Copyright [2020] [Beth Gardner]
All rights reserved
All rights for this book here presented belong exclusively to the author.
Usage or reproduction of the text is forbidden and requires a clear consent of the author in case of expectations.
ISBN- 9798684311161
Table of Contents
Introduction
Preparing healthy meals is an essential activity in every household around the world. Because of this, kitchenware manufacturers have been forced to come up with new cooking appliances that make this process easier. In fact, most modern cooking appliances have a feature or two that makes healthy meal preparation a reality. Indulging in deep-fried meals is a guilty pleasure that we simply cant stay away from thanks to the irresistible taste. However, the air fryer is here to take the guilt away as you relish on your meal of choice. This text will give you all the insights you need to know about the air fryer. With the help of our top recipes, be sure to prepare savory meals for you and yours. Watch out for our top 10 air fryer dessert recipe!
What is an Air Fryer?
If you are an avid cook, then you surely have heard about the air fryer, but do you know what it really is? An Air fryer essentially is a kitchen appliance that works similarly to the convection oven in the sense that it both roasts and bakes. The air fryer also mimics the cooking nature of the deep fryer but with little to no oil at all, impressive right!
Cooking mechanism of the Air Fryer
This cooking appliance is simply a miniature convection oven that cook food by the circulation of hot air around the food. The appliance has a high-speed fan that circulates hot air around the food, producing that nice crisp layer that we all crave for in deep-fried meals. Juxtaposed to the conventional deep frying mechanism, the air fryer uses hot air to prepare meals that would otherwise be prepared by immersion in hot oil. What this means for you is that you get to enjoy savory, crispy meals with little to no oil at all. To put context to this, the air fryer prepares and brown chicken, fish, potato chips, and even pastry with 80% less oil than the conventional deep fryer.
Why the Air Fryer not the Convection Oven
The air fryer works in the same way as the convection oven and thats a fact. But why should you have the former rather than the latter? To begin, the countertop is a contentious commodity that is just not enough no matter how big space you have. The air fryer is small and just the right size to fit into that small space on your counter. On the other hand, the convection oven is quite large and the smaller versions cannot be compared to the traditional one. Also, thanks to the small size, the air fryer circulates air faster and efficiently around the food allowing you to enjoy your meals in record time. One other additional feature is the basket which allows enough heat circulation at the bottom of your meals reducing the cooking time even more.
Difference between an Air Fryer and a Deep Fryer
The first and most evident difference is in the cooking mechanism. The air fryer cooks food at high temperatures with the help of high powered fans for even circulation of heat. The deep fryer on the other hand makes use of preheated oil to cook food. While both appliances cook food quickly, the air fryer is relatively quick because it requires no preheat time. Food usually turns out brown and crispy but dont always taste the same. Deep frying usually employs battered foods that cook differently on the air fryer and as a result, the food doesnt always taste the same. However, you could coat the butter with oil to get them nice and brown before cooking in the air fryer. Nonetheless, frying wet and flour-based batters is not this appliances strong suit.
What size do you need?
There are different types and sizes of air fryers in the market. The most common type is the basket-type-air fryer that looks like a chunky coffee maker. While other types have multiple functions, this one is exclusive for air frying. Let us discuss more on this common basket-type air fryer.
It will be to your benefit to know and accept that you cannot prepare heavy batches of food in the air fryer. The smaller 1.75 to 3-quart fryer can only serve a maximum of two people with no significant leftovers. The larger 4-5 quart carriers or when you need to prepare large amounts of food, you will require to do so in batches. While this may seem like a drag, keep in mind that food doesnt take long on an air fryer.
Whether you are using the basket-type or any other air-fryer you will get invaluable insight from these tips.
First-time use
The first thing to do after getting your fryer is to unbox and disassemble all the removable parts which should include, the basket and grate. Wash these parts and dry before reassembling. Some brands will require running the appliance empty for some time to expel some gas and the initial chemical smell that almost all appliances have when new. Always run your appliance on a heat resistant surface and away from the wall.
Cleaning your Air Fryer
Cleaning is not usually the fan part for so many of us, however, understanding the right cleaning techniques and tweaks could lessen the load tremendously. Also, a good cleanup often increases the shelf life of most appliances. So how do we clean this sleek appliance?
Parts to wash after every use
The air fryer is made up of individual removable parts making cleanup effortless. To begin, the pan, basket, and the tray ought to be cleaned every time they are used. It will interest you to know that these parts can be cleaned with regular washing detergents and warm water. However, if you are not in the mood, you could toss them into the washer, these parts are usually dishwasher friendly. It is good practice to confirm with the respective manufacturer beforehand. Cleaning the interior is also quite easy, while it is not dishwasher friendly, a simple wipe using a damp cloth with some detergent should easily do the trick. Remember to dry each part individually before reassembling together.
Parts to wash occasionally
The air fryer uses little oil when cooking, therefore, the cooking process makes little mess altogether. In effect, expect little greasing on the outside part of the appliance after cooking, so you dont have to clean the exterior after every use. After a couple of uses, ensure the appliance is unplugged before wiping with a damp cloth with some detergent. Its that easy!
Often, remember to check on the heating coil, if you notice some grease stains, clean with a damp cloth.
Other cleaning and handling tips
If you notice some foul odor coming from the appliance, this means that some grease or food particle is trapped somewhere. There is a simple trick to address this, form a paste from baking soda and water and scrub the interior using an old toothbrush. The smell should be gone in the next use.
It is important to avoid scrubbing the interior of the appliance with metallic objects for instance spoons. This will easily compromise the nonstick coat rendering the appliance ineffective. Always remember to unplug and let the appliance cool down before any attempt to clean.
