A (And Our) Brief History of Air Fryers
We came across our first Air Fryer in Lake Annecy in 2022. We were obviously late to the party in that we had never seen or used one before (nor the Induction Hob we encountered there – but that’s another story).
Unbeknownst to us, while we were beavering away on the Southern Tip of Africa, Air Fryers had become one of the most popular kitchen appliances of the past decade, offering a healthier and more convenient way to prepare crispy, delicious food.
Faced with this new technology and not sure what to think about it, we did a bit of research and found this:
- the idea behind air fryers actually began many moons ago with the invention of rapid air technology. This technology, when applied to food, mimicked the crispy results of deep-frying without submerging food in oil.
- The first commercial air fryer was launched by Philips in 2010. It quickly captured the attention of home cooks looking for a healthier alternative to traditional frying.
- Early models were quite simple. They were countertop units with basic temperature settings and a single cooking basket.
- What made them revolutionary was their ability to circulate hot air at high speed. This created a crispy finish using up to 80% less oil than deep-frying.
- This combination of convenience and healthier cooking sparked the rise of the air fryer trend.
The Modern Air Fryer is a Different Beast
Over the last few years, we have noticed that air fryers have evolved significantly.
Today you can find Air Fryers with a wide range of advanced features such as digital touchscreens, preset cooking modes, larger capacities, dual-zone baskets, rotisserie functions, and smart-home connectivity.
Some models even integrate with apps, allowing you to monitor cooking progress or download recipes directly to your appliance.
Which is all very well if you have the book of instructions, but it can be quite challenging when you come across one of these super tech models when house sitting or in a B&B. We have spent several hours scratching our heads over how we get the darn thing working.
In our world, KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is definitely the way to go.
Having said that, it’s undoubtedly true that modern air fryers heat more evenly and cook faster than earlier designs. They are now an almost standard multi-purpose tool in most kitchens.
The Do (Almost) Everything Kitchen Gadget
So, while the more modern Air Fryers might appear a bit complicated to the uninitiated, the flip side of that is their unbelievable versatility.
While in some quarters they are perhaps best known for turning out perfectly crisp chips, fries, and chicken wings, they are actually far better than that (and so should you be – diet wise!)
You can roast vegetables, bake small cakes, cook fish, reheat leftovers, or even toast sandwiches.
Inevitably, many people use their air fryer to prepare healthier versions of their favourite comfort foods, like breaded chicken to onion rings, without compromising on taste or texture. Can’t really fault the effort to eat healthier!
The newer, larger models also allow you to prepare full meals. Think meat and vegetables, stuffed peppers, or even Sunday roasts.
You can even sort out a (healthier) cooked breakfast without too much hassle – cook bacon with less mess, crisp sausages in minutes, or prepare other breakfast favourites like hash browns without adding oil.
10 Points For The Modern Air Fryer
After a bit of experimentation, we have found that Air Fryers provide an easy and efficient way to create wholesome meals with minimal cleanup afterwards.
That’s a win-win in our eyes.
Because while the world might focus on the “quick” part of cooking in an Air Fryer, we assign more value to the “easy” and “less mess” aspects.
And of course, they contribute in a small way towards our goals of fitness and wellness.
So the message is clear. If you are going to be travelling, get to know how to operate an Air Fryer as you will surely encounter them on your travels.
