French fries are apparently crunchier, salmon juicier and roasted broccoli even crispier when cooked with a fast, fat-free air fryer. Amateur chefs love the versatile gadgets that do not cause smells in the kitchen.
"A hot air fryer is a kitchen appliance in which food can be deep-fried, grilled, baked and cooked using hot air," says Steffi Sinzenich, who runs a food blog. "Food becomes particularly crispy and hardly any oil is needed. Things like French fries or breaded dishes are lower in fat and healthier," says the blogger.
"The circulating hot air means that food is cooked evenly and usually faster than in an oven," says Sinzenich.
Air fryers have a closed oven, so there is no smell of fat in the kitchen. That's why many like making burgers and meatballs in the air fryer. Most appliances have fixed programmes with pre-set temperatures and cooking times for dishes like French fries, vegetables, meat or bread making them easier to use.
Sinzenich's blog is full of air fryer recipes, including crispy, juicy air fryer salmon cubes. Cooking is simple: Cut the salmon into cubes, then mix in a bowl with a little olive oil, lemon juice and spices such as paprika and oregano, depending on your taste.
Then put the salmon in the basket of the hot air fryer and cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket once during that time. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the appliance, and some models have to preheat beforehand.
But apart from that, the crispy salmon cubes can be served quickly. "Salmon stays really tender and juicy when cooked in a hot air fryer," says Sinzenich. "It's ready in less than 10 minutes and the kitchen does not smell fishy. You could also cook potatoes or roasted broccoli in the hot air fryer. The salmon cubes taste great as salad toppings or with a delicious dip."
Justyna Szamocka, another food blogger and cook book author, cooks many dishes with the air fryer and presents them on her blog. "An air fryer is perfect for families, singles or couples," she says. “You save lots of time as bread rolls are baked in 4 to 5 minutes or a frozen pizza in 8 to 10 minutes. I find the air fryer an absolute game changer,” Szamocka says. The gadget can also be used for one-pot dishes, for heating up dishes from the day before or for toasting. "That saves you the space of a toaster."
Szamocka is a fan of halloumi fries cooked in the air fryer. Ideally, eat them fresh and warm. "Halloumi has a slightly rubbery consistency when it has cooled," she says, adding that warm halloumi is absolutely phenomenal.
Try out breadcrumbs, leftover crisps and crushed crackers for a good coating. "When it comes to air fryer halloumi fries, you definitely save time and especially calories because the fries are not baked in fat. They become really crispy and tasty in no time at all," she points out.
If you are thinking of buying a hot air fryer, get tips from experienced users first. "Think about what you want to use the air fryer for and how often," says Sinzenich. The key question is, "Do I want to use it to prepare meals for the whole family or just the occasional portion of fries?"
There are compact appliances on the market which take up little space in small kitchens, and also larger appliances with two drawers. Think about how much space you have for the appliance in your kitchen and how many people you want to cook for with an air fryer. Once you have decided, there are plenty of recipes you can explore. – By Julia Felicitas Allmann/dpa
