Foods that are deep-fried typically have more fat than those cooked in other methods. This is why manufacturers started to find a healthier way to fry food, and this is when air fryers were introduced to the market.
Air fryers are ideal because consuming less oil can have a significant positive impact on one's health.
While it is true that using air fryers is healthier than using other cooking methods, the use of such technology does not guarantee absolute safety.
Before we go through the risks of using air fryers, let us first discuss its benefits.
Advantages of Using Air Fryer
According to MedicalNewsToday and Healthline, below are the benefits of using air fryers:
Food Cooked Using Air Fryer Has Less Fats and Oils Than Conventional Deep-Frying
The removal of high-fat and high-calorie oils from the cooking process is what makes using an air fryer a healthier cooking option.
According to some manufacturers, cooking meals in an air fryer as compared to a conventional deep fryer can reduce the amount of fat in the food by up to 75%, and this is not a small amount.
Reduced fat content in diet will also aid in weight loss.
Convenience
Aside from its health benefits, using air fryers is arguably more convenient than the conventional deep-frying method.
When you fry food, you have to prepare the kitchen utensils and heat a large container full of scalding oil. This hot oil can pose a safety risk especially when it spills on the pan.
Despite the fact that air fryers do get hot, there is no danger of spilling, sprinkling, or unintentionally touching hot oil.
While it is true that using air fryers does have some safety risks as it uses electricity and heat technology, they are much lower than those associated with traditional deep-frying.
It Can Reduce Acrylamide Formation
There are some foods where acrylamide is produced during high-heat cooking methods like deep frying. Some studies say that there are few types of cancer, including endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, and breast cancers, which may be related to acrylamide.
However, people can significantly reduce their risk of eating food containing acrylamide by switching to air frying.
Disadvantages and Risks of Using Air Fryer
Admittedly, there are alot of benefits of using air fryers. But will it outweigh the risks associated with it?
The follow are the advantages and the risks that is linked to using ar fryers, according to MedicalNewsToday and Healthline:
Harmful Compounds May Still Formed While Using the Air Fryer
As previously mentioned, the formation of acrylamide can be lessened when using an air fryer, but it cannot 100% remove it.
Aside from acrylamide, there are also other compounds that may have formed during the air-frying process, such as aldehydes, heterocyclic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
These chemicals, which are produced during high heat cooking, may raise your risk of developing cancer.
Cooking Using an Air Fryer Takes Longer Than Conventional Cooking
Compared with the conventional deep-frying, using an air fryer takes longer to cook food. Foods that are air-fried also typically have a slightly different flavor and consistency from those that are deep-fried.
Fried Food Is Still Fried Food
A healthy diet cannot simply be achieved by switching to air-fried foods. At the end of the day, fried food is still fried food. A person's health can be greatly improved by drastically limiting their intake of fried foods.
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