minutes longer than a traditional fryer. It is not suitable for large families unless cooked in several batches. The taste can be surprising depending on the food (chicken drier, less juicy, etc.) and will never equal the same crispy result of traditional frying. The airfryer can be quite noisy depending on the model. It also represents an additional appliance in the kitchen or on the worktop.
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What are the prices?
For an entry-level model, with a small capacity tank, you need to count between €50 and €70 compared to around thirty euros for an oil fryer. A majority of models are sold between €100 and €200 or even beyond for high-end models, according to UFC Que Choisir. The price of a Philipps model with XL capacity, cooking probe and telescopic rails reaches €399 or even €449 for an XXL model.
What are the most popular models?
Several brands offer airfryer models. Ninja is one of the most popular manufacturers thanks to its strong presence on social networks. Philipps and Moulinex are naturally present in this department. Boulanger has released its Essentielb EAF3 airfryer for €69.99. Models that offer a double tray are very successful: they allow you to cook different foods with a different time and type of cooking and to synchronize the end of cooking.
How to choose your airfryer?
There are several elements to take into consideration when choosing an airfryer. The quality of cooking naturally, the capacity of the appliance (single tank or double tank), the possibility or not of cooking two types of food simultaneously, the cooking modes offered, any customizable settings, the ease of cleaning with removable parts compatible or not with the dishwasher.
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Is there a health risk?
On social networks, videos warn of the danger of the cooking method of airfryers. Their authors claim that heating the non-stick walls of the cubes – the coating is identical to the frying pans – would release substances toxic to the immune system and the fetus. UFC Que Choisir recalls that a European regulation prohibits the use of PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) in the manufacture of commonly used objects, including airfryers, since July 4, 2020. Airfryers contain Teflon or PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). For safety, the consumer association advises using wooden or silicone kitchen instruments so as not to scratch the coating and not cleaning the tank with an abrasive sponge.
Fryer, oven or airfryer: what to choose?
The answer depends on… you! Your eating habits, the composition of your household, the space available in your kitchen, the budget you plan to put into it. If you love the crispiness of fries cooked in a traditional fryer, keep it. You want to eat healthier without oil: the airfryer is for you. Head of a big family? An oven will be more useful to you than an airfryer, which is too limited. Is your kitchen small and you have little storage space? The airfryer might take up more space but will always take up less space than a traditional oven.
