MORE THAN JUST A FAD

Why has the air fryer become a hit during Covid-19? Is it overrated? Life explores several aspects people need to know about the popular cooking appliance

THE ITEMS PEOPLE MAKE WITH THE AIR FRYER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEALTHY

The air fryer is undeniably the hottest cooking appliance of 2020. Its concept of frying food without — or at least using significantly less — oil while producing somewhat similar end products has attracted the attention of those pursuing a healthier diet (without sacrificing too much on flavour) for the past few years. However, its popularity has been revived in recent months as people have turned to homecooked meals amid Covid-19 lockdown measures.

In light of the continued popularity of the air fryer, Chiang Mai University (CMU)’s School of Lifelong Education hosted a webinar earlier this month to discuss the trend, facts and dangers associated with this hit appliance.

As dine-in options became unavailable at the height of the pandemic, people’s behaviour drastically changed causing them to spend more time at home relying on takeaway, delivery and eventually home-cooked meals — which also became a source of fun and relief from boredom. It was during this time the air fryer re-entered the scene as a generally inexpensive and easy-to-operate appliance which many have used to experiment while cooking.

About 10 months ago, the “Association of We Will Be Thin with Menu from Air Fryer” — a private Facebook group — was founded by lecturer and entrepreneur Tipvimol Meechai to promote healthier diets among her peers and clients. The group enjoyed a moderate following before its popularity surged amid the work-from-home and lockdown period. Now, it has close to 570,000 members who regularly share and discuss recipes, tips and even mishaps they have experienced with their air fryers.

The dish that put the air fryer on the map is, ironically, moo krob — crispy pork belly with a golden, crisp taste — which is scrumptious but also very fatty.

“The items people make with the air fryer may not always be healthy. However, at least they know and choose the ingredients themselves. In a way, it’s safer. And as people have been lonely, this online community has allowed people to come together to share dishes in a fun way,” said Tipvimol.

In addition to moo krob, other hit dishes on the air fryer’s menu include pie, roti, cheesecake and more.

Many believe that the air fryer produces healthier food and to an extent, that is correct. Jakkrit Wangrat, a lecturer from the Faculty of Public Health at CMU, said that the air fryer can reduce the amount of fat intake, both from the oil that we’d normally need to fry food to the fat and grease that would usually seep out of the food and would be left in the fryer. Overall, we consume less fat from our meals when the food is made using the air fryer.

On the other hand, he does not recommend people avoid all kinds of fat as the body needs it as a source of energy and also to allow for the absorption off at-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, among other uses.

The loss of nutrients should also be considered, Jakkrit continued, saying vitamins A, Band Care sensitive. The academic said that food may need to be pre-cooked through blanching or microwaving before being put inside the air fryer to better preserve the nutrients.

“I understand that people use the air fryer to produce clean food with reduced fat levels and low calories, which probably fits the bill, however, I hope they will consider other angles as well. Don’t just focus on something that will give you low-fat food so you can lose weight. You should also be concerned about other angles and benefits of the food too. Are the nutrients still there? All of them? The food may be low in fat but do you also get other benefits? If we only look at one benefit while disregarding the rest, the food may end up not being so healthy,” said Jakkrit.

As the air fryer makes use of high temperatures, academics have warned that it may lead to the formation of carcinogens. Asst Prof Nuttee Suree, a lecturer from the Faculty of Science at CMU, said users should refrain from cooking food at a high temperature for lengthy periods. It’s important to note that this concept also applies to other cooking methods that utilise high temperatures like deep frying, grilling and more.

For example, cooking meat at high temperature creates heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and increases polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are both carcinogenic. In starchy food like french fries — another hit air-frying dish — carcinogenic acrylamide may also be released.

“Air frying may leave less fat in your food than deep-frying but the amount of acrylamide is practically the same,” said Nuttee. “There is a chance for it to contribute to cancer. However, this doesn’t concern the cooking technique itself but rather the use of high temperatures and time required to cook. So, if you can regulate the temperature and time, it may reduce the risk of cancer.”

Nuttee advised that in items such as french fries, people soak the ingredients in water, dry it, and then air fry it to reduce the chance of formation of acrylamides. Similar to Jakkrit’s advice, meat can also be precooked in the microwave to reduce cooking time and the amount of heat required inside the air fryer. Moreover, any burnt bits should also be removed before consumption.

Choosing the right air fryer also matters. Tipvimol recommends people buy air fryers from trustworthy, up-to-standard brands instead of cheap ones that have flooded online shopping sites and social media in recent months. She cited fears over chemical leakage as a concern. This also applies to any accessories used with the air fryer. While products from known brands may be more expensive, she feels it’s a worthwhile and safer investment to buy from such sources since people will use the appliance to cook for themselves and their loved ones.

“The air fryer is not just a fad. It’ll be with us for a long time,” said Tipvimol. Even now as the lockdown has eased and people are going back to a new normal life, her Facebook group is still going strong and she doesn’t see the use of air fryer fading away anytime soon.