Arrived on the counter of Quebec kitchens a few years ago, hot air fryers, more commonly called air fryers, quickly conquered Quebecers by their simplicity of use, the speed of their cooking and, above all, the fact that they manage to make the food very crispy. This trendy “baby”, full of advantages, is the new culinary obsession.
• Read also: 4 Air Fryer Recipes to Try
It was through her work as a food blogger that Manon Lapierre, alias La petite bette, heard about air fryers five years ago. Skeptical, she didn’t really believe in her supposed powers. Her first air fryer, a Philips, has nevertheless become a must, so much so that she has bought a second one, with a larger capacity. “We realized that we used it really a lot, that it optimized the cooking time, that it was easy to clean, easy to preheat, easy to cook, and that it was not just for frying”, she sums up.
She has since been an avid user and has also published a cookbook dedicated to the device, Air fryer – 107 perfect recipes from appetizer to dessert.
Air fryer: 107 perfect recipes from appetizer to dessert, Manon Lapierre, Saint-Jean Éditeur, 216 pages
Ultra powerful
An air fryer is more like a convection oven, explains Manon Lapierre. “It’s an ultra-powerful mini convection oven, thanks to increased ventilation. »
This makes it possible to sear food very quickly and efficiently from the outside, as in deep frying, while keeping the inside moist and soft. “Compact designs with hyper-heated air allow you to cook your food quickly and evenly and give you that crispy, golden look,” describes Kaitlyn Hebert, Vice President of Marketing at Ninja.
Photo courtesy of Ninja
Chicken wings, and fries, are often the first foods people cook in their brand new air fryer.
Oil-free… or almost
This gives you the magic of deep frying without all its drawbacks. And all of this with little or no additional oil added. “For generous portions of fries for four people, I will use 1 to 2 tablespoons of fat, describes the blogger of La petite bette. I’ll just toss my fries, either in a bowl or on a plate, and transfer them to the basket. »
The tenfold ventilation and hot air of the device allow food to be cooked in record time, sometimes twice as fast as in an oven, explains Manon Lapierre. In addition, preheating is rarely required.
Not just fries
Chicken wings, French fries or onion rings, foods that we imagine being deep fried, are often the first things people cook in their new acquisition. “They’ll buy frozen meals and then cook them in the air fryer. It’s a great job! exclaims Manon Lapierre. There are people who will say that you can do everything in an air fryer, even stews. I imagine that’s true. Today, the fashion is to put a whole chicken in it! »
“Consumers are using air fryers in more ways than one might imagine – from meatballs to boiled eggs to whole banana desserts including toppings,” notes Kaitlyn Hebert, who likes to quickly prepare homemade chicken nuggets or sweet potatoes for her children when she’s in a hurry. “It’s quick, easy and it gives the textures you’re looking for!” »
Perfect vegetables
Manon Lapierre cooks almost all of her vegetables in the air fryer. “For mushrooms, it’s the best device I’ve worked with, full stop. She notes, however, to keep an eye on the vegetables, as they can burn quickly. “If you like vegetables, broccoli for example, a little al dente, it will be perfect, they will be a little grilled. If you like this same vegetable more cooked, I recommend putting water in the bottom of the container for a half-steamed, half-grilled effect. »
Photo courtesy of Philips
Nothing like the hot air fryer to cook vegetables in no time!
The blogger with 170,000 subscribers on YouTube and 350,000 page views per month on her blog recommends, for all foods, to open the basket and, if necessary, stir it. “It heats up so quickly. You have to be careful because there are noticeable differences in temperature and cooking time from one device to another. You have to be on the lookout and use your judgment during the first uses! »
Will the air fryer trend fade over time? “I continue to use it all the time!” laughs Manon Lapierre. If one of my young people moved to a place where there is no oven, I would definitely put an air fryer there, I wouldn’t even ask myself the question! »
4 TIPS FROM MANON LAPIERRE
- Use silicone accessories and molds, instead of metal, as the majority of appliances have non-stick surfaces.
- Be careful with parchment and other aluminum foil, as this interferes with the function of the device and the ventilation. Also, if used with light foods, the parchment may fly off and stick to the element.
- Overlapping food is possible! In the case of mushrooms, fries or chicken wings, Manon Lapierre’s basket is at least half full. You need to stir more frequently.
- If the appliance allows it, put light ingredients, such as aubergine crisps, under the grid so that they do not fly away.
3 air fryers, according to your needs
2-Basket NinjaTM Foodi with DualZone Technology
Since launching its first air fryer in 2018, Ninja has developed popular two-basket models that cook two foods at once. DualZone technology includes a smart finish function to finish cooking two foods at the same time in two ways. So you can cook salmon in one basket, vegetables in the other, and have it all ready for dinner at the same time. Convenient.
Instant Vortex Mini 2 liters
Photo courtesy of Instant Brands
Instant Brands has made a name for itself with its famous Instant Pot, but not only. We really like the super compact format of the Vortex Mini, with its 2 liters, available in several bright colors. No, this format is not recommended for a family or a couple, but a student who has just left the family nest will be delighted to prepare quick meals or snacks!
Philips Premium XXL with fat removal technology
Photo courtesy of Philips
Philips was the first to launch air fryers on the market. Manon Lapierre has been using the same model for five years. Durability therefore, but also efficiency and popularity since the brand has sold more than 8 million units to date. This XXL model, with a capacity of 7 liters, can cook for a group of up to 6 people. Fat burning technology extracts and captures excess fat, for even healthier meals.