With sales skyrocketing in recent years, social media accounts exclusively dedicated to the sought-after appliance and even a future Channel 4 television show partnered with Jamie Oliver in its honour, it seems the U.K.’s obsession with air fryers is not going away any time soon.
Just what about the modest air fryer the nation in such a chokehold? And should students invest?
For starters, the device is a much healthier alternative to deep fat fryers whilst still giving food that golden crispy crunch. That’s because, despite its namesake, an air fryer won’t actually fry. The heating element near the top of the fryer works in tandem with a fan that rapidly circulates the heated air, which results in a cooking process akin to frying.
Aside from its potential health benefit, the convenience offered by an air fryer is hard to pass up. It’s no secret that the appliances can drastically reduce cooking time. Pre-heating an air fryer should take a maximum of five minutes. That’s at least half of the time for regular ovens. And the cooking time of popular student favourites such as sausages is as little as ten minutes – once again, half what it would be in a standard oven!
It’s no secret that the appliances can drastically reduce cooking time. Pre-heating an air fryer should take a maximum of five minutes. That’s at least half of the time for regular ovens.
What’s more, since it runs on a timer, if you’re working with foods that require a longer cooking time such as sweet potatoes, there’s no need to worry about accidentally cooking them for too long when you’re busy with other things. Simply set the timer for the appropriate length of time and you can carry on studying, finishing that home workout, or perhaps more realistically, watching that Netflix series you’ve been binging.
And lastly, what’s arguably the catalyst for the air fryer’s rise to fame: minimised energy costs. The U.K. is still grappling with extortionate energy prices after the pandemic, which aren’t exactly student-friendly to say the least. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see people finding new ways to cut costs. With the air fryer’s compact size and modern design, it can consume considerably less energy than its conventional oven counterpart, which in turn helps to keep bills down.
Whilst the air fryer magic isn’t for everyone – a smaller sized cooking tray, reduced countertop space and noise are some of the frequently listed cons – it can be a fantastic tool that deserves a place in the student kitchen!
Top tip: prices can vary greatly so be sure to browse your options to get the best deal.
Side effects include: you adopt a cult-like attitude to the air fryer lifestyle, subjecting those who you interact with to conversations about how great it is…that no one ever asked for. You’ve been warned.
