Gelisim News

Although food fried with Airfryer is healthier, beware!

The airfryer is one of the most popular kitchen appliances of the last period. There are also questions about whether the Airfryer, which provides the opportunity to cook many different types of food in a practical and short time, is really healthy. Food Engineer Asst. Prof. Dr. Sema Aydın stated that although Airfryer fried food is technically healthier than deep frying, it has potential harms.

Airfryer, which has become the choice of those who do not want to spend a long time in the kitchen, offers the convenience of preparing many types of food in a short time with the savings it provides. Cooking foods faster with high heat also brings questions like "Does it cause a loss of value in nutrients?".  It causes less value loss of food cooked with Airfryer compared to other cooking methods. Asst. Prof. Dr. Sema Aydın, Food Engineer from Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, remarked that frying with Airfryer may cause the formation of some compounds related to cancer development, such as acrylamide.

“Even the healthiest foods can lose essential nutrients during the cooking process”

The Airfryer, which has become an easy way to cook in a short time without using very little oil, sometimes even no oil, has become the most popular kitchen appliance of the last period. The Airfryer, which allows food to cook faster with high heat, creates less nutrient loss compared to other methods. Asst. Prof. Dr. Sema Aydın: “Even the healthiest foods can lose essential nutrients during the cooking process. Vegetables and meats that are boiled or grilled can lose 40 percent or more of their nutritional value. In addition, the cooking baskets used in the Airfryer prevent the food from coming into direct contact with the heat source. The method of circulating dry heat, combined with the fryer's cooking zone design that protects the food, ensures less loss of essential nutrients in food than with other cooking methods.”

There is no certain information that it causes cancer!

Evaluating the health impact of using Airfryer, Dr. Aydın stated: “Even though food fried with Airfryer is technically healthier than deep frying, fried food has potential harms. Using air fryers Daily can cause weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other ailments. It is considered that cooking meat products at high temperatures increases the risk of cancer. There is no certainty that Airfryer causes cancer.’’

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sema Aydın also added: “Frying with air may cause the formation of certain compounds associated with cancer development, such as acrylamide. Acrylamides are chemicals classified as possible carcinogens. Moreover, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines can be formed from high-temperature cooking of meat.”