This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
There were stoves, microwaves, countertop toaster ovens, convection ovens, infrared…and now there are air fryers! Impossible to miss them, since we hear about them and we find them everywhere, including in pharmacies. Hot air fryers (or air fryer in English) arouse passion and there are already tens of thousands of followers in Quebec alone. So what explains such success? What can we achieve with these devices? How to choose and control them? We tell you everything!
Five years ago, Manon Lapierre, aka La petite bette, on the Web, was doing research for a television column when she became interested in an emerging product in the United States. Invented by a certain Fred van der Weij, a native of the Netherlands, who wanted to obtain crispy fries without frying (and not dried out in the oven), the hot air fryer had just been marketed by the Philips brand.
“I tested this machine… and I immediately loved it! says the blogger, who had never liked the smell or handling of traditional fryers. This culinary crush then continued with an incalculable number of tests on the three hot air fryers with which Manon has since equipped herself, including one in her caravan. These same tests led to the production of a book, Air Fryer. 107 perfect recipes from appetizer to dessert (Saint-Jean publisher), which has not left the top of the charts since its publication last fall.
What can a hot air fryer do?
For Manon Lapierre, theair fryer stands for efficiency and power. “We can prepare everything that we usually do in the oven (including those equipped with a function air fry), but in a smaller space and much faster, she says. I also find that this appliance ensures more uniform cooking, especially for anything that is crispy, and that it gets rid of the oily taste of certain recipes. »
While hot air fryers were originally designed to make fries, chicken wings or croquettes without oil, they have proven to be ideal for many other foods. In the book air fryerwe discover that they can be used from starter to dessert: appetizers, meat, fish, vegetables, pizzas, quiches and meat pies, cakes and even bread.
“Most of the recipes are quick and easy for weekdays, but I challenged myself to make more festive dishes, such as Peking duck, eggplant parmigiana, lobster, small beaver tails or scotch eggs, whose center is perfectly flowing. The capabilities of these devices are astounding,” explains Manon, who publishes new recipes every week.
Limits
Capable of searing, baking and roasting just about anything, air fryers sound perfect. This is what has encouraged diehard fans, like the mother behind Fabulessly Frugal, to devote an entire YouTube channel to them. Or led Antoine Gélinas, from the blog Bouchées doubles, to keep only this machine to cook for four months, while his house was being renovated.
“I like kitchen gadgets in general,” he admits. And since I saw air fryers all over my networks, I decided to explore this method, less for making fries than for everything else. The first time, I roasted baby potatoes there, then one thing led to another, I prepared pieces of beef, vegetables, all-in-one dishes, duck breasts and even the festive meal. of my husband! »
On the other hand, Antoine is less convinced by the frying capacity of these devices. “If you like traditional fries, you may be disappointed, as they don’t taste or have the same texture in a air fryer he says, before adding that these devices are generally too small to satisfy more than two people.
Be careful also when cooking, says Manon Lapierre. “As temperatures and cooking times vary from one model to another, it is better to be close to your machine at the beginning to monitor your preparations, otherwise they risk drying out or burning,” she warns.
Choose the right one
Along with these small caveats, air fryers should be chosen with care. “A lot of people ask me what brand or model to buy. And I always answer them: “The one that suits you!” says the blogger.
What are the elements to take into account? “There are many of them,” replies Manon. The first thing to consider is the size, because only XXL hot air fryers can feed more than two people. Second, one must check the number of watts; the more powerful the appliance, the more successful the cooking will be. We must not forget either the format of the basket, which will have more capacity if it is square or rectangular, the number of drawers (our two contributors seem to favor air fryer with a single drawer), the quality of the materials (metal or plastic?), the weight of the device, the noise it emits, as well as its ease of handling and cleaning. The price, on the other hand, does not always determine the quality of the device, it seems. “Basic models, like the Gourmia, under $80, might not be as durable as others, but they’re definitely recommendable,” the blogger explains.
Once the right model has been found for your needs and your budget, and after having mastered its functions, all you have to do is let your creativity run wild. So, good inspiration!
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.