Ovens have been ruling the kitchens for a long time. But an air fryer is the latest household name these days. Both the equipment cooks faster using heated air or cooking. They offer healthier cooking options for your favorite snacks.
If you already own an oven and are now planning to buy an air fryer, you might need to know what it is and its uses.
You might be wondering is there any difference between the two appliances? Yes, they differ based on certain factors. So, let us learn about the differences between air fryers and ovens.
Table of Contents
What are an air fryer and an oven?
Air fryer
An air fryer is a small-size and compact countertop appliance that uses convection heating for circulating air around the food inside.
The handy kitchen gadget cooks crispy food with little or no oil. An air fryer has a removable bucket with a handle that fits a basket.
You have to place food on a perforated tray or mostly inside an air fryer basket that promotes more air circulation.
The heating elements are paired with a large fan on the device’s top. The air fryer preheats quickly and starts cooking food. As a result, it gives you crispy food with a fried texture without additional fat.
Oven
A regular oven is a common household kitchen appliance. It is a trusted gadget to bake and boil an endless number of cuisines and foods.
It has a fixed heating source for which you have to adjust the temperature. The heating source is at the oven’s bottom with the broiler on the top.
An oven uses hot air indirectly and slowly, allowing a liquid form to take shape while cooking.
It means it cooks from the inside while browning the exterior slowly. So, it is a popular gadget for baking bread and cake.
What is the difference between an air fryer and an oven?
You can use an air fryer to cook packaged frozen foods like chicken nuggets and French Fries.
Foods
You can cook and bake various foods on both gadgets. Foods that you can cook in an air fryer are-
· French fries
· Chicken nuggets and tenders
· Onion rings
· Vegetables
· Pizza
· Chicken wings
· Donuts
The food items you can bake or broil in an oven include the following –
· Pizza
· Vegetables
· Meats
· Casseroles
· Bread
· Bacon
· Muffins
· Cheesecake
Health
Air frying foods are healthier than deep-fried foods as they use little or no oil. Fried foods are associated with obesity and a high risk of chronic ailments like heart disease due to high calories and fats.
An air fryer reduces the oil for frying foods significantly, promoting weight loss, and proving to be a healthier option. An oven does not need a drop of oil to bake your food like an air fryer.
It reduces the possibility of harmful contaminants seeping into your food through the oil. Compared to frying, oven baking gives you less fat and calories.
A fried and batter chicken breast has 13.2 grams of fat in a 100-gm serving, while an oven-roasted one has 0.39 grams of fat.
Baking retains many nutrients commonly lost while cooking or frying. It is a better way of preserving healthy vitamins and minerals than frying.
Way of working
An oven works by producing heat from either a gas or electric source. Air fryers utilize rapid air technology for creating heat in place of an element that helps them heat the food faster than an oven. An air fryer consumes relatively low electricity compared to an oven. Most air fryers use an average energy of around 1500 watts.
Size
An air fryer is smaller than an oven. The food and the appliance itself heat faster than avoiding the preheat phase. The air fryer’s small size ensures that the food is closer to the heating element, which is located at its top.
However, it can accommodate a fraction of the food amount that an oven will fit.
So, an air fryer cooks only about one or two servings at a time, and you will have to cook in batches for more than two people.
An oven is more significant in size with the heating element at the bottom and the broiler at the top, and the food is not closer to the heating source.
However, it can prepare more food servings because of its bigger size. The fan of an air fryer circulates faster than an oven that is located beneath the heating element.
Air fryers are smaller, so they take up less space in your kitchen. You can shift into a cupboard when not used based on the cupboard’s height. However, an oven has to be made fit on your countertop full-time occupying space.
Cost
An air fryer is cheaper than an oven. An air fryer has a cooking capacity that can fit around 1.2L to 12L worth of food. The price can range from $75- $500 based on the capacity. However, an oven has an average capacity of 80 liters, and the price ranges from $750- $2300.
If you do not have a budget of more than $300, an air fryer is a good choice considering its functions and ease of use.
If you have a big budget and multiple uses, you can opt for an oven. Some of the big brand ovens have grilling and air frying functionality ideal for cooking family-sized meals.
Which equipment suits whom?
Air fryers are the most suitable for a small family of 2-3 members or those cooking alone. It offers convenience to those living in a dormitory. Those holidaying in an RV can also opt for a small-medium capacity air fryer to cook your favorite snacks.
Buying an air fryer for a big family is not worth it because it will increase your cost. Instead, an oven will be convenient as it gives you more cooking choices and is worth the amount you spend on it.
A large capacity oven for a big family or party will not require you to cook the food in portions as in a small capacity air fryer.
FAQs
1. Do I need to buy extra attachments with an air fryer?
Most of the air fryers have essential attachments like racks and pans. So, you do not have to buy additional attachments until you have to use them for multiple purposes.
2. How can I clean an air fryer?
The basket and drawer of an air fryer are removable in most models and are dishwasher safe. Consult your model’s manual before putting the parts in a dishwasher.
You should occasionally clean the main body like grease and food splatters that build around the heating element and cause smoking. You can use mild detergent to clean the air fryer from the inside. But cool it down completely before cleaning.
3. How can I prevent foods from sticking to an air fryer?
Some foods like breaded chicken or delicate fish are prone to sticking. So, spray the basket lightly with vegetable oil spray. Using a foil sling can also make the cleanup of certain foods easier, especially fish.
4. Do I need to preheat an oven?
Yes, most of the ovens come with a preheat option. It is because when you first turn your oven on, it is cold, so it will take time to reach the temperature required to cook the food.
Putting your food in without preheating will take more time to cook food and result in undercooked or soggy food.
5. How can I clean an oven?
You can remove internal parts like trays and shelves and soak them in warm and soapy water. Scrub the oven internally using a sponge and warm water. You can clean the oven from the outside with a dry or wet cloth.
Conclusion
Air fryers and ovens are great ways of making your life and kitchen work more accessible. They both enable you to cook your favorite snacks in less time, with healthier options having some variations.
The above guide will give you an insight into the differences between an air fryer and an oven that will help you make a wise decision. So, choose the most suitable gadget for you within your budget limits.
