We have all been deep frying for several decades now – whether it is fried chicken or pakoras, there is something so satisfying about biting into something crispy and crunchy. In general, the notion is, if it is deep fried, it will taste good; but the problem is that too much of deep fried is not really good for your health.
Before we go dissing deep frying outright, let’s spend a little time trying to understand about it and the better alternatives.
Are there only disadvantages of deep frying? Are there alternatives?
So, what exactly is deep frying? When food is submerged in hot oil, it is called deep frying. The oil is normally taken in a large quantity and is heated to high temperatures before the food is added. The result is crispy, crunchy textures, which are often delicious to eat.
With an increase in the number of people who are becoming health conscious, there is a general disdain towards deep frying, but the flavours and textures that you can get from this process are something that a lot of people still crave for.
Then is there an alternative that gives you the delicious goodness of deep frying, without the guilt?
Learn more about air fryer uses and benefits
If you have not experienced an air fryer, you are actually missing out on an incredible kitchen appliance!
Using a fan inside the device's cooking chamber, hot air is quickly circulated through and around food to cook it. Food crisps and browns in the hot air with little to no added oil.
That is the magic of air frying!
Air fry vs deep fry – which should you pick?
Let’s start by comparing some of the basics of the air fryer vs deep fryer conversation:
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Deep frying |
Air frying |
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If you are deep frying, you will need pots and pans that are deep enough to hold the amount of oil you intend to use. |
Only a single appliance, that can sit neatly on your countertop will take care of your ‘frying’ needs! |
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Once you are done frying, you will need to decant the oil, which might have to be discarded and then the utensil used will have to be scrubbed clean to remove all traces of oil. |
The air fryer basket can be removed easily and put in the dishwasher and it will come out clean. And because you are probably only spraying or coating in oil, there is no excess. |
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While deep frying, you will have to pay attention to the temperature. Too hot and your food will get burnt, too cold and the oil will get soaked into the food, leaving you with greasy unappetising food. |
With an air fryer, all you need to do is set the temperature and the appliance will take care of everything else! All you will have to do is check once in a while to make sure that the food has reached the right level of crispy! |
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With deep frying, there is always the fear of hot oil splattering and there can be a mess around the gas stove. If hot oil splatters on your body, you could get badly injured. |
If one were to compare air fry vs deep fry, the biggest advantage would perhaps be this – because the food is cooked in an enclosed appliance, there is no worry about oil splatters or any other messes being created. |
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For deep frying, you will need at least 2 cups of oil and in most cases, the oil will have to be disposed of, post usage. |
When you are cooking in an air fryer, all you would need is a spray bottle with oil or perhaps a brush to apply oil on the ingredients. The amount of oil used in an air fryer is a fraction of what you need for traditional deep frying. |
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Although deep fried food might taste delicious, there is always the health concern. Studies have shown that consuming too much deep fried food is not good for the body. |
If health is a factor for you, but you don’t want to compromise on taste too, then an air fryer is a wonderful option. |
The factors that matter in the air frying vs deep frying debate
If you are considering investing in an air fryer, then there are some basic questions that you will need answers to:
Pretty much! While a deep fryer can do only deep frying, an air fryer can do much more!
The time taken would depend on what you are cooking – deep frying chicken in a pot of hot oil might be roughly the same in an air fryer too, because the chicken needs to cook through.
If your recipe is good enough, the taste will be on similar lines! What is good about cooking in the air fryer is that you need not worry about greasy tasting food that leaves you feeling heavy.
If you look at the air fryer uses and benefits, you will see that this is a truly versatile machine – not only can you ‘fry’, you can also grill, roast and even bake!
For people who give their health the highest priority, the air fryer will be the better bet. You are using only a fraction of the oil and you get to enjoy food that is lighter on the palate and the stomach too!
If you are in the market for a brand-new air fryer that is easy to use, easy to maintain and will look stunning on your kitchen countertop, you need to come to Innoteck. We bring to you the most innovative and modern appliances that make your home a better place to live in!
