Fry in the air... not in oil

The air fryer

Fry in air, not oil.

That’s what Philips, the renowned consumer appliances giant  is telling you these days. They’ve launched a new kitchen appliance—the air fryer in India.

At a demo today, I saw the appliance in operation, and tasted the potato fries, potato cutlet and samosas made –ooops, fried in the air . All that the young people demonstrating the gadet did was take a brush, and apply a fine coat of oil on the McCain frozen fries, cutlets and samosas that they’d brought with them.

The cutlet or tikki, was very good. The samosas would have tasted good if they’d been fried the regular, conventional way—deep fried in oil, in a wok or frying pan. The fries were ok, just ok.

If I want to make the tikkis for visitors, I’d have to be sure the power does not go off. And that the visitors  have the time  and patience to wait for the snacks to be air fried and ready to be served.

So, what was right and what was wrong with the air fryer?

The concept was right. A heating element on top, with a fan near by , throwing hot air into the dish area, where the stuff to fry has been placed. Just the way  the hot air is circulated in the convection mode of a micro wave or a regular oven with a fan to circulate the air.It has a timer as well as a t temperature control. And while the place does begin to feel warm, it is smoke free.

But what was wrong, was the enormous time it took to fry a few tikkis or fries. About 18 to 20 minutes. On my gas, and with my frying pan, I should not take more than five to seven minutes!

With the power consumption being what it was, and the  high cost of energy—not to talk of the frequent power failures—something was missing to make it  a tempting buy. I’d sooner pay for power to run the air conditioner.

Particularly at that price. Almost Rs15000, Bata shoes price style.

I’d probably be able to get a similar effect at much shorter time, and less power consumption, if I greased the stuff in a ditto fashion, and pushed it into the gadget promoted to make  popcorns or other dry snacks. Except that because the food stuff moves, the tikkis and fries may go helter skelter!

And I’d probably be able to get the same effect at the same time, for much less power, if I greased the stuff and put them in my good old oven—even the Philips OTG.

And I’d probably get the best result if I deep fried the potato fingers or samosas or tikkis in a frying pan full of oil. The stuff I am frying will absorb, perhaps a wee , wee bit more than what the boys doing the demo , greased the food to air fry.

The rest of the oil is there in the frying pan, and does nothing to add inches to my waist or flab to my figure!

Not just I, even my young colleagues, who perhaps don’t spend that much of time in the kitchen, had figured that out in a jiffy!

But that is not to say there aren't people who'd like to fill potatoes or chicken or fish  into a gadget like this, put up their feet and read a book or watch TV, and not worry that the power  supply may go off any minute. And for them, this would be a boon, no less.

Also  if somebody wants to line up gadgets for display in the kitchen ...this one is good. Great design, neat contours, good grip.

I'd however think many times before buying this.