Airfryer vs deep fryer
Comparison airfryer and deep fryer
| Airfryer | Deep fryer | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Frying system | Hot air | Oil or fat | |
| Health | Healthier | Unhealthy | |
| Functions | Frying, baking, grilling | Frying | |
| Cleaning | Easier | More difficult | |
| Frying time | Slightly longer | Short | |
| Scents | Little odor | A lot of odors | |
| Costs | High purchase price, low operating costs | Low purchase price, high operating costs |
Way of frying
Airfryer, fry with hot air
With an airfryer, you can fry with hot air. This is comparable to how a fan oven works. It's the healthy way of frying snacks, since no frying oil or oil is being used. Fries from an airfryer are much healthy thanks to this, but they don't taste like fries from the snack bar. The fries do come out of the pan golden brown and crispy. You barely smell any frying odors during frying, so you can easily place the airfryer on the counter. In addition, you can prepare so much more in the airfryer than just fries and snacks.
Deep fryer, fry in fat or oil
When frying in a deep fryer, snacks are submerged in oil or fat. Once the fat is hot enough, you throw the fries or snacks in the pan to sear the outside. Snacks that you bake in a deep fryer are crispy and taste just like those of the snackbar. This means that the snacks contain a lot of fat, which is why they're unhealthy. Frying gives off a strong frying odor, so it's best to put the pan in the shed or pantry.
Preparations & baking time
Airfryer, for frying, baking, and grilling
An airfryer isn't only used for frying, but also for baking and grilling. Besides fries and snacks, you can also make many other dishes. You could grill a drumstick or bake potatoes, vegetables, quiches, or muffins. The baking time of an airfryer differs per dish. On average, an airfryer takes 20 minutes to bake fries. The advantage of an airfryer is that it's quickly hot and ready for use.
Deep fryer, for frying
A deep fryer is suitable for frying fries and snacks. For example, you can use the deep fryer to fry fries, snacks, or croquettes. A deep fryer prepares fries and snacks nice and crispy in about 3 to 5 minutes. However, the deep fryer first needs to heat up before the oil is hot enough and you can throw in the ingredients. The time the deep fryer needs to heat up varies per model.
Difference in costs
Airfryer, more expensive in purchase, cheaper in use
An airfryer seems more expensive than a deep fryer. That's because the purchase price of an airfryer is more than of a regular deep fryer, in most cases. Keep in mind that this product is energy-efficient and doesn't use liters of oil that you have to purchase. In addition, you'll also get a product that can do more than fry food.
Deep fryer, cheaper in purchase, more expensive in use
The prices for deep fryers are lower than those of airfryers. You do have to change the oil or fat in the pan once in a while. You refresh the fat after about 10 rounds of frying. So consider these additional usage costs.
The ease of cleaning
Airfryer, easy to clean
Cleaning an airfryer is very easy. The parts don't get as dirty as with a deep fryer, because you use little to no oil. You simply put the individual parts in the dishwasher, or you just wash them by hand. The airfryer will be ready for use again right away.
Deep fryer, difficult to clean
Cleaning a deep fryer is a bit more work. In any case, you need to regularly replace the fat and drain it properly. There are fryers that can be taken apart for easier cleaning, but cleaning greasy, caked parts is always a tedious job.
Expansion options
Airfryer, many expansion options
There are many accessories for Philips and Princess airfryers. There's a baking pan that you can use to make pies and cakes, for example. A cooking rack, for when you want to prepare an entire dish in one go. Or, choose the grill plate to prepare meat or a pizza kit to prepare pizza. Make sure to check whether the accessories are suitable for the brand and size of your airfryer.
Deep fryer: no expansion options
A deep fryer is useful for frying fries and snacks. A deep fryer isn't suitable for other preparations. That's because a deep fryer doesn't have accessories. You can't expand a deep fryer with other options.
Conclusion
You choose an airfryer if you want to snack healthier. But also because you bake, grill, or roast various dishes. You don't have to buy frying oil and it's easy to clean the parts. Fries and snacks are crispy in an airfryer, but don't taste like the snackbar. Do you think this is the most important? Then a traditional deep fryer might suit you better. Keep in mind that such snacks are a lot less healthy and that you'll have to buy new frying oil on a regular basis.
