While interacting with your friends, you might have overheard them mention that they have an air fryer. After the interaction, you probably asked yourself, “What’s an air fryer?”
Other questions that might have run through your mind are: “Is air-fried food healthy?”, “How does an air fryer work?”, “What can / can’t you make in it?”.
Planning to buy a new air fryer soon? Then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll show you how to use air fryer units to get healthy meals and show you some of the best air fryers you can buy in Malaysia today!
Are Air Fryers Healthy?
We’ve all defaulted to deep frying food when we want finger foods. However, deep frying is far less healthier than an air fryer.
Air frying is relatively new to us, but its popularity has significantly increased in the past few years alone. Cooking food has just gotten even easier.
For starters, you need to keep in mind that an air fryer is an electronic gadget that is used in the preparation of different types of foods. This countertop appliance uses hot air that is produced by the heated elements.
It is a very useful kitchen appliance especially when you want to prepare your meals quickly. The hot air circulation system of the air fryer is within the fryer basket that is well enclosed.
Just like a lot of other kitchen appliances, the air fryer is very easy to operate.
So, How Does an Air Fryer Work?
In a nutshell, air fryers work in the same way as a convection oven. Like a convection oven, an air fryer’s cooking method involves circulating hot air around the food that is being prepared. In the process, the food is covered in a layer of heated air that cooks it.
The technology used in these appliances ensures that every part of the food within the basket inside the compartment is uniformly heated. All the food will be evenly done by the time the cooking process is complete.
The features that are included in an air fryer determine the functions that it can undertake. Some air fryer units are fitted with thermostats that are essential in regulating the temperature.
Others can power themselves off once the food is ready. User-friendly models make air-frying as simple as a push of a button. If you want to enjoy using your air fryer, only go for the best air fryer available in the market.
How to Use Air Fryer For Healthier Meals
Using most kitchen appliances can be quite difficult particularly when it is your first time to own them. The good thing about air fryers is that almost all of them come with user guides.
The guides contain relevant information teaching you how to operate the air fryer. How you use the air fryer varies from one brand to the other. However, they are generally easy to operate.
To use an air fryer, you first need to check that it is well-connected to the socket. This way it will work perfectly without any instances where it might power off or result in defectiveness in some of the electrical components inside.
The next step is for you to open the compartment with the space where you put the food that you intend to prepare. You don’t have to add oil while cooking although you can if you’d like. However, experts discourage using cooking spray because it could potentially damage the air fryer basket.
Afterwards, close the compartment and choose the preset mode that best suits the food you are preparing. You can also manually adjust the temperature and cooking time, and that’s it! Once that hum has ceased, you’ll have healthy fried food that contains lower calories than food from a deep fryer.
How to Clean Air Fryer
Cleaning an air fryer is one of the many struggles that users go through. You will notice that cleaning your air fryer is going to depend a lot on its overall design.
For most of the modern design air fryers, it is very easy to clean the interior as well as the exterior. Normally, air fryers get dirty when removing the tray that is holding the food.
Additionally, the ease of cleaning your air fryer depends on the type of meal that you have prepared considering some foods lose more moisture more than others.
The material used to make the components of your air fryers significantly affects how it easy it is to clean. When you want to clean your air fryer, check that you have the right dishwashing detergent that is gentle on the surfaces of your tray or air fryer basket.
To clean the air fryer, use a soft sponge together with some warm soapy water. Ensure that you dry the tray and also use a damp cloth to wipe off any food debris and grease that may be left on the heating element.
Finally, wipe the external casing of your air fryer.
Answers to All Your Air Fryer Questions!
1. What’s an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is an appliance that uses hot air within an enclosed space to facilitate the preparation of meals. Since the air heats up very quickly, this means that the meals will be prepared much faster.
It has a compact compartment that has enough capacity to hold the foods that you plan to cook which may range from snacks to full course meals.
This means that it would be a great addition to your kitchen thanks to the diversified uses that you can enjoy from it.
With this kitchen gadget, you can do things such as baking, grilling, and roasting. Use an air fryer to get crispy textures on the outside and tenderness on the inside. Make sure to put your air fryer on a heat resistant surface like a sturdy kitchen countertop!
2. Is Air-fried Food Healthy?
One of the greatest concerns for most people is determining whether air-frying food is actually healthier.
These concerns are valid because no one wants to use a kitchen appliance that might expose them to any health risks. Many people think that air fryers use potentially dangerous microwaves to provide the heating mechanism that is needed for food to be ready.
The truth of the matter is, when you use an air fryer, you use little or no oil at all, unlike deep frying. Air fryers are by far a safer alternative compared to most of the other cooking appliances. This translates to reduced calories in your meals. It’s definitely a healthier option than deep frying food but it can still achieve a similar taste.
This, therefore, means that when you use the air fryers, you don’t have to worry about various chronic diseases. If the bulk of your meals starting from today contain little or no oil, it’s easier to maintain good health.
3. How Does an Air Fryer Work?
When you use an air fryer, a powerful fan circulates hot air around the enclosed space to cook food. Once the fan rotates, it evenly distributes hot air around the food inside the compartment.
The high temperature within that compartment will initiate the cooking process.
You’re required to connect it to a reliable source that is compatible with the voltage requirements provided by the manufacturer and set it on a stable heat-resistant surface. Once the power connection is established, verify the various values on temperature and time.
This ensures that you choose the optimum temperature and time required for your meals. You should constantly monitor the device and check for any abnormalities when the air fryer is in use.
4. What Types of Food Can You Make In an Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer, you can cook different types of foods with reduced cooking time. You can cook veggies with the right temperature and they’ll remain tender.
Some of the other meals that can be prepared using the best air fryers include baked chicken, a variety of burgers, French fries, sweet potatoes, and salmon. Check out some air fryer recipes today!
Factors to Consider When Buying An Air Fryer
- Costing
There are varying prices offered in the market for air fryers. The prices offered are dependent on the brand that you choose.
You should purchase the brand that is most reasonable in their pricing while offering all the features that you’re looking for. This way you can reduce the purchase costs that you incur and, therefore, save quite a good amount of money.
To reduce your cost, we advise that you find an online store that offers discounts on its air fryers. This reduces the retail price of your favorite air fryer malaysia.
- Kitchen Space
The space that you have in the kitchen may not be enough for holding several appliances at once. You, therefore, need to make sure that you purchase an air fryer that will be compact.
Such will need very little space to use or store. If you have a larger space, you can go ahead and buy a bulky air fryer. The upside of larger air fryers is that they have a larger capacity in the basket.
Going for the right size of the fryer guarantees that you don’t clutter your kitchen space. Small and disorganized spaces not only slow you down when cooking but are also not safe to work on.
- Features
The technical specifications of your air fryer determine the kind of skill that you may require to operate it. The best air fryer Malaysia comes with simple and minimalistic features that make it very easy to operate.
This means that you will learn how to use your air fryer very quickly even if it has complicated features. In case you may have problems determining the technical skills needed, you should consider contacting an expert that can guide you through the usage of your appliance.
- Taste
Before you purchase an air fryer, it is also good for you to consider the aesthetics so that it blends well with the interior design of your kitchen. This means that you can go for the air fryer that has a color that matches your kitchen theme.
Ensure that you, therefore, buy an air fryer that you’re sure you will enjoy using. To get the best value for money, you should check out air fryer reviews below before going shopping.
Best Air Fryers to Buy in Malaysia
In this section, we will give you a list of air fryers in Malaysia that we recommend you purchase.
1. 4.5 L / 8L Digital Air Fryer with Touch Control
The Digital Air Fryer With Touch Control Timer Temperature Control uses high-end air frying technology useful for preparing traditional meals. You can also program the timer manually or automatically. Ideal for french fries, onion rings, chicken nuggets and other typically deep fried food, this unit uses powerful and rapid hot air to provide a crispy outer layer to your food. You can even cook various meats, fish and a cake in this multifunctional appliance.
2. 4.5L Air Fryer Timer Cooker Non-Stick Fry Roast Grill Bake Machine
When you buy this air fryer model, you will be able to get deep fried food without using oil. This model has double fans for distributing heat evenly in the air fryer basket and an ergonomic handle. This unit boasts even cooking and flavor preservation despite the high temperatures.
3. Multipurpose 5L Digital Air Fryer
The Premium Quality Air Fryer Oil Free Roast Grill Bake Multipurpose, can be easily operated and it’s also an oil-free fryer. Its large capacity allows you to cook a variety of things conveniently, even a whole chicken. It features an auto-shut down mechanism and a timer function.
Conclusion
With all the benefits of a deep fryer and counter top convection ovens, air fryers are here to stay.
Now that you know that air fryers are healthy, and you have an idea of how to use an air fryer, you’re all set! Leave a comment below if you have a question about how air fryers work and we’ll get back to you.
Our top recommendation from the list would have to be the 4.5 L / 8L Digital Air Fryer with Touch Control. You can choose either size depending on your household and it’s easy to operate without compromising on flavor and versatility. So go on and purchase a new air fryer and enjoy air-fried oil-free homemade french fries today!
