How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Air fryers are so popular right now. And, it’s no surprise. They’re a convenient, easy way to cook tasty treats and meats. But, how exactly do they do it? How do air fryers actually work? If you want to find out for yourself, read this guide from the team at Morphy Richards now.
Air fryer definition
To properly understand how an air fryer actually works, we first need to establish a definition.
What exactly is an air fryer?
The answer - perhaps somewhat confusingly - is that air fryers aren’t actually fryers in the traditional sense.
As we wrote in our air fryer buying guide, ‘Traditional fryers use cooking oil to cook foodstuffs. Air fryers, on the other hand, use heated convected air as the ‘cooking medium’. Hence, the use of the prefix ‘air’ in their name’.
In short, although air fryers can cook foods with the distinctive crispy texture associated with frying, the cooking is actually achieved through heated air rather than oil. Instead of thinking of air fryers as ‘fryers’, instead think of them as high intensity convection ovens.
It’s for this reason that air fryers offer a considerably healthier way to cook foods (especially compared to traditional oil-based fryers).
Who invented the air fryer?
Okay, so with that definition in mind, who is responsible for inventing the ingenious device that is the modern air fryer?
The answer is Dutch inventor Fred van der Weij.
Speaking to the BBC, van der Weij’s daughter, Suus, explained how in 2006, Fred was looking for a way to cook crispy food with little oil.
Luckily, Fred had a strong background in product development and had set up his own product development company ADPS in 1990.
In his attempt to devise a healthier way of cooking crispy food, Fred would eventually arrive at the technology that underpins all modern air fryers.
And, it wasn’t long before Fred - and his company ADPS - caught the attention of a major player in the world of home appliances; Philips. By 2010, Philips had agreed to purchase the rights for Fred’s invention and launch the world’s first commercially-available air fryer.
How do air fryers work?
So, what is the technology that Fred van der Weij invented that now powers the world’s air fryers?
The answer is ‘Radiant UpStream Heating’ (RUSH). (Note - once Philips had acquired the rights to Fred’s technology they called it ‘Rapid Air Technology’).
Fred van der Weij’s RUSH technology combines both radiation and convection to create a method of cooking that’s closer to baking than frying.
It works as follows:
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You load your foodstuff into the air fryer’s cooking basket. Air fryers typically have what’s known as a ‘crisping tray’ (or ‘frying rack’) at the bottom of the cooking basket. This is a removable tray which features a number of cut-outs - this tray elevates the foodstuff and allows it to be cooked underneath.
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Once the basket has been secured in place, you then select your cooking options (depending on whether you have a manual or digital air fryer, this may involve a number of steps and adjustment of settings e.g. temperature, time etc).
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Once the air fryer has been activated a heating element (typically located at the inside top of the fryer) will turn on and begin radiating heat down into the cooking basket.
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As the heating element radiates heat down into the cooking basket, a set of fans simultaneously helps to circulate this hot air around the food.
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This combination of both radiant and convected heat results in an intense heat transfer into the foodstuff. It’s this that generates the crispy finish on foods like chicken that so defines air fryers. Depending on the exact model air fryer you purchase, the level of heat within the air fryer can be as much as 220ºC.
- Due to the high temperatures achieved by air fryers, they are able to cook foods at a similar speed to traditional oil-fryers, but in a far healthier way.
As you can see, air fryers - and the radiant upstream heating technology that underpins them - are surprisingly simple appliances.
Because air fryers are effectively convection ovens (similar to the oven you’ll find in your kitchen), they are actually capable of cooking a wide range of foodstuffs (beyond the meats which they are typically associated with).
In fact, you can use an air fryer to:
- Bake.
- Roast.
- Grill.
You can see why they’re so popular! In many ways, they’re the ultimate cooking appliance, allowing you to cook a truly vast range of dishes and foods.
Note - because air fryers depend on the circulation of air around the entirety of a foodstuff to fully cook it, it’s not recommended that you use air fryer liners. Whilst they stop your air fryer basket from getting messy, they prevent the proper flow of air around the food.
Can you achieve the Maillard effect in an air fryer?
For those of you who are big foodies, you may be wondering if it’s possible to achieve the Maillard effect in an air fryer.
There are a few urban myths that suggest air fryers are incapable of achieving the Maillard effect, but they’re (in the main) incorrect!
Not familiar with the Maillard effect? Then let us explain.
The Maillard effect (also known as the Maillard reaction) is a chemical reaction that sees amino acids in meats reducing down to sugars when subject to heat. You can tell when the Maillard reaction has occurred as the meat will have turned a distinctive brown colour. This colour is also accompanied by a distinctive flavour.
All that is needed for the Maillard effect to occur is the correct temperature range. As a general rule, the Maillard reaction will occur between 140 to 165ºC. With many air fryers - including those you’ll find here at Morphy Richards - able to reach temperatures of 200ºC, achieving the Maillard effect should be simple!
Recipes - need some culinary inspiration? Then check out our air fryer recipes!
Do air fryers require cooking oil?
Another common question we hear when it comes to how air fryers work is whether or not they require you to use oil.
The reality is, for many foodstuffs (e.g. chicken), you will still need to add a small amount of cooking oil - but, this is a vanishingly small amount compared to the tons of oil that is needed in traditional fryers.
The reason we recommend using a very small amount of oil is because of how it improves the end result of your food.
Think of it like this; when you apply a small amount of oil to a piece of food, this oil will be ‘picked up’ by the circulating hot air within the fryer. In effect, the oil and circulating air become a ‘mist’ that will help hydrate the food - providing a tastier, more succulent finish.
Note - you don’t always need to use oil in an air fryer. Some foods that are naturally ‘juicy’ (like sausages, steaks etc) can often be cooked without the application of cooking oil.
How to use an air fryer
So far we’ve explained how an air fryer works (as well as busting some urban myths regarding air fryers and the Maillard reaction).
But, how do you use an air fryer?
The answer very much depends on what type of air fryer you buy. Air fryers can be loosely split into two categories:
- Manual air fryers.
- Digital air fryers.
How to use a manual air fryer
As the name suggests, manual air fryers require you to manually set both the temperature and cooking time.
Setting these points is generally achieved by using a set of dials or buttons. Just turn the dials or press the buttons until you’ve reached the time and temperature you want.
From there, you will need to manually monitor the air fryer and ensure that the food inside cooks to your desired finish.
Here at Morphy Richards you’ll find a range of great value manual air fryers.
How to use a digital air fryer
As you’ve probably already guessed, using a digital air fryer requires a lot less effort than a manual air fryer.
The biggest advantage of digital air fryers over their manual counterparts is the fact that they often feature preset recipes. This allows you to pop in food and have it cooked with the press of a single button (no need to faff around with numerous dials and buttons!).
Examples of the preset recipes you’ll find on Morphy Richards digital air fryers include:
- Meat.
- French fries.
- Bake.
- Drumsticks.
- Fish.
- Steak.
- Dehydrate.
- Wings.
Note - although digital air fryers will normally have preset recipes for convenience, they do generally also have controls that will allow you to manually adjust the time/temperature if you wish to do so.
Shop the best air fryers now
Convinced that an air fryer is right for you? We don’t blame you. As you’ve hopefully gathered in this article, air fryers use some smart technology to create healthy convenient meals.
So, go ahead - buy an air fryer!
The thing is, what are your options? Let’s take a look…
Manual air fryers
Not bothered about preset recipes? Rather do your own thing? Then why not buy a manual air fryer from Morphy Richards?
Our manual air fryers offer amazing value for money whilst still offering incredible cooking performance. Models like our Manual 3.5 Litre Air Fryer have an impressive temperature range of 160-220ºC. It also features dishwasher safe drawers and features a large viewing window so it’s easy to keep an eye on your meal as it cooks.
Our range of manual air fryers also includes our capacious Manual 3 Litre Air Fryer which will allow you to cook enough food for a family of four.
Digital air fryers
Enjoy the simplicity and convenience of a digital air fryer with Morphy Richards. Our range of digital air fryers includes our ever popular Digital 4 Litre Air Fryer which includes a large touchscreen panel, eight preset recipes, and plenty of capacity to cook for friends and family.
If you’re looking for a slightly more compact digital air fryer, then check out our Rose Gold Digital 3 Litre Air Fryer. This air fryer is packed with features including eight preset recipes, and a touchscreen panel that provides you with maximal control over the fryer.
Dual air fryers
If you want a digital air fryer, but with the ability to cook two different foods simultaneously, then consider our Digital Dual Basket 7.2 Litre Air Fryer. As the name points out, this air fryer has room for two big 3.6 litre cooking baskets. Even better, you can set the cooking times/temperature independently for each basket - so, even if you want to cook two wildly different foods - it’s easy to do so!
Fry right, eat light with Morphy Richards
Join the air fryer revolution with Morphy Richards today. Not only do we have one of the best air fryer ranges out there, but when you buy direct from Morphy Richards you’ll benefit from a two-year warranty (with an extra year of warranty for free when you register your air fryer with us).
We also offer free shipping (on qualifying orders) and flexible payment options that let you spread the cost of your new air fryer.
Shop Morphy Richards air fryers now
For more home appliance buying guides, inspiration and recipes, explore the Morphy Richards blog…
Buying an Air Fryer: The Essential Guide | The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Soup Maker | How Does a Soup Maker Work?
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