Theair fryeris the hottest kitchen appliance in America right now.
This brilliant new equipment seemingly popped up out of nowhere, or did it?
The idea that air frying is a new cooking technique is a myth.
Photo: Casezy idea (Shutterstock)
Your air fryer is just a little convection oven with a fan system that really blows.
Theres roughly five times faster air movement through an air fryer compared to a convection oven.
Its a great design, but its nothing new.
Many modern homes have convection ovens, which have existedsince 1967.
For this group, your air fryer is really just an oven.
The air fryer is not frying anything.
Oil has a significantly higher heat flux than air, which measures how quickly heat transfers to your food.
Oil frying occurs between 10 and 30,000 watts per square meter, but air frying doesnt even get close.
[Air frying] doesnt have the capacity to fry like how you would in oil, said Keener.
He was looking for a way to invent crisp homemade french fries without an oil fryer.
Phillips bought his prototype and released its first model in 2010.
As with many product myths, names are important.
The name air fryer leads you to think of this as something new.
Its really a genius marketing tactic more than anything, but its misleading.
In 1945, an inventor named William Maxson created the Whirlwind Oven.
Its widely considered the original air fryer, but with a much worse name.
However, the eras limited technology meant it could only reach 200oF before the fans motor blew out.
Maxsons death in 1947 meant he wouldnt be around to push his advice into the consumer market.
There are several benefits to air fryers that make them a useful kitchen tool.
The high-velocity air flow also translates to better crisping than a convection oven.
Its useful for sure, maybe just not a completely new cooking technique.
The air fryer community is also uniquely strong.
There are entire recipe books and website blogs purely dedicated to air fryers.
Perhaps the messaging around air fryers just really resonates with people.
Not to mention, deep-fried foods are one of the most unhealthy things you’re able to eat.
Im not advocating that you not use your air fryer or dont buy one.
But the myth about the technology seems to be everywhere.
Just know that your air fryer is not so different from a typical convection oven.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
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