Air frying is a good option if you seek high-quality and low-fat dishes. There are so many air fryers on the market. Is there a method to tell which is best? Only by trying them all! You’ll know about the Different Types of Air Fryers and how they work in this post.
Air fryers come in varieties, each with its features, size, and materials. The cylinder, basket, oven, Halogen, Microwave, Pressure Cooker, and paddle air fryer models are all available. In addition, air fryer versions exist in various shapes and sizes, including baskets, paddles, and oven toaster-like types.
For example, different versions of Air Fryer feature detachable baskets, while others include racks that may store crispers and trays in place of the baskets.
Baking, roasting, grilling, frying, broiling, and toasting are all options for some air fryers, while others have a single cooking setting. In addition, it’s possible to get various air fryer models, each with a different range of features and capabilities.
To make an informed decision, a good air fryer should include all the characteristics you need to know, including the pros and disadvantages of each type of air fryer.
What is an Air Fryer
Air fryers are technically mobile convection ovens. As the air surrounding your food warms, it begins to cook. However, the heated air in a convection oven is moved to expedite the cooking process.
The term “air fryer” comes from cooking food by forcing hot air through and around it. It’s called “frying” because only a small amount of oil is used in each batch, resulting in a thin, crispy coating. While the results aren’t quite the same as those of a deep fryer, the mouth feel is comparable, and there’s no excessive fat.
Different Types of Air Fryers
This post’s main subject is air fryer types, so let’s go back to that. So, how many types of them are there, then?
For your convenience, I’m going to go through each kind and the best-selling goods in the next section. Before we go any additional, let’s start!
Cylinder Air Fryer
There are two replaceable baskets in the cylindrical air fryer design. Using a fan, hot air is circulated from the start to finish to heat the food. Find out how to operate an air fryer better.
Within 2 minutes, cylindrical basket air fryers normally heat up to a temperature sufficient to cook food. This air fryer takes up less counter space than other types because of its slender form factor. However, air fryers do not heat the kitchen like a regular oven due to their small size.
In terms of capacity and usability, cylinder basket air fryers are less desirable than other types of models.
Typically, this sort of air fryer has a single function. However, if you are looking for a gadget that can be used for grilling, baking, frying, and broiling, an oven air fryer is the best option..
Due to its size (often 3 quarts or less), the cylindrical air fryer is well-suited for single-person or small gatherings. However, if you would like to feed a group of four or more people, you’ll need to cook in batches.
Because of their design and transparent covers, Cylindrical air fryers offer little to no food visibility. To put it into perspective, the sound produced by a cylindrical air fryer is substantially louder than that of a convection oven at 65 DB.
Basket Air Fryer
An air fryer with a basket shape allows you to cook food in a container. Small holes in the basket permit air to circulate and heat the food items. Using this style, you can avoid having your meal sit in oil.
This air fryer model may be the most well-known of the several air fryer models. And did you know that Phillips’ first basket-style air fryer, which has an egg-shaped look, was produced? Yes, it is correct.
It’s possible to find them in a variety of forms and sizes. But no matter what shape they take, each includes a retractable basket for storing the food.
In addition, the perforations in the basket allow hot air from the appliance’s top to flow around the food in the basket, ensuring that it is cooked evenly. In addition, the handle on the basket makes it easy to throw your food while cooking.
Oven Air Fryer
Air fryers employ the same heating method as a cylindrical basket fryer. However, the racks that hold the crisper and baking pan in oven air fryers are absent from the cylindrical models.
Air fryers can bake, roast, grill, fry, broil and toast food in the comfort of your own home without any noise. The oven air fryer looks like a toaster oven and has a transparent door so you can watch what’s going on within.
Additionally, the oven air fryer components can be cleaned in the dishwasher, making cleaning a pleasure.
The oven air fryer requires more time to heat up than air fryers that are cylindrical or basket-style. After reaching the pre-heating temperature, the entire room may be warmed up.
Because the oven air fryer is bigger than a cylindrical basket fryer, it takes up more counter space in the kitchen. As a result, the oven air fryer can contain up to 25 liters of food, significantly more than the regular oven.
Halogen Air Fryer
This style is noted for its glass texture, making it easier to observe your cooking. In addition, heat and airflow around the meal are generated by halogen lights, which is a unique feature of this model.
In addition, the device’s heating mechanism is located on the top. As a result, you’ll need to turn the food manually rather than shake it. On the other hand, Halogen air fryers come in large sizes to fit an entire turkey within.
Microwave Air Fryer
An amazing air fryer microwave combo may be found in many highly rated models. They appear like a standard microwave, but they also can air-fry food.
This gadget is supposed to be able to cook food in both an air fryer and a microwave oven at the same time. So your food may be cooked in a microwave air fryer using less oil than in a conventional range. However, if you require a combination of microwaves and air fryers, there is no good bet than this product combo.
Does it not sound like an excellent idea to have an air fryer and a microwave in one device? However, there are some downsides to consider.
Pressure Cooker Air Fryer
If you’re seeking for a pressure cooker/air fryer combo, none of the models listed above should be overlooked. A pressure cooker isn’t known for producing crispy foods, but this method will be perfect if you’re looking for a golden-brown finish.
Some versions have a wide range of functions, including baking, roasting, slow cooking, rice cooking, air frying, etc. These air fryers tend to be pricier in comparison to other basic air fryer models..
See if this air fryer style can live up to your expectations by examining its positives and negatives.
Paddle Air Fryer
An air fryer that uses a paddle-style cooking system is ideal for those who like to “set it and forget it.”
When using air fryer types such as the cylindrical or basket-type, one side of the meal may appear undercooked. These cooking forms need the food taken out of the pot to be stirred.
A paddle-type air fryer rotates food automatically to make life easier for its user. A paddle within the basket moves the hot air over the meal equally.
Larger foods may be cooked in this air fryer since the paddle can be removed, allowing greater cooking space and larger items. This sophisticated air fryer can cook a wide variety of foods, including fries, curries, rice dishes, frozen cuisine, mixed veggies, etc.
How Does an Air Fryer Perform
There is no end to what you can do in the kitchen with an air fryer.. An air fryer may be used for frying, grilling/broiling, baking, reheating, and toasting.
- As the name implies, an air fryer may be used to cook food. Leftover fries that are mushy can be reheated in an air fryer to retain their crispiness. There is no essential for oil when using an air fryer.
- The meal will have a crunchier texture if you apply oil before air frying (no oil can be placed within the appliance).
- An air fryer can cook your favorite dish without turning the meat frequently, whether it’s chicken breast or steaks. When using an air fryer, removing and putting back the grill pan or the grill layer with the handle is easy.
- Your food will cook more evenly in an air fryer because it allows the hot air to circulate more evenly throughout and around the appliance. It’s also a healthier alternative because the grill’s surface can promptly drain any oil or butter residue.
- Baking in an air fryer is conceivable, though it isn’t popular. It’s easy to reheat pre-made pastries or make your own from scratch. There’s even a recipe online for S’mores!
- The air fryer may be used to roast and rotisserie a variety of meats and vegetables.
- Rather than using the oven, an air fryer produces a lighter, roasted supper in less time.
- An air fryer may be used to toast bread. To make air fryer toast, just brush the slice with butter or olive oil, place it in the air fryer, and set the temperature to 320 F for 3 – 5 minutes. There you have it—toast from an air fryer.
What Factors Determine the Finest Air Fryer Type
Air fryers come in a wide range of sizes, prices, materials, settings, and even how simple they are to clean.
When looking for an air fryer, don’t overlook the importance of size. When purchasing an air fryer, consider how many people it will feed and how much counter space you have. Those with a large party to serve and a large kitchen would profit more from an air fryer oven.
On the other hand, air fryers with baskets or paddles are ideal for cooks who have a small kitchen but need to feed a solo or double dish.
It’s essential to consider the material of an air fryer. Most low-cost air fryers are made of plastic with a metal basket, which is bad for your health and the environment. When heated, the plastic releases hazardous compounds, including phthalates, contaminating the food supply.
Using Teflon or other chemicals to create a nonstick coating may also have the same consequences, leaching poisons into the food. Stainless steel, Polytetrafluoroethylene, and Perfluorooctanoic Acid)-free, ceramic-coated, or glass-coated air fryers are the best options for your kitchen.
The controls of an air fryer might be dial or digital. Dials are typically used for temperature and timer control. However, they are manual and can be inaccurate.
More precise temperature settings and timers can be achieved using digital controls. The best option is an air fryer that is easy to operate and includes an alarm to notify you when food is done cooking.
The simplicity with which it can be cleaned is the final consideration. Keeping air fryers clean might extend their lifespan.
Air fryer devices with dishwasher-friendly components or units that can fit in a conventional sink may be of interest to folks who are always on the road. Quick and easy cleaning may also be accomplished with an open drawer.
Which One is the Best Type of Air Fryer?
How often you intend to utilize the item you’re looking for is a factor in how much you should pay.
The most common style of air fryer nowadays is a basket model. Disposable baskets and clever technology that automatically cooks a range of foods and presets that allow you to select the sort of food you want to cook and how it should be prepared are among the features available.
FAQs
What is the Difference Between Different Air Fryers?
With the same fundamental technology, all air fryers are almost identical. In addition, because all air fryers cook food using hot airflow, there aren’t any variations in style.
What is the Difference Between an Air Fryer and an Air Oven?
Air fryers and conventional ovens are opposed in terms of size. For example, one dish may be cooked in an air fryer or a countertop device, whereas several words can be cooked in an oven or a full-sized machine.
Do You Need a Basket for the Air Fryer Oven?
The basket is not required to utilize an air fryer. However, keep in mind that your air fryer won’t be able to cook your food reliably or effectively. Your cooking time will likewise be pushed back.. This is because your air fryer cannot function effectively if the airflow is obstructed.
Conclusion
You should now better grasp the various types of air fryers and their advantages and disadvantages. Do you favour one over the other? This issue can only be solved by you..
With our analysis, you should have a better idea of what to expect from each model so that when the time comes to buy, you can make an informed selection.