In recent years, we have seen that air fryer appliance has seen massive growth, resulting in popularity. But while things become prevalent, it gives rise to misconceptions; one of the common is, do air fryers use radiation? Individuals are always skeptical about do air fryers use radiation to cook, the standard method used for air-fried food.
In this article, you’ll get to know the working principles of an air fryer and also we will clear some of your doubts like do air fryers emit radiation?
How does an air fryer work?
Whether you opt for any air fryer brand, it will work on the principle of convection cooking and comparatively much faster than the traditional oven, which also deploys the convention method. Sometimes air fryer is commonly known as an oil-less fryer and can be entitled as a small convection oven.
Being a small cooking appliances design with the radiating heat element above, which thoroughly circulate the hot air around the interior part of the unit. Further, the hot air is supplied on the sides of an air fryer and then spreads along in the middle.
This hot air circulation is sometimes known as rapid air technology that evenly grazes all sides of the food, quickly detaches all the moisture from the outside of the foods and locks the outside layer of the food with brownie crispy, crunchy texture. This texture can be achieved by setting the temperature between 140 to 165 degrees Celsius or 280 to 330 degrees Fahrenheit.
An air fryer is the healthier way to relish fried foods and chips without the stress of extra calories and fat.
Note – We have written a dedicated article on working of air fryer! Do check it out!
Do air fryers use radiation?
To be precise, the answer is no. No, an air fryer does not deploy any radiation for cooking ingredients. The air fryer can be compared with the microwave, but it’s not the same as the working mechanism. On the other hand, microwave deploys radiation called EMF or electromotive force.
But do not get skeptical that it is unsafe to use as microwave uses radiation. Air fryers do not deploy or generate radiation like the microwave does while cooking. Yes, the air fryer uses radiated heat; this heat circulates the food rapidly, ultimately giving the food a dry exterior and offering a crispy texture. It is why fried food is much more sprightful in an air fryer than when cooked in the microwave.
Cooking principles of an air fryer
As we all know, irrespective of the brand or model of an air fryer you purchase, the cooking method goes the same as it operates on the principle of animation cooking. And when it comes to convection cooking, it has two standard cases natural and mechanical.
- Natural convection cooking:
In this cooking method, the particles move up and warm that exist in the surface of the cooking area, and the excellent particles move down as they are heavier.
- Mechanical convection cooking:
In the second method, an external force creates the heat to get circulated, so the convection occurs. The prime example is the convection oven deploying a fan to circulate hot air around the ingredients.
Talking about an air fryer, a small heating element exists with the fan that circulates the hot air around the cooking space. The significant difference between a convection oven and an air fryer is that the air gets circulated inside the cooking space only at an initial pace. This process helps food be cooked evenly as the hot air quickly reaches the food.
An air fryer’s basket also comes with holes, which means foods in the bottom of your basket also contact the hot air.
Do air fryers get hot externally from the radiated heat?
Proper insulation with an excellent design maintained the external of an air fryer very hot during the hot heat radiation inside the unit. So this leaves the outer part of an air fryer in a warm condition, safe to handle and touch. So do not have to worry about burning your hand from touching it.
The outer part gets extremely hot, and this problem majorly occurs because of improper insulation. You might have a clear idea if you have already used the traditional conventional oven for a toaster oven. So it is another good reason why one must use an air fryer because it comes with safety concerns.
What exactly is the Maillard effect? And why not cook using oil?
The primary reason your fried foods contain a golden and crispy brown texture is the one and only Maillard reaction. You have come across a word Browning reaction. It is another name for the Maillard effect. This specific effect occurs between the temperature settings ranging between 280-330 degrees Fahrenheit.
To put it on precisely, it is a surface-level reaction that occurs only when the simple sugars and the amino acids existing inside the ingredients get assembled into rings. However, this reaction varies between boiled, grilled, steamed, baked, poached, and fried foods. When an individual cooks at a high temperature, the rate of heat proliferates at which the chemical reaction occurs, and water evaporation is maximized.
Merits and demerits of air frying:
To clear your mind filled with plenty of doubts, it is crucial to look after the merits and demerits of air frying so you can remove all the misconceptions you got inside your head.
Merits:
- It is evident that the air fryer does not consume excess oil and only cooks fried foods using heat to deliver healthy meals simultaneously. It is a 1000 times better option than deep fat frying, and it also cuts down many calories. In short, using an air fryer helps to achieve both healthy and tasty food at once. It uses a little less or no oil; the fan and the heating element are set to circulate the even air around the food, which delivers crisp results.
- You can go for a compact air fryer if you have a small kitchen countertop. Check out this best air fryer of small and large size. So this size convenience is the best thing about an air fryer that lets you choose according to your restricted or ample amount of space on your kitchen countertop.
- Some air fryer models are versatile and have great features, including steam, fry, bake, grill, broil, and dehydrator air fryer. You can experience it as an all-in-one appliance.
- Quicker cooking is another name of an air fryer as it lets you cook food faster than a stovetop or a microwave oven. It is possible because you can quickly preheat your air fryer, and the heat gets stored inside the air fryer without escaping too quickly, ensuring even and fast cooking. Surprisingly even frozen foods get cooked too promptly.
- Lastly, an air fryer comes with safety concerns and is easy to operate. Even beginners can master the cooking experience by sitting the cooking duration and temperature accordingly and then waiting for a moment to relish mouth-watering dishes. Moreover, it comes with a manual that never disappoints and serves handy for those who find it a little difficult to operate initially.
Demerits:
- You have to be very careful and picky while buying an air fryer because some models come with durability and quality issues. For instance, it is designed with poor quality and plastic metals that do not ensure durability and fail to withstand heat, restricting the long-term usage consistently demanding a replacement.
- Sometimes capacity might also be a significant problem; if you have 2-3 family members and purchase the compact air fryer, if you have a guest come over, you will face some cooking issues in batches that may take a long time. Moreover, a close air fryer means you will be missing some of the exclusive features that come along with a large capacity air fryer.
- Every appliance has its guidelines; if you fail to follow that accordingly, you might first handle the air fryer and damage it.
Are all air fryers models are precisely the same?
The purpose of all air fryers is quite the same, but the effectiveness and the features vary according to the models. Some air fryer brands are built exceptionally and deliver crispy food, while others provide evenly cooked food the entire way through.
However, in any case, when you preheat and flip your ingredients halfway through then, you must get some exceptional results no matter which air fryer models you select.
Are fryers safe to use?
Of course, air fryers are ultimately safe to use. We have already discussed that air fryers work with the heat transfer method by using radiated heat that flows promptly around the ingredients. However, the high temperature might be a bit risky.
Air fryers require little less how to get a crispy deep-fried texture and similar crunchy and delicious taste as traditional deep fryer meals.
Besides, air fryers come with safety handles, an automatic shut-off feature, cool to touch handle and a cooking timer that allows you to cook safely. Moreover, there are BPA-free air fryers are accessible in the market with non-stick and ceramic coated basket safe use and easy cleaning process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are air fryers all microwaves which are healthier?
Generally, air fryers are a much healthier option than microwaves because microwave ovens comparatively use radiation for cooking food, which is entirely safe and not so convenient to cook food. So if you are so much concerned about radiation, go for an air fryer.
Is purchasing an air fryer worthy?
Of course, it is worth purchasing because who does not like air-fried foods at home with easy to clean equipment and no smoke issues. And if you have a large family, then an air fryer is a bonus appliance to your kitchen that food faster with super easy and advanced features.
Do air fryers consume lots of electricity?
To say this precisely, it depends on the cooking model, brand, size, and temperature at your air frying. So if you have a small air fryer, it will comparatively consume less electricity than a large one.
The Bottom line
So we have cleared that do air fryers use radiation or not and discussed other things related to an air fryer that involves the radiated heat and not electromagnetic radiation used by the microwave. So we hope you or crystal clear with your doubts and do not hesitate before making an air fryer choice.
