Oil-free fryers: benefits and what to do in them

Today I am sure that there is no one who has not heard of, seen or already has in their kitchen an air fryer , also known as an oil-free fryer . Oil-free fryers have been making their way into many kitchens with the promise of fried food as delicious and crispy as traditional ones, but much healthier and without the feeling of guilt that can be caused by eating delicious French fries to accompany meat. But...

What is an oil-free fryer and how does it work?

Without going into details, we could say that an air fryer is a small appliance that allows us to fry without oil , achieving healthier fried foods, easy to digest and with much fewer calories. Going a little deeper, an air fryer or oil-free fryer is something very similar to a small convection oven, a mini tabletop oven that, without taking up much space, offers great versatility.

To cook, the fryer heats the air inside, moving it rapidly and circulating it in the chamber where the food to be prepared is placed. In this simple way, it combines the flow of hot air and movement, adjusting the temperature and speed according to the option chosen or the food to be cooked, to which we will have added a minimum amount of oil.

The very little oil required can be applied by lightly brushing the food or using a spray (you can even use the release spray you use for the molds in which you bake cakes or bundts). That pinch of oil has a clear purpose: to help the internal temperature rise and give the outer layer of the food that crunchy touch that we like so much.

What is the oil-free fryer for?

One of the most common questions when talking about air fryers is what can I cook in an air fryer ? The answer is as wide as the possibilities it offers. Here are just a few examples, but I assure you there are many more!:

Traditional frying (but with practically no oil!):

nuggets
croquettes
chips
spring rolls
dumplings
cod fritters
breaded fish fillets
or even sardines, no smell!

For baking . As an oven you have a huge range of possibilities:

mini pizzas or pizzetas
Savory tartlets or mini quiches
The warm, cheesy sandwiches are delicious
stuffed mushrooms au gratin (or unstuffed!)
some cannelloni or a portion of gratin lasagna
rolls, muffins or bread sticks
scones
muffins, buns or cinnamon rolls
biscuits
roasted chestnuts
or donuts and cookies, it's like an oven!

As a griddle. For healthy and tasty cooking or grilling:

chicken breasts, which you can accompany with some strips of vegetables
fish, both in slices and fillets, the result is phenomenal
vegetables, any that you can cook in a frying pan or in the oven: peppers, asparagus, artichokes, carrots...
corn cobs.

To cook various dishes :

eggs on a plate (in a small casserole), with spices or with ratatouille
chopped chicken with sauce
cuttlefish with onion
marinated skewers, meat or vegetables. Or mixed!
meat or vegetable stews
Meatballs with tomato sauce
stir-fried rice with shrimp, and many more recipes. Any dish is possible!

To make desserts :

Chocolate Brownie
baked apples
caramelized fruit
coconut delights or balls
Banana or apple donuts
and, of course, the wonderful torrijas!

In addition to all this, it is a great way to make popcorn , caramelize nuts or dehydrate fruits and vegetables . Since it can be used to cook at temperatures from 80°C to 200°C, we can prepare our recipes in the same way as we would in a conventional oven, but with much lower consumption .

And it is ideal for preparations that require double temperature in their preparation , starting with a low temperature to cook the inside, and finishing the last few minutes at a higher temperature to brown the outside and achieve the final crispy point.

How to choose your air fryer

In the store we are such fans that we have a special section dedicated to oil-free fryers , so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. To do this, it is important to take into account several aspects:

Capacity: Depending on the number of people in the house or the quantities you want to cook each time, you will require a greater or lesser capacity:

For one or two people you will need a small deep fryer, with a capacity of between 1 and 2 liters.
If you are between two and four people at home, you will need a medium-sized oil-free fryer, with a capacity of approximately between 2 and 3 liters.
And if there are more of you at home or you like to cook larger portions (for the next day's lunch box or to freeze), your air fryer should have at least a 4-litre capacity.

Easy to use : Most air fryers have preset settings for the most common recipes or preparations. By simply pressing the selected option, you can cook French fries, fry croquettes, dehydrate food or even bake some rolls. But if you like to cook on your own, it is ideal to have a manual option, so you can use it as you like.
Temperature: Fryer temperatures are usually between 80°C and 200°C, although some models can be between 70°C and 220°C.
Convenience: The oil-free fryer, in addition to cooking healthily, has to help you cook comfortably and practically so that you can really get the most out of it. Being able to forget about cooking or stirring when it is convenient to do so is one of the great advantages offered by the Tefal Actifry Genius model.

Discover the benefits of Actifry

I think it's worth highlighting the Actifry. The Tefal Actifry Genius oil-free fryer has an important added value compared to other models: its stirring paddle that does the work for you, allowing you to cook any dish without having to keep an eye on it while you do something else.

How long does it take to fry in an oil-free fryer?

Although it will depend on the type of food and the quantity we want to cook, the average time for each preparation is usually between 20 and 30 minutes .

During this time and depending on what we are cooking, we will have to stir or turn the food to achieve a crispy texture and we will have to do it several times in any air fryer, except in the Actifry.

How good is it to cook in an air fryer?

Cooking fried foods in an oil-free fryer not only means a healthier diet, but it also has many other advantages !

Here are just a few:

The amount of oil we will have to use is drastically reduced compared to what we need for frying in a pan or in an electric fryer.
By using less oil, we will achieve significant savings, while reducing the amount of waste to be recycled . In addition, by using a spray dispenser or a brush to apply it, we will optimize the amount needed by spreading it throughout the food.
Cooking in an air fryer requires less energy than cooking in an electric oil fryer, in the microwave or frying in a conventional way. And of course, it also consumes more energy if we cook in the oven.
Food cooked in an air fryer hardly absorbs any oil, providing us with approximately three times fewer calories and avoiding undesirable substances derived from frying that can increase the risk of suffering from certain diseases, especially if consumed regularly.
It is a quieter and more pleasant cooking experience. We can forget about turning on the extractor fan, as there are no unpleasant odours or smoke when cooking in the oil-free fryer.
We will avoid the risk of burns , stains and splashes when cooking food in the inner bucket of the fryer.
And this is another advantage, because we will have to clean less .

Differences between oil-free fryer and air fryer

With a similar operation to convection ovens, the use of an oil-free fryer for frying and other types of preparation is much more advantageous as it is a smaller appliance:

Its design , usually rounded, allows the interior air to circulate more quickly, cooking food more quickly than in the oven and with different results than in the oven.
Since it takes less time to heat up and cook food, it requires less electricity , resulting in a lower electricity bill.
In addition to frying, it is very practical for cooking all kinds of everyday recipes , more or less elaborate, quick and very effective, being a great help when we do not usually have time to cook in the oven.
And its small size makes it very easy to transport , so we can place it anywhere in the house, take it to a second home, to the campsite or have it in the motorhome.