But a few months ago, I bought an air fryer.
These devices are essentially countertop convection ovens that can give your food the crispy-tender texture you get from grilling or frying, but in a fraction of the time and without all the oil.
My expectations were low. But, to my surprise, I found that this amazing little device opened the door to making an endless variety of fun, delicious, and nutritious meals. And I can make dinner in 20 minutes or less, with no expensive ingredients or extra cleanup.
Using my deep fryer, I’ve made Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Potatoes, Broccoli, Carrots, and Sweet Potato Fries that have the perfect texture and are ready in 10 minutes. I made chicken nuggets at home that my 3-year-old devoured, and teriyaki-flavored organic tofu cubes that make a great side dish for a quick vegetable stir-fry or vegetable curry.
One of our favorite recipes is salmon with broccoli, soba noodles, and sesame ginger sauce. We started by steaming broccoli and boiling soba noodles. We then combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and fresh lemon juice to make the sauce.
I put a pound of fresh salmon in our deep fryer and let it cook for 12 minutes. When the salmon is ready, we combine it with the broccoli and the noodles, and drizzle with the sauce. This meal requires very little time and effort and tastes delicious. Even my 1 year old takes it off.
Why are air fryers different?
I am by no means the first person to discover the joys of deep fryer cooking. The modern air fryer was introduced to the public in 2010 by Philips, the manufacturer of consumer electronics. It was developed by a dutch inventor, Fred van der Weij, who was looking for a way to make perfectly crisp French fries without much oil or hassle. Sales increased during the pandemic as people were stuck at home with more free time to cook. According to the NPD GroupMore than 25 million air fryers were sold between January 2020 and December 2021, an increase of 76% over the previous two-year period.
I bought my deep fryer, made by Chefman, for about $70, which It takes up as much counter space as a large coffee pot. It contains a basket with a perforated tray where the food is placed. A powerful fan above the food circulates hot air throughout the chamber.
Preheating only takes a few minutes. While it’s not necessary to use oil in a deep fryer, using a spray bottle to drizzle a little olive or avocado oil on foods like fresh vegetables, sweet potato fries, chicken tenders, and salmon helps keep them moist and gives them a golden color. -Brown color.
“The perforated tray promotes air circulation around the food and that’s what makes it crisp and crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside,” said Mona Dolgov, nutritionist and cookbook author. “Your food cooks for less time than in an oven and you get excellent results.”
Videos of delicious food being cooked in deep fryers have gone viral on social media. But Dolgov noted that many of the popular items made in deep fryers, such as grilled cheese, French toast and pasta chips, don’t appeal to people with healthy eating in mind. Then she wrote “SatisFry: The Air Fryer Cookbook”, which shows people how to use air fryers to make easy and nutritious meals and snacks.
It includes meals like a spinach, avocado, and mushroom frittata that takes about 15 minutes, and a hummus-crusted chicken made with artichoke hearts, olive oil, and lemon sauce.
Air-fried vegetables can win over picky eaters
Air fryers can turn carrot sticks, parsnips, and other root vegetables into better-for-you fries (you just need a little olive oil and cornstarch). You can mix the Brussels sprouts with a little olive oil, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese to make crispy Brussels sprouts.
There are recipes for avocado fries, buffalo cauliflower bites, and zucchini chips with lemon-herb salsa. “My husband never used to eat a lot of vegetables. and now he eats them all the time because I put them in the deep fryer and they come out great,” Dolgov said.
Air fryers can be a “huge game changer and a super helpful tool for anyone looking to start a healthier routine,” said Jaclyn London, registered dietitian and author of “Dressing Sideways (and Other Diet Myths Debunked)).”
Many of her customers, for example, love eating deli meats like turkey and chicken, but are often surprised when they discover how much sodium these foods contain. “About 80 percent of the sodium we consume in our daily lives comes from foods we don’t prepare at home,” he said.
When shopping for an air fryer, you may want to look for one with a rotisserie function. London noted that one rotisserie chicken can feed a large family and provide leftovers that you can use for other meals.
“Having the ability to make something at home on a steakhouse is amazing because you get the flavors you’re looking for without all the salt,” he added.
There is now a flourishing world of cookbooks dedicated to the art of using air fryers. Katie Hale, a food blogger and cookbook author who grew up in Arkansas, said buying an air fryer changed her life and the lives of her family.
“I grew up in the South, where fried food was everything,” he said. “I immediately loved being able to have the crispy things I wanted out of the deep fryer without all the oil.”
Hale, who has two teenage sons, has written two deep fryer cookbooks, including “Mediterranean Air Fryer” and “Clean Eating Air Fryer Cookbook.”
“We live in a fast-paced lifestyle where more and more people are working two jobs or both parents are working outside the home,” he said. “Anything that makes it easier for you to feed your family healthier meals and save time is high on my list.”
Do you have any questions about healthy eating? Email [email protected] and we can answer your question in a future column.
