Air fryers have lately become a remarkably common means to cut down fats and oils when frying crispy foods. If you’ve been in almost any home appliance shop in the last few years, you’ve probably seen an air fryer or two to the shelves.
Although air fryers are becoming increasingly more prevalent in kitchens around the globe, a lot still don’t know the difference between cooking meals in the air fryers vs convection ovens. We’ve gathered all of the info so you can understand which one is most suitable for you.
Which is better? Air Fryers Vs Convection Ovens
What’s an Air fryer?
An air fryer is a compact, countertop appliance that uses convection heat to circulate air around your food. The food is cooked in a basket, with the air circulating around the food, to create a crispy, fried taste. Air fryers use little to no oil to have the same effect as conventional deep frying.
Your food is cooked evenly, and an air fryer uses 75 percent less fat to make crispy textured food. The temperature and cooking time can be adjusted with the quick control dial, which is immediately responsive. If you’re interested in getting the best air fryer and making a healthy economic choice for you and your family, check out the top 5 small air fryers to fit any space.
How does an air fryer create that crispy fried taste we love so much?
The air fryer’s cooking process is ingenious. The cooking method creates a surface reaction that turns the natural amino acids and sugars present in your food into a fried surface. This is as a result of the high cooking temperature of between 280 and 330 degrees.
Advantages of an Air Fryer
Healthy Cooking
Using less oil, an air fryer creates delicious fried food, meaning that you’re taking in less harmful oils. If you still want to use a bit of oil, make sure you’re using the best air-fryer-safe cooking oils.
Quick Cooking
Due to the high temperatures, and the circulating air, an air fryer cooks much quicker than a conventional oven.
Versatility
Air fryers, asides from creating yummy fried food, can roast, broil and grill. Vegetables take mere minutes, and most fryers include rotisserie racks for perfectly cooked chicken. If you’ve recently purchased a new air fryer and need some inspiration, check out these amazing air fryer recipes for beginners.
Space Saving
An air fryer takes up very little countertop space.
Cost
Air fryers cost considerably less than convection, or conventional ovens.
Cleaning
Cleaning an air fryer is incredibly easy due to its unique shape and material used for cooking.
What’s a Convection Oven?
Convection ovens are much bigger than air fryers and use air to cook your food. The heat circulates around the space thanks to a fan, but doesn’t reach as high a temperature as an air fryer, and therefore doesn’t produce fried food. But they can roast, bake and cook, with the warm moist air circulating.
However, the fan can be switched off in most convection ovens, creating a drier atmosphere, perfect for baking cookies and biscuits.
Advantages of a Convection Oven
Cook Evenly
Due to the consistent airflow, convection ovens cook evenly throughout, preventing cooler spots.
Cooking Time
Although slower than an air fryer, a convection oven cooks faster than the more conventional oven models.
How to Choose?
If your kitchen and budget are large enough, we would suggest you choose both an air fryer and a convection oven in order to cover all bases. However, if you have to pick just one, an air fryer is more versatile, takes up less room, and is more budget-friendly.
Here are some great air fryer recipes to get you started:
Looking for more interesting air fryer facts, or even the best air fryer reviews in 2021? Check these out:
