Life Science: Don’t use the air fryer too often

In recent years, air fryers have become a new favorite in the kitchen. Some people think that it is a magic tool for reducing oil consumption, so they don’t have to worry about wanting to eat fried foods but being afraid of gaining weight. However, there are also claims that it can damage the liver and cause cancer. What is the truth?

The air fryer is actually a small oven with a fan. Its working principle is very simple. After being heated by electric current, the fan turns the air in the pot into a rapidly circulating heat flow, thereby dehydrating the food and making the surface golden and crispy, achieving an effect similar to frying. The advantages and disadvantages of the air fryer are very obvious. Its biggest advantage is that it can reduce the use of oil, which is healthier than traditional frying. For example, meat, semi-finished French fries, etc. contain a certain amount of fat, so they can be cooked directly without adding extra oil; vegetables and other ingredients that are almost fat-free can be cooked with a small amount of oil. In addition, the air fryer is small in size and easy to operate, and is a practical and convenient small kitchen appliance. The original intention of the development of the air fryer was to make fried foods with less or no oil, but the taste of the food cooked in the air fryer cannot be completely compared with fried food. It can be said that it is between fried food and baked food. The disadvantage of the air fryer is that it is a high-temperature cooking method, which is more likely to produce acrylamide than low-temperature cooking methods such as steaming, which is also the source of the saying that "air fryers hurt the liver and cause cancer." Animal experiments have found that acrylamide has a carcinogenic effect when taken in very high doses. Although human trials have not yet reached a unified conclusion, it is true that the less such substances are ingested, the better. It should be noted that acrylamide is not a product unique to air fryers. As long as food is cooked at high temperatures (stir-fried, deep-fried, braised, etc.), it is inevitably produced, such as French fries, potato chips, braised pork, bread, fried dough sticks, pancakes, etc. In addition, air fryers are not easy to clean, especially the tray and net.

Although air fryers are easy to use and there are many related recipes on the Internet, it is not recommended to use air fryers as the main cooking method at home. In daily life, try to use low-temperature cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, stewing and blanching as the main cooking methods, which can retain the nutrients in the food to the greatest extent and reduce the production of harmful substances. In addition, try to lower the temperature when using it and control the cooking time. ▲