In today’s age, convenience is one of the important factors manufacturers consider when designing and manufacturing an appliance and for users when buying it.
When it comes to kitchen appliances, nothing offers more convenience than an appliance’s ability to cook faster. Among cooking devices, air fryers have created their own space and identity. They are famous for cooking healthier and less fatty foods.
Yes, an air fryer cooks faster than many other cooking appliance i.e, toaster, deep fryer, p . An air fryer is smaller in size; therefore, the cooking chamber heats up quickly which speeds up the cooking process. Some air fryers reach their maximum temperature within a few minutes.
Does Air Fryer Cook Faster?
There is no one time to cook everything in an air fryer. The cooking time of an air fryer is based on many factors.
You have to consider the state of the food (fresh or frozen), the size of food items, the potency of an air fryer (wattage), and the type of food. Following the recipe is the safest way to prevent overcooking or undercooking your food in an air fryer.
With time you will learn to adjust the settings according to food size and quantity. Some general guidelines to follow when making various items in an air fryer are given below.
Chicken: Frozen Nuggets (20-25 minutes), Fresh nuggets (approximately 15 minutes), chicken breast (20 minutes without preheating)
Fish: Fresh Fish filets (10-15 minutes), frozen fish filets (12-15 minutes)
Steak: You must cook in an air fryer for 13-14 minutes. The temperature chart for steaks is given below:
- Rare doneness (120F inner temperature)
- Medium rare doneness (125F)
- Medium doneness (130F)
- Well done (160F)
We know an air fryer can cook faster, but does it work quicker than other cooking appliances such as a microwave, pressure cooker, or oven? Below we explore all about it. Also, check the best air fryer for large family.
Does Air Fryer Cook Faster Than Toaster?
A toaster oven is another type of oven. It is similar in shape but often smaller than a convection oven. However, it is still larger than an air fryer.
When comparing the cooking speed of an air fryer and a toaster oven, the former cooks faster due to its smaller size. The only time when a toaster oven cooks more quickly than an air fryer is when toasting bread slices.
Compared to a toaster oven, an air fryer cooks food more evenly due to a fan that circulates heat around the food. A toaster oven does not have a fan to distribute heat.
Verdict: An air fryer cooks much faster and more evenly than a toaster oven.
Does Air Fryer Cook Faster Than Deep Fryer?
Compared to an air fryer which uses hot air for cooking food, a deep fryer cooks food with the help of hot oil. Once the oil reaches the right cooking temperature, it cooks food within a few minutes.
This is because oil is much faster at heat transfer than air. An item that takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook in an air fryer is cooked within half the time in a deep fryer.
The only caveat with a deep fryer is that reaching a suitable frying temperature takes some time. An air fryer takes 5 to 10 minutes to attain the cooking temperature. In contrast, an air fryer preheats in a couple of minutes only.
Verdict: Considering all factors (preheating and cooking), we can say that the total cooking time of an air fryer and a deep fryer is approximately equal.
You must check our detailed comparison post of air fryer vs deep fryer which is better.
Does Air Fryer Cook Faster Than A Microwave?
A microwave oven uses electromagnetic radiation to heat food. An air fryer cooks fast but not faster than a microwave.
For instance, if a frozen pizza takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook in an air fryer, using a microwave will only take four to five minutes. But unlike an air fryer, cooking in a microwave does not bestow crispy crust to your food.
Verdict: A microwave takes less than half the time to cook food than an air fryer. But food cooked in a microwave oven is not crispy or similar to deep-fried food.
Does An Air Fryer Cook Faster Than A Pressure Cooker?
A pressure cooker requires liquid (water or broth) to produce steam which then cooks the food.
The pressurized steam is tightly held within a sealed container which increases the internal temperature.
Higher pressure in a pressure cooker increases the internal temperature of the cooking chamber. It helps the steam to penetrate the food. This process cooks the food faster than an air fryer.
However, just like cooking frozen food in an air fryer takes more time, its cooking time in a pressure cooker is also a little longer.
Verdict: If compared with an air fryer, a pressure cooker is faster than an air fryer.
Does Air Fryer Cook Faster Than An Instant Pot?
Instant pot is another name given to electric pressure cookers or multi-cookers. Unlike manual pressure cookers, an instant pot offers more cooking options and presets. An instant pot comes with a slow cook, sauté, cook rice, and keep warm functions.
An instant pot and a pressure cooker work similarly. An instant pot also uses steam to cook moist foods, which is impossible in an air fryer.
Verdict: As it employs the pressure-cooking method, an instant pot cooks faster than an air fryer.
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Wrapping Up!
An air fryer cooks faster than many cooking appliances in the kitchen, thanks to its compact inner space and speedy fan. But it is not the only fast appliance in the market. If speed is the only parameter for judging an appliance, a pressure cooker, microwave, and an instant pot are much faster. However, the function and ability of these appliances are not similar to an air fryer.