We all want to be healthy. And, as we all know, being healthy begins by making smart choices in the kitchen. Being aware of what you eat and eating healthy can most definitely improve your overall well-being, and according to many, one of the first steps towards improving your well-being is by cutting out deep-fried foods from your life and replacing them with air fried foods.
It is not a secret that air fryers have been popular for a really long time, but they’ve never been as popular as they are today. People are finally starting to become aware of all the issues associated with a bad diet, and they want to do all in their power to change that, and switching from deep-fried to air fried foods seems to be the move for many.
However, do air fryers make that much of a difference? Are they really a healthy alternative? Well, we’re about to find out.
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
We all know that what an air fryer is, so we won’t bore you with that. However, do you know just how it works? Sure, you’re aware that it moves hot air around your food, but do you know how does it make your food as tasty and crispy as the regular deep-fried food?
Believe it or not, it does that by simply moving the hot air around, during which it causes a chemical reaction known as the Maillard effect. During this process, the food changes both colour and flavour, just like it would if you were to deep fry it in high-fat and high-calorie oils and fats.
However, as you know, these devices aren’t completely oil-free. Most of them require a tablespoon of oil to work, but then again – a tablespoon is a lot less than multiple cups. That leads us to our next question…
Are Air Fryers A Healthy Alternative?
If there’s anything that you can’t argue is that compared to regular fried foods, air fried foods are much lower in calories because they contain a lot fewer fats and oils, especially unsaturated and trans fats.
But, on its own, that’s neither good nor bad. The fact is, fats are essential, and extra calories can be burned off, so why does it even matter? Well, it matters because when consumed in excess – even water could kill you. So, you can only imagine what a surplus of unsaturated fats will do to your body. Not only will it decimate your cardiovascular system, but it’ll affect every other part of your body, as well.
So, if you want to look at it from that perspective, then yes, an air fryer is a much healthier alternative. You can’t argue that point. However, it is not that simple. What matters a hundred times more is what you put in that fryer, and that is the truth not many are willing to accept. Eating asparagus and eating a T-bone steak is not the same. While neither of them are inherently bad for you – one of them is definitely better than the other.
What we’re saying is, you could go and visit shopbot.com.au and find out which air fryer is best on the market and buy it straight away, but unless you are willing to watch what you’re cooking in it – it won’t matter a bit.
Benefits Of Using An Air Fryer
Now that we’ve established that air fryers are indeed a healthier alternative, let’s take a look at some additional benefits that come with them.
1. They’re Cheaper Than The Stove
We’re not saying that these devices are cheap, because they definitely are not, but compared to some other kitchen appliances we use to make our meals – these ones are practically a bargain. While we are perfectly aware that an air fryer can’t replace a kitchen stove, it still is a pretty solid alternative, especially if you’re tight with space or are living on a budget.
2. They’re Easy To Clean
Prepping the food is fun, cooking is fun, and eating is fun, but what’s not fun is having to clean up after you’ve finished with your delicious meal. And, unless you’re one of the few that are disciplined enough to clean up right after they finish cooking and before they begin eating – this problem is going to eat at you (pun intended) for as long as you’re alive.
Well, with an air fryer, this annoying chore will literally take less than a minute. All you’ll need is a sponge, soap and water, and within a minute – you’ll be ready to take on your meal without having to worry about the mess afterwards.
3. They’re Safe And Easy To Use
Your kids could handle an air fryer after a two-minute explanation of how this appliance works, and if that doesn’t show just how easy and safe this thing is to use – we don’t know what will. All you need to do is open them up, toss the food in, add the tablespoon of oil where you need to, press the button to set the timer off, and that’s it – your meal will be ready. There’s no chance of anything happening neither to you or your food. The timer will prevent your food from burning, and the self-contained nature of this appliance will prevent and burns or oil splatters from happening.
4. They’re Great For Losing Weight
As we’ve said, extra calories can be burned off, but if you don’t take in the extra calories, there won’t be anything you’ll have to burn off. The absence of oils and fats, on its own, can cut down your calorie intake in half, depending on how often and how much fried food you’re eating on a daily basis. As you know, there is no better way to lose weight than by cutting down on calories. And, once you start doing that, not only will you lose weight, but you’ll also become healthier in the process.
Conclusion
We may have jumped the gun by answering the burning question right in the middle of this discussion, but we’ll double down on it right now. Air fryers are a healthy alternative, and that’s not up for debate. The only thing that’s left to debate is what you’ll be having for dinner. We hope it’s something healthy.
