English
Views: 83 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-12-18 Origin: Site
Air fryers are very versatile, but there are some foods that should not be put in an air fryer. Leafy vegetables like spinach and kale may dry out and become crunchy in an air fryer. The same goes for broccoli, although you can avoid burning broccoli by wrapping it in aluminum foil before placing it in the air fryer.
While not impossible, steak can also be tricky to cook successfully in an air fryer and tends to dry out. I don't recommend cooking any slices of beef in the air fryer, especially good slices of beef. Leave it to the grill or a cast iron skillet.
Short answer: no, you don't need oil. But some foods can be delicious with just a little spray or coating of cooking oil. Vegetables, including green beans, broccoli, asparagus, and even potatoes, dry out if you fry them in an air fryer, so a small amount of avocado or olive oil can go a long way.
Keep in mind that you're still using much less oil compared to deep-frying or pan-frying, where the food is submerged in oil or submerged in water for the entire cooking process. Any food with an inherent oil content, such as chicken or salmon, will have plenty of natural oil to coat it while cooking.
As with any other product, you can spend a lot of money on an air fryer, but in our experience, the most expensive air fryer is not necessarily the best. A basic air fryer isn't actually a very complicated machine, so you really don't need to spend a lot of money. Small, minimalist air fryer models start at $25 or $30, and I've found them to perform very well. That said, if you spend another $30 or $40, you'll get better construction, a cleaner look, and usually more power, too.
If you're cooking for one or two people, a 2-quart or 3-quart air fryer should be large enough. From there, I recommend adding a quart for each person you cook for regularly. So, if you plan to air fry for 5 people on a regular basis, go with the 5-quart model.
Size matters as far as air fryer performance goes, but it may not be what you expect. A smaller air fryer means food fries faster and more often, while air travels farther and takes longer to dissipate heat in a larger air fryer.
Measured in medium-sized chicken thighs, a 2.5-quart air fryer holds three chicken thighs. The 5-quart model comfortably fits six thighs and more. If you prefer a hybrid oven with multiple racks, you can cook as many as 10 or 12 chicken thighs at a time, but it takes longer than with a smaller air fryer!
