There is a wide range of kitchen appliances designed to speed up cooking times and allow you to prepare a wide variety of meals without being a professional chef. However, while some are must-have gadgets that you'll use time and time again, others are one-of-a-kind wonders that end up unused in the back of a drawer or cabinet. The best deep fryers are a must for your kitchen, as they allow you to enjoy healthier versions of gummies like French fries and chicken wings. So it's no wonder a couple million deep fryers were sold in the US between April and June of last year, according to market research firm NPD. Air fryers use a powerful fan to circulate hot air around food so you can get a crispy, sizzling exterior without the copious amounts of oil needed to fry. However, you're probably wondering exactly how they differ from a convection oven, which also uses hot air to cook food, and whether you should invest in both kitchen appliances. Know if you want a deep fryer or a convection oven. Instead of reading on and finding out the differences between the two types, check out the best prices for some of our top models.
How exactly is a deep fryer different from a convection oven?
A convection oven is a large square countertop appliance. The front door has a glass panel so you can see inside, and a hinge at the bottom, so it opens the same way as the small oven top on a stove. In the main cavity you'll find a grate that can hold a baking tray, as well as a powerful fan that pushes hot air created by a radiator factor around the convection oven, baking food on the inside while browning and browning the outside. Air fryers are much smaller kitchen appliances, typically taller but not as wide as a convection oven. They come in 2 styles; Basket fryers and bowl fryers, but neither have a hinged front door like a convection oven. Basket fryers have, unsurprisingly, a removable basket with a built-in handle at the front. The food is put into the basket, which is then fed into the fryer for cooking. Bowl fryers have a hinged glass, which can be lifted up so that food can be placed inside. They also have a pallet that moves food during cooking. Similar to convection ovens, both models of fryers circulate hot air around the food inside to cook and crisp it. Since deep fryers are smaller than convection ovens, the fan is placed closer to the food and ensures that the hot air is more concentrated, allowing the food to cook faster. However, their smaller size also means they can't cook exactly the same amounts as a convection oven, so if you have multiple mouths to feed you may need to divide the food into smaller batches. Air fryers also require the food to be stirred or turned halfway through cooking so that the hot air can get to every square inch of the food, but that's not the case with ovens. convection. As a general rule, convection ovens are also more affordable than deep fryers. A high-end air fryer can cost you up to €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX, while you can pay up to €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX per a deep fryer
Should you buy a deep fryer or a convection oven?
Convection ovens and air fryers are effective at cooking food quickly, while creating a crispy, sizzling exterior. However, what you plan to cook in the appliance and how much counter space you have will determine whether you opt for a deep fryer or a convection oven. Those on a budget who plan to cook large quantities should consider a convection oven. However, if you plan on cooking primarily french fries in the appliance, a deep fryer is the way to go. Concentrated heat means fries have a satisfying crispy, crispy exterior in no time at all, something a convection oven simply can't compete with. As we mentioned previously, keep in mind the space you have in your kitchen, as convection ovens can be large, but they allow you to observe your food, something only deep fryers can do.