Air fryers are the modern introduction to a healthy kitchen. People are getting health conscious day by day. Modern air fryers can cook different kinds of foods. Among all of these, if I ask you to name one food item that you prepare with your air fryer then you may name French fry. In this article, I am going to discuss whether air fried French fries healthy or not. After the read, you will know the advantages and disadvantages of the French fries that have been cooked with air fryers.
How does an air fryer work?
Before you know about the health issues or benefits regarding air fried French fries, you should know the basic working principle of air fryers. Air fryers are like convection ovens. The working principle of an air fryer is similar to that of a convection oven. Air fryers are faster than convection ovens. Because of the hot airflow from the bottom of the air fryer, air fryers can cook more quickly and evenly. Modern air fryers have multiple blower fans to ensure rapid hot air circulation. Because of the heat circulation through the air, air fryers do not require oil or fat.
Deep-fried French fries
Deep frying requires a lot of oil. In the deep-frying process, heat is passed through the food by oil. It acts as a medium to pass heat through the food. Deep-fried air fries are not healthy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it contains a lot of oil. We all know that fat or oil is full of calories. If we can not burn the calories that we consume, it will create health issues such as obesity, fatty liver, and so on. Another reason that deep-fried French fries are not good for health is that edible oils lose the property when it goes through excess of heat. The oil used in deep frying process is often not in good shape. Consuming oil that has lost chemical property is dangerous.
Are air fried French fries better?
Air fried French fries contain nominal or no oil. A sprinkle of oil is sometimes applied for preventing these from sticking together. Therefore, there is no doubt that air-fried foods are far healthier if it is compared to deep frying. A question may arise, how on earth the French fries are cooked in an air fryer if we do not use any oil? I have mentioned earlier that hot air acts as a medium for heat transfer in the air fryer. The blower fan ensures the even distribution of air. Therefore, the food is cooked by the air not needing any oil or fat. As you do not need any oil to cook French fries in an air fryer, it is healthier. It is simple.
Any risks associated with air-fried French fries?
Air fryers will produce healthier foods compared to the deep fryers. But is there any health issue with air frying? There is a kind of compound that is called bisphenol-A (BPA) that can be used to produce the plastic used in the air fryer. The non-stick coating on the metal food basket may also contain BPA. This chemical component is controversial. The majority of the experts say that it may cause different kinds of health issues such as hypertension, angina, reproductive disorder, and so on. Therefore, a health-conscious person should choose the best air fryers that are free from BPA.
Other than this, excessive frying can produce acrylamide on the surface of the food. Acrylamide is a toxic compound that may cause cancer. This is a common problem for any kind of frying – be it with an air fryer or a deep fryer.
Bottom line
Air fried foods are healthier than deep-fried foods. This is the generalized answer. But do be too causal with air-fried French fries. Whether it contains oil or not, it contains carbohydrates. Eating excessive carbohydrate is not healthy either. Always try to choose the best brands when deciding on kitchen appliances. You should not take any risk when it comes to the matter of the health of your family.
I think now you know the answer. If you find this article helpful, you can share it with others. You can also share your kitchen experiences with us through the comment section. Happy cooking!