Why Are People Getting Rid of Air Fryers? (2024)

Air fryers, once hailed as a kitchen revolution, are now being sidelined by some users. But why are people getting rid of air fryers? This concise exploration uncovers the primary concerns: they’re bulky, they have limited cooking uses, and they often don’t deliver on the promise of crispy, tasty food. Discover the practical realities that have led to a noticeable shift away from this trendy appliance.

You can also check out our top 5 Air Fryers for 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Air fryers are being discarded due to their bulky size, limited cooking options, and the inability of some foods to achieve the desired crispiness.
• Halogen ovens are gaining popularity as they offer greater versatility, faster cooking times, energy efficiency, and the potential to save up to 75% on running costs compared to conventional ovens.
• While air fryers are more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, their capacity and versatility are often outclassed by the emerging halogen ovens; however, air-fried foods tend to be healthier with reduced calorie and fat content.

Reasons for Ditching Air Fryers

Multiple factors contribute to the burgeoning trend of discarding air fryers. Some of these factors include:

• Size constraints, taking up valuable counter space in the kitchen
• Limited cooking options, preventing users from preparing a wide variety of dishes
• Concerns around the crispiness of the food, with some users reporting that the results simply don’t live up to their expectations.

Size Constraints

A prominent issue with leading air fryers is their bulky nature. A typical air fryer measures around 14 inches in height, 16 inches in width, and 13 inches in depth, including the front handle. This demands a considerable amount of counter space, which is a luxury not everyone has. For those with smaller kitchens, accommodating this hefty appliance can prove challenging, even with clever solutions such as rolling kitchen carts or drawer organizers.

Manufacturers have attempted to address this problem by introducing compact or mini air fryer models. These smaller models, like the Cosori Mini Air Fryer 2.1 Qt, are designed to occupy less counter space. However, their smaller size also limits the quantity of food you can cook at once, which may not be ideal for larger families or those who like to batch cook.

Limited Cooking Options

The variety of foods you can cook in air fryers is somewhat limited. They are primarily designed for air frying, which limits their versatility. Foods that are suitable for air frying include:

• French fries
• Chicken wings
• Mozzarella sticks
• Onion rings
• Fish fillets
• Chicken nuggets

However, foods with wet batters, sauces, or those that require boiling or deep frying, like popcorn and rice, are not suitable for air frying. Additionally, the design of air fryers, focused on air frying functions, limits the range of cooking options as they do not support broiling or toasting like other appliances such as toaster ovens. You'll find more information on what cannot be cooked in an Air Fryer here.

Additionally, the size limitations of air fryers impact the variety of meals that can be prepared. Larger items and meals that involve wet batters or cheesy foods cannot be cooked in an air fryer. However, some air fryers come with a decent pizza tray, allowing for a wider range of cooking options.

Crispiness Concerns

Many are drawn to air fryers, hoping to achieve the beloved crispy, fried texture guilt-free. However, the reality can often fall short of expectations. Factors such as:

• Water content
• Moisture content
• Oil content
• Cooking conditions like temperature and time

The factors that can influence the crispiness of potato foods crispy include the cooking method, oil temperature, and the type of potato used.

Overcrowding the air fryer baskets or shelves can block the convection movement of the heated air, resulting in unevenly cooked food. Further, air fryers are best for crisping up already breaded or crunchy foods, rather than trying to make limp or wet veggies crispy. Some users may notice a difference in crispiness after just under a week of using an air fryer.

The Rise of Halogen Ovens

While some home cooks express their frustration with air fryers, halogen ovens are quietly rising in popularity as a versatile kitchen appliance. These countertop ovens utilize a halogen lamp as their heat source, enabling them to cook food faster than conventional ovens. They also provide greater flexibility in terms of cooking methods, making them a more appealing option for many.

With their energy efficiency, swifter cooking times, and flexibility, halogen ovens are emerging as a game-changer. They have been estimated to be approximately 75% cheaper to run than traditional ovens, making them a more energy-efficient option. This efficiency is due to their lower average energy usage wattage compared to conventional ovens.

The efficient use of the halogen lamp as a direct heat source allows these ovens to cook food up to 60% faster than conventional ovens.

Energy Efficiency

Compared to a traditional oven consuming around 2400 watts on a standard heat setting, a halogen oven typically uses merely 1300 watts. Additionally, halogen ovens are considered to be more energy-efficient than air fryers, as they consume less electricity per hour. This energy efficiency can result in up to 75% savings on running costs compared to traditional ovens, making them significantly cost-effective.

Halogen ovens have several features that contribute to their enhanced energy efficiency:

• Compact size
• Rapid heating capabilities
• Quick reaching of optimal temperature
• Utilization of infrared technology for fast and uniform cooking

These features result in up to 50% less energy consumption compared to traditional ovens that rely on hot air circulation.

Faster Cooking Times

One of the significant advantages of halogen ovens is their ability to cook food up to 60% faster than conventional ovens. This is largely attributed to:

• The efficient use of the halogen lamp as a direct heat source
• The powerful heating element and fan, which enable it to cook food up to 50% faster than traditional ovens
• Some halogen ovens also come with a glass bowl, allowing users to monitor the cooking process easily.

Foods that cook particularly quickly in a halogen oven include:

• Roast
• Potatoes
• Breakfast items
• Pizzas
• Cakes
• Frozen foods

The reduced cooking time, which is half the cooking time of traditional cooking methods, not only saves time but also helps users save money on electricity bills and other energy bills.

Versatility

The versatility of halogen ovens is one of their most attractive features. A halogen oven allows for a broad range of dishes to be prepared, such as:

• roast meats
• pizzas
• cakes
• various desserts
• diverse breakfast items
• frozen foods

This versatility, offering such a wide range of cooking options, is one of the reasons why some people are getting rid of air fryers and switching to halogen ovens.

The other cooking methods that can be utilized in a halogen oven include:

• Baking
• Roasting
• Defrosting
• Steaming
• Slow cooking
• Toasting
• Frying
• Searing
• Grilling

These options offer a wide range of cooking functions for users. Additionally, the capacity of a halogen oven increases its versatility by enabling it to cook larger quantities of food at once. This is especially beneficial for cooking for a larger number of people or preparing several meals in advance.

Comparing Air Fryers and Conventional Ovens

Alongside assessing the pros and cons of air fryers and halogen ovens, a comparison of air fryers to conventional ovens is worthwhile. In terms of energy consumption, air fryers are more energy-efficient than conventional ovens. A small air fryer typically utilizes around 800 to 1,000 watts, while medium and large air fryers consume approximately 1,200 to 1,400 watts and up to 1,800 watts respectively. This lower average energy usage wattage contributes to their energy efficiency. To determine exactly how much appliances like air fryers and halogen ovens can save on energy, it’s essential to compare their average energy usage to that of conventional ovens.

Food cooked in air fryers is generally deemed healthier than food cooked in conventional ovens, suggesting a health benefit. Air frying reduces calories by 70% to 80% and results in less fat. However, it’s important to note that oven-baking can preserve good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, potentially making oven-baked foods healthier than air-fried foods in certain aspects.

Energy Consumption

Air fryers generally surpass conventional ovens in terms of energy consumption. Here’s a breakdown of the energy consumption for each:

• Air fryer: typically consumes about 3-5 kWh of electricity per hour of use
• Conventional oven: can use anywhere from 6-10 kWh of electricity per hour of use
• Halogen oven: consumes 1 kWh of energy, making it 75% more energy-efficient than conventional ovens.

So, if energy efficiency is a priority for you, an air fryer or halogen oven would be a better choice than a conventional oven.

The energy efficiency of air fryers and halogen ovens can lead to significant environmental benefits, as they consume up to three times less energy than conventional ovens, resulting in reduced overall energy usage and associated carbon emissions.

Health Benefits

As compared to traditional deep-fat frying, air fryers can potentially cut down calories by 70% to 80% and reduce fat content. This has led to air fryers in favour among health-conscious individuals, contributing to improved weight management and reduced intake of harmful compounds.

Reducing the amount of oil used in an air fryer decreases the calories and fat content in the food, resulting in a healthier option without sacrificing taste. The convection heat in an air fryer can help preserve heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C, better than other cooking methods might.

If you'd like to see which Air Fryers are popular right now, check out this article to Discover the Ultimate Comparison of the best Air Fryers.

Cooking Results

Comparisons of cooking results reveal that food cooked in an air fryer delivers a taste and texture similar to those of a conventional oven. However, air fryers can achieve better results for foods like:

• bacon
• meatballs
• pork chops
• shrimp
• fried pickles

This is due to their even cooking and crispier outcome, making oven chips a popular choice.

Research studies indicate that similar cooking results can be achieved with both air fryers and conventional ovens. Air frying, a type of convection baking, can produce ‘air-fried’ textures and crispiness comparable to those from conventional ovens.

Tips for Maximizing Air Fryer Efficiency

For those air fryer enthusiasts who aren’t quite prepared to let go of their appliance, there exist methods to boost its efficiency. By focusing on proper maintenance, making the most of available accessories, and adapting your recipes specifically for an air fryer, you can achieve better cooking results and make the most of your appliance. You can also check out this article, on what I wish I knew before I get an Air Fryer.

Proper Maintenance

Maintaining your air fryer’s efficiency hinges on regular cleaning. Built-up grease, unpleasant odors, and loose crumbs can all negatively impact your air fryer’s performance. It is recommended to clean your air fryer after every use to prevent the accumulation of charred food and gunk. Essential cleaning techniques include:

1. Wiping the basket and pan with soapy water
2. Allowing the air fryer to cool down before cleaning
3. Thoroughly cleaning the removable parts in warm, soapy water

Inadequate maintenance of an air fryer can lead to issues such as:

• Insufficient air circulation resulting in uneven cooking
• Appliance failure
• Overheating
• Non-heating
• Food not achieving desired crispiness

Therefore, to avoid any of these issues, it is critical to follow the recommended cleaning techniques and products for safely cleaning an air fryer.

Accessory Use

Employing accessories specifically designed for air fryers can enhance your appliance usage and broaden your cooking possibilities. Some commonly used accessories that can enhance the cooking capabilities of air fryers are:

• Liners
• Silicone molds
• Cake pans
• Pizza pans
• Skewers
• Muffin cups
• Oil sprayers
• Air fryer cheat sheets
• Mandolines
• Grill pans

However, it’s important to note that items like liners may disrupt the airflow and impact the cooking efficiency of the air fryer.

Adapting Recipes

Tailoring recipes for air fryers can assist in achieving superior cooking results. It is recommended to decrease the suggested baking temperature by 25°F and the cooking time by approximately 20% when converting traditional oven recipes for an air fryer. Foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, cauliflower, chicken breasts, tofu, zoodles, cauliflower gnocchi, and salmon are particularly well-suited for cooking in an air fryer. However, it’s advisable to avoid delicate greens, cheeses, and foods that are breaded, battered, or contain a lot of sauce when adapting recipes for an air fryer.

Summary

In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives. If you'd like to do some more research, check out this article: Is it really worth buying an Air Fryer?

Halogen ovens are emerging as a popular alternative, offering energy efficiency, faster cooking times, and versatility. However, for those who still prefer to stick with their air fryers, focusing on proper maintenance, using appropriate accessories, and adapting recipes to the air fryer can enhance its efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions