STACK #203 Sep 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Every Day is Fry Day

Y ou’ve probably heard a lot of talk about air fryers lately – and for good reason. These deceptively simple devices have become an absolute must in the kitchen, with their ability to effortlessly cook just about anything quickly, easily and healthily, from chips, chicken and Chiko Rolls to steaks, doughnuts, fish – and even the unexpected, like frozen gnocchi and fruit. The concept is incredibly simple – basically, an air fryer contains a large heating element, a fan to move heated air around the inside of the fryer, and a basket to put the food in. It really is as simple as just putting your food of choice into the basket, setting the temperature and timer and hitting the start button. Air fryers, despite the name, don’t actually fry anything in the conventional sense. There’s no oil used (aside from any that may be already on frozen foods like chips), so the potential health benefits of using one are obvious.

They’re very similar to convection ovens – but more compact, as well as being easier to use and clean. The clever folks at Ninja have come up with something the world really needed when it comes to air fryer advances – the dual zone fryer. Named the Foodi, this air fryer evolution has two baskets that fit into two separate chambers inside the fryer – each of which can be individually temperature and timer controlled. That’s actually a big deal for those who love the air fryer way of cooking, because it allows two separate foods to be cooked at the same time, each at the right temperature. Chicken in one side,

chips in the other – or whatever combo you like. This is a big beast, too, with each cooking drawer holding 3.8 litres for a total of 7.6 litres, ample space for the biggest meals. It’s the smarts that really make this one shine, though – this is not your average “dumb” air fryer. With Smart Finish it can actually sync the cooking times in each zone so that both sides finish cooking together – which, of course, is exactly what you’d want. It has one-touch controls for everything from frying to roasting to baking, and is also excellent for reheating leftovers on a whim. It’s versatile, clever and really great value.

Air Fryers and Oil You’ll find more than a few recipes for air fryers that suggest spraying oil on your food before you start cooking – but that’s actually not needed for most foods, and indeed one of the main benefits of an air fryer is oil-free cooking. However, home-made potato chips, vegetables and other dishes can benefit from a small amount of oil to add crispiness and flavour.

68 SEPTEMBER 2021

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