Verywell / Jessica Olah
Air Fryers vs.
Deep Frying
Air fryers differ from deep fryers in that they essentially work as a countertop convection oven.
A high-speed fan simultaneously circulates tiny oil droplets and hot air around the food.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
This results in a cooking method that is closer to frying than baking.
Benefits of Air Frying
Generally speaking, air frying is regarded as being healthier than deep frying.
This is especially true given the link between fried foods and heart disease.
This poses certain health risks.
In some countries, the number of times oil may be reheated is regulated.
There are currently no such regulations in the United States.
In commercial kitchens, nearly half of all reported burns are the results of deep frying.
Because air fryers use minimal oil, the risk of fires and oil burns is reduced.
The units are also easier to clean.
(Acrylamide also forms in cigarette smoke.)
Animal sources include poultry, beef, eggs, certain fish and seafood, and dairy products.
Of all the cooking methods, deep frying causes the highest acrylamide formation.
Because air frying uses less oil, less acrylamide is produced.
The Environmental Protection Agency classifies acrylamide as a Group B2 carcinogen, meaning a “probable carcinogen.
doi:10.1111/1750-3841.12753
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.How overweight and obesity impacts your health.
National Cancer Institute.Obesity and cancer.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acrylamide and diet, food storage, and food preparation.
