It may not be the healthiest food in the world, but when it comes to satisfying cravings for crispy and flavorful dishes, nothing beats fried food. Fried chicken, nuggets, wings, ribs, crispy tacos, bananas, and donuts are just a few examples of the irresistible dishes that can be prepared using the cooking method known as frying.

To achieve perfect frying, we can use various utensils like pots and pans, but there are also appliances that can make our lives easier when it comes to frying, such as the conventional fryer and the air fryer. Both appliances can be great allies in cooking, so at kiwilimón, we’ll tell you about their uses, differences, and advantages so you can choose the one that suits you best when preparing your meals.

How do conventional fryers work?



Also known as oil fryers, conventional fryers are appliances that are very practical for frying food and making it perfectly crispy, in addition to allowing for safer oil handling than with pots and pans.

Most traditional fryers are made of steel or stainless steel and have a container where the oil is deposited, as noted by Kitchen Cuddle. Additionally, they come with a basket where the food to be fried is placed, which has a handle to put it in and take it out of the oil container as needed. Modern oil fryers for home use also have features like temperature controls, timers, or alarms and operate on electricity.

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Using a conventional fryer is quite simple. The first step is to put the necessary oil in the container and turn on the appliance. Once the oil reaches the appropriate temperature – between 162 °C and 204 °C – place the basket with the food you want to fry inside the oil container. It is with this drastic temperature shock that the crispy outer layer that everyone loves is achieved, but the inside remains raw at this point in the process. Subsequently, the hot oil evaporates all the water inside the food, and bubbles can be seen on the surface of each piece. Gradually, the bubbles begin to disappear as the water inside the food is used up, and this is the sign that it is well cooked. That is the precise moment to take the food out of the fryer; otherwise, it will start to absorb too much oil due to the lack of bubbles that act as a shield.

How do air fryers work?



Air fryers are appliances that have become popular in recent years for being versatile and easy to use, frying a wide variety of food and leaving it irresistibly crispy while using less oil, functioning similarly to convection ovens.

Air fryers have a heating element at the top of the cavity where the food tray is placed, as noted by the Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office (PROFECO). The heating element warms the air that passes through it and then circulates inside the fryer, heating and frying the food if it contains a little oil.

Differences between air fryers and oil fryers
While both appliances are useful for preparing tasty and crispy food, each does so in a completely different way and has advantages that you should consider when choosing which option is best for you.

To start, it is necessary to bear in mind that the frying processes are different. In the oil fryer, food is submerged in very hot oil that quickly cooks the surface of the food, making it crispy and sealing in the moisture inside to cook it afterward. Air fryers cook food by circulating hot air inside quickly, as noted by Maytag. This means that air fryers use very little or almost no oil – sometimes up to 80% less than conventional fryers. This is an important point to consider if you are concerned about the amount of oil you cook with and prefer to keep your recipes on the healthier side of the scale.

Another significant difference between traditional fryers and air fryers is the cooking time. While oil fryers can have food ready in 3 to 5 minutes after heating the oil, air fryers can take 10 to 20 minutes. However, it should be noted that while conventional fryers may take less time to fry food, recipes often require more preparation time due to breading and other steps that air fryer recipes do not need.

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But when it comes to flavor, most experts agree that nothing beats the conventional fryer. While air fryers can give food a crispy texture, traditional fryers win in terms of flavor when it comes to traditional fried food recipes. Additionally, according to Airfry Anytime, using the air fryer carries the risk of food becoming dry due to the constant flow of hot air and it can also burn faster. The advantage of conventional fryers regarding the flavor of food is entirely due to the fact that they use a considerable amount of oil to fry the food.

On the other hand, the versatility of air fryers does not extend to breaded food. The reason air fryers cannot fry food coated in a liquid mixture is that the circulating air merely disperses the breading rather than frying it. In contrast, frying food like corn dogs or donuts perfectly will never be a problem with an oil fryer. However, it should not be forgotten that air fryers have many other functions, such as baking, roasting, or grilling, thus allowing for a greater variety of dishes to be cooked, according to Airfryer Masterchef.

In terms of safety, air fryers have an advantage over traditional fryers. While oil fryers are safer than pots and pans, they still emit smoke and can have hot oil splash and spatter, causing burns or fires. Since air fryers use little or no oil, the aforementioned risks are almost nonexistent when using them.

Now that you know the differences, pros, and cons of oil fryers and air fryers, you can decide which is best for you based on how you plan to use it. Remember that at kiwilimón, you can find the best tips to make the most of your kitchen and prepare exquisite recipes to delight your loved ones.