Why are Air Fryers so Healthy?
Just as its name suggests, the air fryer uses super heated air instead of oil to cook the kind of meals that would have traditionally been deep fried in the deep fat fryer, hence making it the “miracle” kitchen gadget that every healthy cook should have. Its appearance is likened to that of a large rice cooker and has a chunk tray which can be removed, filled with food and put back inside.
The air fryer also comes with a food separator accessory. This is advantageous as it allows for several foods to be fried at once, without making one smell like the other. For example, your fish won’t smell like chicken nuggets when the two are fried together. Also, among one of the air fryer’s salient features is the air filter which no matter how much like the fried food smells like, the air filter ensures that your place doesn’t have the fried food smell.
Essentially, a small convection oven, an air fryer works by circulating air of up to 200oC around foods like chicken, chips, fish or pastries. The air fryer helps to brown them off nicely with up to 80% less fat, hence making you enjoy a healthy and more sustainable diet. Definitely, the possibilities that one can make in an air fryer are limitless, for you can use an air fryer to make comfort food favorites that are normally deep-fried, sautéed, baked or grilled. So, whatever you crave on, the air fryer’s amazing versatility will have your back.
Fried chicken being one of the most preferred and consumed, an air fried chicken recipe would therefore suffice, to complement the effectiveness of the air fryer. For chicken, best flavors arise by first letting your chicken marinate as instructed, for the end results are worth it.
To begin with, first combine buttermilk, paprika and cayenne pepper, which are already part of the ingredients, in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces and turn regularly for the coating to be effective. Cover the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight. This can, however, be skipped when one doesn’t have the time for it, and immediately begin from the succeeding step. The next step is then to place flour in a shallow dish alongside eggs and water in another shallow dish followed by panko in another shallow dish.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Sprinkle the chicken with salt to add flavor. Then, using tongs dredge the chicken pieces one by one in the flour from the first bowl until you get good coverage whilst shaking off the excess flour. Dip in the egg-water mixture from the second bowl, allowing excess to drip off. Lastly, dredge in panko, while pressing to adhere to effectiveness. Coat the chicken on both sides with cooking spray. Likewise, lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray for enhancement of the flavor.
In the basket, place the chicken drumettes in single layers and cook in batches at 400oF or 200oC, until a thermometer inserted in chicken registers 165oF and the coating is golden brown and crispy, turning the chicken over halfway throughout the entire cooking process (12-16 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken drumettes) to ensure evenness in the cooking, after which the food emerges hot and crisp and far much healthier. Allowing the chicken drumettes to overcook for an extra 10 minutes to the cook time gives them a crispier goodness. To serve, place a chicken drumette on each plate and drizzle with ½ teaspoon hot sauce or maybe on top of a salad and serve immediately.
The air fryer’s grill and fan which blast very hot air around the chicken drumettes helps actualize the Maillard process; whereby the distinctive browning and crisping flavor is impacted when food is roasted, baked, toasted or fried. With a cooking time of under 12 minutes for several foods including French fries, hamburger, chicken breast, steak and frozen chicken nuggets the air fryer should definitely help you save a lot of time, unlike the traditional deep fat fryer, which would have taken a long time, with tons of oil inclusive.
The air fryer will also help you avoid fires, a common thing with the traditional chip pans which are notorious for fires. In addition to that, the device will also aid in cutting down the number of kilos of hidden fats people consume every year as a result of using the deep fat fryer, hence allowing you enjoy your favorite meals stress-free. With each serving of the air fryer being under 200 calories, it’s definitely a healthy dinner or lunch option!
