Whether you’re frying an entire family meal, or just cooking an egg for yourself, chances are that the kitchen was never good to you at one point. Scars from untamed frying oil are here and there, and you wished you could invent something that would help you get rid of the problem permanently. 

Lucky for you, air fryers exist to spare you from the pesky cooking oil and inevitable kitchen trauma!

For starters, an air fryer is basically a barrel-shaped, amped-up countertop convection oven. Patened by Philips Electronics Company in 2010, the small machine claims to do the job of a regular deep-frying pan without having to use too much cooking oil. 

Air fryers surged in popularity over the last few years. According to a research conducted by Allied Market Research, the gadget’s market size was valued at $894.3 million in 2018, and is expected to reach $1,425.7 million by 2026.

So how exactly does an air fryer work? 

The science behind air fryers is quite simple, the top section of the machine holds a heating mechanism and a fan that produces hot air when you turn it on.

The compressed hot air and its rapid circulation rushes down and around the food making it crisp–much like deep-frying, but without using too much oil. 

What else can it do? 

It would be an insult to limit the capabilities of an air fryer to frying. Because of its capacity to blast searing air, the machine could not only deep-fry, it could also roast, steam, broil, and even bake pastries–it’s like buying a whole cooking set in one, countertop machine!

Is it healthy? 

The downside of getting yourself an air fryer is that it prompts you to think that eating fried food everyday is healthy. In an interview with Cleaveland Clinic, dietitian Ariana Cucuzza RD said that consuming too much air-fried meals may lead you to miss out on the benefits of plant-based fats such as avocado oil and olive oil. 

“Although a low-fat, air-fried diet sounds enticing, you’d end up missing out on the wonderful benefits of plant-based fats such as avocado oil and olive oil,” Cucuzza said. 

In addition to this, Cucuzza warned that air-frying can easily burn food, and charred food may be carcinogenic.

How much do air fryers cost?

In the Philippine market, prices of the air fryer range from P2,000 to P18,000 depending on the brand. 

Should you get an air fryer? 

In the end, the choice to get yourself an air fryer depends on your budget and preferences. If you’d like to have an all-in-one cooking machine, maybe it is not so bad to invest on an air fryer.

If you cook for a large number of people from time to time, and you prefer using traditional cooking tools, sleeping on highly-priced air fryers may be better suited for your lifestyle.