Autumn Cooking Comparison: Air Fryers
Perfect for winter cooking, and if we’re being honest, year round cooking, an air fryer is the ideal cooking appliance to have if you’re after fuss-free and healthier frying and cooking. If you’re in the market for your first or perhaps second or third air fryer, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we’ll help equip you with an air fryer that will best suit your needs whether you’re looking to reheat frozen food or keen on making a whole meal out of some pork chops or baked fish.
Air Fryer FAQs
- What is the best air fryer for me?
The best air fryer is one that suits your cooking needs. There are a number of ways to know if the air fryer is right for you; this includes observing the cooking capacity (often indicated in litres), the number of cooking functions or pre-sets, the cooking temperatures and timer functions, and other factors such as dishwasher safe parts, carry handle and included accessories.
- How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers work by distributing hot air combined with maximised air flow to cook your food. Since the heated air moves around your food, dishes cooked in an air fryer experience even cooking without cold spots. Many air fryers will feature a range of automatic functions to suit a range of ingredients or dishes; providing a considerable temperature range so you can control your cooking.
- Do I need to use oil when cooking with an air fryer?
Most times you won’t need oil to cook food in an air fryer. Frozen packaged foods like hot chips, chicken nuggets/tenders, fish fingers etc are already coated with oil so you won’t need to use any oil. When cooking fresh foods, a small amount of oil such a tablespoon of oil or a thin layer of cooking spray will be enough to coat your food and prevent them from sticking to the cooking basket.
- What can I cook in an air fryer?
With so many dishes and foods able to be cooked in an air fryer, you might soon be asking ‘What can’t I cook with an air fryer?’. Air fryers can cook and reheat a range of foods which include but are not limited to the below:
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- Frozen snacks like hot chips, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, fishcakes, meat pies and sausage rolls
- Samosas, curry puffs and other pastries
- Baked goods like muffins, slices and cakes
- Protein such as beef steaks, chicken, lamb and pork chops, and fish
- Vegetables including vegetable chip
- What are the disadvantages of an air fryer?
When compared to other cooking appliances such as an oven, air fryers come with their own set of disadvantages:
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- The shape or size of the dish can be limited by the cooking vessel, which in many cases is a cooking basket
- An air fryer can’t really cook dishes with a lot of liquid or those on big trays, for example, family pies, curries, bakes etc
- Noisy operation; an air fryer uses a fan to quickly circulate the hot air, making its operation loud
The Air Fryer Models
Russell Hobbs’ Brooklyn Air Fryer
The ideal choice for families, this Russell Hobbs Air Fryer provides great cooking versatility and more control to help meet every menu, whether it’s pork chops for dinner or some muesli slices for an afternoon snack.
Air Fryer Features:
- 5.7L cooking basket
- 7 pre-set cooking functions: Chips, Chops, Prawns, Bake, Steak, Fish & Chicken
- Variable temperature up to 200°C
- 60-minute timer
- 2-year warranty
Air Fryer Benefits:
- Cooks food up to 80% faster 1 than other cooking methods thanks to the Air Fry technology
- Simple cooking control with touchscreen operation
- Dishwasher safe parts provides easier clean up
- Moves effortlessly with the carry handle
Sunbeam’s Copper Infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer
Designed for small households, this Sunbeam air fryer is ideal for singles or couples who need a fuss-free cooking experience whether it’s for snack-making or whipping up an effortless meal.
Air Fryer Features:
- 1500W Power
- 3L frying basket
- Cooking temperatures up to 200°C
- 30-minute timer
- 1-year warranty
Benefits:
- Intuitive control with two control knobs
- Oil-free non-stick cooking thanks to the cooking basket’s Copper Infused DuraCeramic™ coating
- Dishwasher safe parts ensures fast and simple clean up
Air Fryer Key Differences