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Last Updated on December 8, 2023
There are many great tools and appliances that are used in the kitchen. While some are necessary and provide convenience and save time, one must also look at both their pros as well as cons. When it comes to preparing some of your delicious foods, frying is a cooking method involving either hot fat or oil. There are two ways that you can fry food; one is by air frying and the other is by deep frying. But, many are left wondering which of the two is healthier than the other.
An air fryer is used to fry, grill or bake using no oil during the cooking process, leaving your food crispy yet moist. It uses hot air that circulates around the food giving it a crispy taste and brown color. On the other hand, deep frying requires dipping your food in oil. If you are wondering whether an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, below is a look at some of the benefits of using one.
Less fat/oil content
Since when cooking food in an air fryer, the hot air is the one that circulates cooking your food while getting rid of any excess fat that drops onto the pan, foods made using an air fryer are said to contain low-fat content. With the best air fryer recipes, you can cook foods like meat, chicken and French fries with low-fat content. However, deep-fried foods would have a higher calorie intake which is not a healthy option. Using less oil is also good for your health since you will ingest fewer calories, especially if you are looking to lose weight.
Helps you prevent diseases
Diseases caused by excess fats such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes can be kept at bay with an air fryer. This is because by consuming fewer fats you lower your chances of high levels of cholesterol.
Sweet foods
Many people that eat or order foods from fast food restaurants do that not only for convenience but also because the food is sweet. Most of these fast foods are cooked by deep frying and other methods that might not be healthy for you. One advantage of using an air fryer is that it makes your food crispy and sweet preventing you from having to order from fast foods.
Healthy environment
A healthy environment is generally good for your health. When deep fried under high temperatures, some foods like potatoes and meat burn. They then form harmful compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are not healthy and according to research from the National Cancer Institute, they can increase the risk of cancer. Deep-frying can also sometimes fill your home with the smell of burnt fried foods and oils that lasts for hours, air frying doesn’t. With an air fryer, you can breathe in the fresh air which is great for your lungs.
Since an air fryer cooks food using less oil compared to deep frying, this not only makes healthier foods containing fewer fats, but it also saves you money spent on cooking fats and oils. But, this does not mean that an air fryer is the best for dieting since results will vary. Just choose the foods you consume. Eat less fried foods and focus on taking lots of fruits and vegetables to prevent calorie build-up from eating fried foods multiple times a day/week.
