More about air grills: Andrey Pavlov: “Air grill is a device for those who like to cook and experiment in the kitchen and take care of their own health. Useful Tips for Using an Airfryer What an Airfryer Doesn't Cook

How do air grills of different models differ from each other

Before moving on to the main topic of the article, let's say a few words about the parameters in which air grills differ, and comment on them:

The volume of the bowl is from 2 to 12 liters. The size of the container determines how much food you can cook at a time - for example, just one steak or a large chicken (duck). For those who live alone and at the same time do not receive guests and do not cook immediately for a week, a small air grill is enough, and for everyone else there is no point in even looking at models with a bowl of less than 7 liters.
According to the design of the cover - it can be removable or hinged. Both have fans. In our opinion, a removable lid is more convenient and safer - you put it aside and you no longer have the fear that when you take out or turn over food, you will burn yourself on a hot heating element.
By type of control - mechanical and touch. If you are not chasing super-sophisticated gadgets, but are looking for a reliable simple unit, then know that the mechanics are quite enough to perform the bulk of the operations intended by the air grill.
In terms of functionality - simple and multifunctional with additional programs such as warming up, defrosting, baking (although in simple models this can be done without problems).

Airfryer Advantages

Aerogrill has firmly won the love of those who care about their health, but at the same time love dishes with an appetizing ruddy crust and tender pulp that melts in your mouth. In this device, all the fat is rendered from meat and poultry, and at the same time what unscrupulous manufacturers pump them with. All this does not accumulate on a baking sheet (in a frying pan, saucepan, etc.), being absorbed back, but flows into the bowl. Provided, of course, that you cook on the wire rack, and not in baking dishes and not in closed containers.

Let us designate other obvious advantages of the air grill.

Multifunctionality

Aerogrill quite successfully replaces an oven with a grill and convection, a toaster and a roaster, a frying pan, a double boiler, a barbecue, a smokehouse, a dryer for vegetables and fruits, a jar sterilizer, a yogurt maker and a microwave. It bakes and fries, cooks soups, has the effect of a Russian oven, defrosts and warms up food. And at the same time, it takes up much less space than almost each of the above units, and if you consider that one air grill is able to cope with the tasks facing several appliances, then if you have it, you will significantly save kitchen space.

No need for special utensils

In an air grill, you can cook in any dish, except for wooden and plastic ones. Dishes in clay pots are especially successful - if you simmer porridge, soups or roasts in them, you get the impression that they were taken out of a real stove. By the way, for frying and baking meat, poultry and fish, you don’t need separate dishes at all - there are enough grills, skewers and tripods that are already included in the kit.

Minimum oil consumption or its complete absence

You don’t need oil to cook food in an air grill, and if you want to add it, for example, to create a very crispy crust or to flavor with an oil-herbal mixture, you can simply lightly grease the chicken, fish or chop with a silicone brush. So you get 100% healthy and wholesome food.

Ease of preparation

When cooking in an air grill, the products practically do not burn (the main thing is to set the temperature and time correctly), and the cooking process itself does not require a constant presence in the kitchen. In addition, due to the presence of a fan, all dishes are cooked evenly, so there are no unbaked or underdone places.

So, for example, those who often make cutlets in breadcrumbs (or buy similar semi-finished products) know how difficult it is to fry them in a pan - the breading burns quickly, and in the middle the minced meat remains raw, and more oil is required than usual. An air grill does the job just fine, all you have to do is brush the cutlets and the tray or grate with a little oil and bake for 10 minutes on each side. So you get a completely fried minced meat and an appetizing, not burnt crust. The same goes for barbecue wings, which never turn out as tasty and crispy in a pan as on the grill.

Time saving

In the presence of a double grate in the air grill, you can cook two dishes at once, for example, bake chicken pieces on the upper plane, and potatoes on the lower plane. The juice from the poultry will soak the tubers, so all you have to do is sprinkle them with herbs and you have a sumptuous side dish. If you do not want fat to get on potatoes or other vegetables, just swap the ingredients.

Airfryer Disadvantages

There are not so many disadvantages of this kitchen assistant. The main problem area of the air grill can be considered the size and weight of the glass bowl. A small container is simply non-functional - too few products fit into a compact device with a 2-4 liter bowl. The huge one is inconvenient to use because of the difficulties with pouring out the melted fat and subsequent washing (and although some models have a self-cleaning function, you still need to drain the waste).

If you usually cook for two or three people, then when buying it is better to choose a bowl of no more than seven liters, since it is very difficult to “tumble” a standard twelve-liter (and even ten-liter) bowl. And, by the way, if you wish, you can put eight medium chicken thighs or a chicken weighing up to 1.8 kg in a seven-liter container, so feeding five or six people at the same time is also not a problem. In addition, it should be borne in mind that with a magnifying ring, 7 liters easily turn into 10-12.

Another ambiguous drawback of the air grill is the time required to cook some dishes. So, for example, if you fry sausages in a frying pan for 3-4 minutes, then in this unit they will cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. But on the other hand, potatoes in foil are not baked in an hour or twenty hours, as in an oven, but in just 40 minutes.

For some reason, some people consider its energy intensity, that is, a large consumption of electricity, to be the disadvantages of an aerogrill. Don't believe. In fact, this unit consumes much less energy than many household appliances, its use practically does not affect the performance of the electricity meter.

The strong heating of the bowl is often referred to as a disadvantage, but the pan and pan are also hot at the time of cooking, and for some reason this does not surprise anyone. However, there is something that you need to pay special attention to - in no case should you drip water on the hot container of the air grill, otherwise the glass will simply crack.

Airfryer Recipes

Nowadays, there are many special cookbooks that give recipes for the air grill, but we suggest you try the dishes that we got as a result of home experiments with this appliance.

Let's say right away that in the description of the cooking process, we use the phrase "high speed" exclusively for those air grills in which the blowing speed can be set manually, and in simple models it is initially high (and the only one).

In addition, in almost all of our recipes, contrary to what we said above, there is oil, but this is the specificity of these particular dishes, which, without the addition of an oily component, lose their taste significantly.

Baked potatoes with cilantro

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

potatoes (medium) - 4 pcs.,
garlic - 4 cloves,
dried cilantro - 1 teaspoon,
refined sunflower oil - 6-8 teaspoons,

Cooking:

Wash the potatoes thoroughly (no need to peel them), make 10-12 stabs on each tuber with a sharp knife. In a deep bowl, mix sunflower oil, pressed garlic, dried cilantro, salt and black pepper. Tear off 4 squares of foil.

Bathe the potatoes well in the sauce and put each one on a separate sheet of foil, pour the rest of the garlic-butter dressing on top and carefully wrap, forming bags. Place in the air fryer on the top rack so that the oil does not leak out, and bake at high speed and a temperature of 200 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve directly in foil. This dish as a side dish is great for any meat, and in fasting it will become a full lunch or dinner.

Pork belly in mustard

Ingredients:

pork belly on the skin (piece) - 900-1000 g,
mustard "Russian" (in a tube) - 50 g,
garlic - 5-6 large cloves,
salt, black ground pepper - to taste.

Cooking:

Wash the pork belly and pat dry with paper towels. Slightly scrape the skin. Cut the garlic into medium plates and stuff the meat with them, then rub it with salt and black pepper and spread with mustard, rubbing seasonings (it is advisable to do this with gloves). Wrap the pork tightly in 2 layers of foil so that the juices do not leak out during cooking.

Put the meat on a plate and put it in the refrigerator for several hours, and best of all - for a day. Then bake on the top rack of the air grill at high speed and 200 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Serve the brisket hot, garnished with fresh vegetables (or potatoes, rice, wheat porridge), or let the meat cool in foil, cut into thin slices and use as a savory snack.

To facilitate cooking, many housewives choose new appliances and devices that make dishes tastier and healthier. One of these devices is an air grill.

With it, cooking has become much easier and more enjoyable, while it does not take much time. But in order to make the right choice of air grill, you need to carefully study the features and characteristics of the equipment.

Aerogrill: what is it

This is a compact device that can fit in a small kitchen area. The device can easily replace a toaster, yogurt maker, grill and double boiler. The main advantage of the device is that due to the treatment with hot air, all useful vitamins are preserved in the products during cooking.

Device device

The air grill consists of a transparent bowl or flask, which has a stand or a lid that covers the entire structure. A heating element (tubular electric heater) and a fan are installed inside the cover, there is a control panel outside.

Budget models of these devices are equipped with halogen heating elements instead of heating elements. The main advantage of such elements is that when heated, the glass of the bowl does not undergo oxidation and corrosion.

But halogen-type heaters have low operating capabilities, and their service life is short. Typically, the period of operation for models with heaters of this type is no more than three years. For metal heating elements, it is much longer - 8-10 years.

Halogen heating element

In addition to the main elements, there are additional components in the aerogrill device:

grills that are used to cook various types of meat - beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry. There are usually three of them, and they can vary in height;
often comes with a mesh-type baking sheet. It may be required for steaming and deep-frying foods, and you can also dry foods on it;
budget models of air grills are often equipped with a metal ring. It is installed on top of the bowl and is required to increase and regulate its volume.

Standard device

Aerogrill: what is it for

To choose the right air grill, let's figure out why it is required and what can be cooked using an air grill.

The appliance cooks with the help of streams of hot air, which freely circulates in a special container for cooking. During the cooking process, the user does not need to constantly turn the food. Also, cooking does not require oil, while the food is juicy and fragrant, the dishes are saturated with their own juices and become tender and very soft.

That is, first of all, the air grill is needed for cooking. He cooks soups, stews vegetables, meat, fish, and can also work as a smokehouse.

Three tier device

A modern air grill with a wide range of functions can easily replace a whole list of various kitchen appliances:

conventional gas stove;
oven;
double boiler;
toaster;
microwave oven;
drying device, which is used for vegetables and fruits;
electric barbecue, barbecue;
yogurt maker;
air grill can be used as a saucepan for cooking first courses - soups, broths;
as a canning jar sterilizer.

Features of work

Each air grill model necessarily has a container in the form of a round transparent flask. Its volume can be different - from six to 12 liters.

Consider the principle of operation of the device:

the heated air is accelerated by the fan in different directions;
first it blows from top to bottom, then - from bottom to top. This ensures even cooking. It does not burn when baking, frying, stewing;
depending on the model of the device, the vortex flow index may be constant, or it may have several modes. The multi-mode option is the most versatile and convenient;
in some models, instead of conventional heating elements, glass ones are installed. They are safer, but weaker;
temperature indicators of the device - from 60 to 260 degrees.

Functions

Different models of air grills have distinctive functions. In more modern devices, it is possible to adjust the temperature and blowing speed.

The main functions of air grills include the following:

possibility of temperature control. This feature is considered mandatory. It should be in all modern models;
temperature maintenance - an additional function with which you can heat the dish after it is cooked;
convection speed control - the function is not mandatory, but very useful, it allows you to adjust the level of blowing the dish during cooking, which affects the final result (you can get an appetizing crust) and cooking time;
some models have a delay switch. The function provides maximum convenience when using the device: you can set the timer to the desired time, and the device will turn on when it is needed, and the food will be prepared for lunch or breakfast;
the cooking program is a smart function available in many models. Convenient for those who do not want to monitor the temperature or time while cooking: you can put food into the device, select the desired cooking mode and wait for the result.

Also, some manufacturers equip the device with additional convenient features:

defrosting products - vegetables, meat, dough, fruits, berries and others;
drying;
grill;
frying;
bakery;
smoking.

What can be cooked

The air grill is a universal device and is suitable for cooking almost any treat.

Potatoes with meat and seasonings are especially tasty.

Consider what can be done on the air grill:

How to properly use an airfryer

Instructions on how to use the air fryer are included with the device. If you follow all the rules, cooking in the appliance will be simple and easy, most importantly, follow the recommendations clearly.

cooking process

When using the device, do the following:

first you need to turn on the device in the electrical network;
necessary products are laid out in a transparent container;
from above, the air grill is tightly covered with a lid;
on the built-in panel, you need to set the necessary parameters. There are usually few of them, only three: temperature, cooking time and speed;
after the temperature indicator reaches the set level, the fan turns on, which starts the process of distillation of hot air flows inside the device;
when cooking is completed, the appliance will emit a beep;
do not immediately pull the plug out of the socket. This should be done when the device has completely cooled down and the fan has completely stopped.

Before buying an air grill, you should carefully study its technical characteristics.

Air fryer model

container size. The best option is a device with a flask volume of 8-9 liters. You can easily make any treat in it, and you can not use the dishes in the air grill, it will be superfluous;
type of heating element. It can be the spirit of species - a metal heating element and a glass halogen lamp. The first has high wear resistance, but slow heating. The second is fragile, its service life is only two to three years, but at the same time it does not undergo oxidation and cooks food much faster;
cover type. The quality of the workflow and cooking depends on how reliably the device closes. Covers can be on fasteners and without them;
control. It can be mechanical or electronic. In devices with mechanical control, it is possible to set the temperature and time. In electronic versions, the functionality is much wider - they can set the temperature, time, blowing speed, various cooking modes, delayed cooking;
power. This indicator depends on the consumption of electricity. Small models with a minimum number of functions usually have a small power rating - 1000 watts. Large devices with a large bowl and a wide range of functions have a power rating of up to 1700 watts;
you should pay attention to additional accessories that can affect the cost of the device, but at the same time make the cooking process much more convenient.

An air grill is a convenient technique for the kitchen; with its purchase, you no longer have to put the pan on gas.

In order for casseroles and pastries to turn out well, before starting cooking, the air grill must be heated to 200 Cº for 5 minutes. Only after that you can lay the products.

For cooking in an air grill, dishes with high thermal conductivity are suitable. For example, aluminum with a non-stick coating. Thin-walled dishes made of heat-resistant glass and made of food-grade silicone also conduct heat well. In ceramic dishes, food is cooked for quite a long time, but, thanks to the effect of languishing, it will turn out very tasty. If you love ceramics, but want to cook faster, I recommend using portioned dishes, such as pots.
The diameter of dishes, especially baking dishes, should not exceed 24 cm - then the hot air in the air grill will be able to circulate freely and equally affect the dishes from all sides.
If there is no suitable utensils or if you want to cook several dishes at the same time, you can use ordinary half-liter jars as utensils. They are perfect, as they are made of thin glass, in addition, as many as 5 pieces are placed in the air grill bowl. That is, you can easily cook five different dishes at the same time. While cooking in jars, it is worth covering them with foil so that the liquid does not evaporate too actively.

Pour hot water up to half of the bowl
Add some dish soap
Close the lid and turn on the air grill for 10 minutes at a temperature of -250 Cº or on the self-cleaning mode.
After the process is completed, rinse the bowl with warm water, and wipe the lid with a soft cloth. Do not wash the lid under water, as this may cause it to malfunction!
When self-cleaning the air grill, you can leave dirty grates, skewers, baking sheets inside the bowl.

To prevent the dish from sticking to the grill grate

So that the dish does not stick to the air grill during cooking, it must be greased with oil or fat.

Place products in a suitable container. If you put food closer to the fan, then 5 minutes at 220 Cº is enough. On the lower grill, food is heated for about 10 minutes. If during storage the products have softened and the golden crust has lost its appearance, then put them on the upper grate and turn on the convection oven for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 220Cº. Thus, the food will not only warm up, but also return its original appearance.

Place jars or any other sterilizable containers in the air grill. Temperature - 150 Cº (sterilization mode), sterilization time - about 15 minutes. It is possible to sterilize both completely dry jars and jars with a small amount of water, in which case steam sterilization will take place. After the end of the process, the jars can be taken out, filled with products and rolled up, as usual.

Drying mushrooms, herbs, vegetables, berries, fruits in air grill

It is important that moist air comes out of the air fryer. To do this, insert, for example, a skewer between the lid and the body.

Optimum drying conditions in air fryer

Speed:

Greens - low
Carrots, beets - medium
Apples, mushrooms - high.

Temperature : products retain color at 120 Cº.

Time :

Greens - 10 minutes
Beets, carrots (on a coarse grater) - 15 minutes
Apples - 30 minutes
Mushrooms - 1.5 hours

Berries, carrots and beets are more convenient to dry on a steamer, and mushrooms, leafy greens and apples are more convenient to dry on grates.

Someone cannot imagine life without it, someone puts it in a drawer and regrets the money spent. Aerogrill is a hit of the last decade, one of the most popular and at the same time the most controversial devices: very often one hears diametrically opposed reviews about its use. We hope that a conversation with experts - representatives of aerogrill manufacturers will help to find answers to the questions of both longtime fans and people who still underestimate this device.

TECHNOLOGY OF THE DECADE
"Question": How do you explain such a boom in aerogrills? Why are they so actively made and sold in recent years?

Answer: Aerogrill, of course, is no longer a technique with completely new technologies, but it is he who can replace up to 10 kitchen heating appliances: this is an oven, grill, stove, barbecue, etc. In addition, the aerogrill “knows” several ways cooking, has automatic functions and is very easy to operate, although the principle of operation is based on the model of a Russian oven: hot air circulating around the dish from all sides. The question arises in itself: why keep a lot of appliances in your kitchen when there is one device, multifunctional and compact?

CONVECTION CONVECTION DIFFERENT?
« Question»: Another name for the appliance is a convection oven. Does this mean that if there is a convection mode in the oven or microwave, then it can do the same thing as an air grill and there is no point in acquiring it?

Answer: For example, in gas ovens it is impossible to set the temperature to the nearest degree. In the air grill, you set the temperature mode and choose the cooking time (or automatic mode). Due to the tightness of the lid with the flask, there will be no extra odors in the apartment, there will be no smoke or soot, the ceiling will not turn yellow, etc. The entire cooking process from start to finish takes place in a confined space.

NOTHING TO SHAME ON THE MIRROR
« Question»: Users on the forums often complain that a crust forms on the outside of the products, but inside they remain raw: this applies to chicken and pies. Is this a “sin” of some models, or do “cooks” use appliances incorrectly?

Answer: People often lay out products incorrectly: they try to put as much as possible into the aerogrill flask. This attitude is fraught, since the products themselves will interfere with the free circulation of air and because of this they can burn.

IN THE JUICE
« Question»: Chip aerogrilei is considered cooking without adding fat - in its own juice. But, to be honest, vegetables without sprinkling them with vegetable oil simply dry out: eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes. What do you advise?

Answer: In many air grills, the maximum temperature is 250 ° C, and the boiling point of oil is 260 ° C, so the food will not cook in the substances of burning oil, there will be no high cholesterol content, you can even pour a full pot of oil, but the product will be much more useful in comparison with those cooked in an ordinary frying pan (oven). In addition, when you fry chicken or any other product, such as vegetables, they have a certain amount of liquid that is released during heat treatment, then it settles at the bottom of the air grill, and the air continues to circulate from all sides of the product, thereby impregnating it with all the aromas inherent in the product. That is, you will receive a natural, tasty and healthy product.

IN WHAT TO COOK
« Question»: In aerogrills, you canstew and simmer, for this you need heat-resistant dishes. Are there any requirements for it, and does it even make sense to stew dishes in an air grill? Why not on the stove?

Answer: The only requirement is to avoid sudden changes in temperature. Basically, the dishes break and deteriorate due to the fact that people, without waiting for the air grill flask to cool completely, fill it with cold water. In addition to temperature changes, the bulb perfectly withstands everything else, up to falling from small heights (say, a table).

MISCELLANEOUS ELEMENTS
« Question»: Various types of heating elements are used in air grills: carbon, steel, halogen. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Answer: The metal heating elements of air grills oxidize over time, i.e., during cooking, oxidation products will get into the dish. In air grills with a halogen heating element, it is easier to regulate the temperature, because the halogen lamp and the control panel interact perfectly with each other: the temperature is set accurately, without errors, this feature allows you to control the cooking process. Another important point: a convection oven with a halogen lamp consumes less electricity, that is, it is more economical. According to some studies, the savings are up to 70-80% when compared with a convection microwave oven, and up to 20% when compared with a hot air grill.

TAKING A SAMPLE
« Question»: Please share some proven recipe for aerogrill.

Answer: Chicken cutlets with prunes. Ingredients: 500 g of minced chicken, 2 tomatoes, 150 g of prunes, 80 g of processed cheese, a few green onion feathers, mayonnaise. Form cutlets, put chopped prunes inside each and place on a wire rack. Place a slice of tomato on each cutlet. Cook in an air grill for 20 minutes at a temperature of 205 ° C. Grate the processed cheese on a coarse grater, chop the greens, after 20 minutes, open the lid and sprinkle the cutlets - first with cheese, then with herbs. Start the air fryer again for 20 minutes. with the same parameters, periodically monitoring the degree of readiness.

Choosing an aerogrill

Delicious, healthy and varied meals prepared with minimal effort on your part. One device that can independently create small kitchen miracles every day, you just need to set the desired parameters and press the start button. But does such a miracle of technology exist in nature?

Aerogrill, according to manufacturers, is able to replace a microwave oven, a toaster, a hob, an oven and a drying cabinet, a deep fryer, a double boiler, a smokehouse, a barbecue, and also a Russian stove.

It is proposed to use it for heat treatment, defrosting, drying products and sterilization of cans in the canning process. The stated capabilities of the air grill are impressive: for example, it is able to cook soup, porridge, roast in pots, steamed vegetables, grill, barbecue, bread, hot sandwiches and smoked meats. In addition, according to the manufacturers, the air grill can cook a three-course meal at the same time.

Impressive, isn't it? However, let's see if the device really copes with all these tasks.

How does an air grill work and what can be cooked in it

In order to find out what an airfryer is really capable of, we need to understand how it works.

The air grill consists of a durable heat-resistant glass flask with a volume of 6 to 18 liters (depending on the model) and a glass lid. The latter contains a tubular electric heater (TEN) or a halogen lamp responsible for heating the air, as well as a fan, with which hot air is evenly distributed inside the flask.

Accordingly, the preparation of products in an air grill occurs due to convection (sometimes this method of heat treatment is called 3D, that is, three-dimensional). Therefore, the convection oven has another name - Convection Oven (convection oven). That is what this invention was called in the USA in the mid-80s of the last century.

Now we can figure out which methods of heat treatment for an air grill are and which are not, and understand whether we need this purchase.

The air grill maintains the temperature within 50-260 degrees Celsius and evenly distributes dry hot air inside the flask at one or three speeds (depending on the model). The wide temperature range allows the device to be used for various heat treatment methods.

So, heat treatment at a low temperature will be indispensable for languishing or low-temperature baking of some meat cuts, poultry, fish. In addition, low temperature is suitable for drying vegetables, fruits, nuts, breadcrumbs and other purposes. For example, in this way you can cook a juicy chicken or turkey fillet, beef brisket, a small leg of lamb, sun-dried tomatoes, as well as dry fruit for compote or hazelnuts for baking. Low-temperature processing involves long (sometimes many hours) cooking.

It is this mode of operation of the air grill that manufacturers compare with cooking in a Russian oven and a drying cabinet. However, it is necessary to understand that it is not so easy to repeat the Russian stove: the features of its design, as well as the material from which it is built, have almost nothing to do with an air grill. The drying cabinet allows you to load and process a large amount of fruits, vegetables or roots at a time. Such volumes of a convection oven will not be possible.

The medium temperature range is quite versatile and can be used for a wide range of meat, poultry, fish and other seafood dishes, as well as vegetables, fruits and baking. In the event that you purchase an air grill for baking, you must keep in mind that some of its types (for example, meringue) are contraindicated in circulating air. You also need to know that some products may not be baked due to the lack of lower heating in the appliance. Therefore, it is impossible to say that the convection oven is ideal for any baking.

High temperatures are required for grilling, "roasting", deep frying and other culinary tasks. So, by heating the air in the air grill to the upper limits of the temperature scale, you can cook chicken legs with crispy skin, pork ribs, french fries, fry breaded foods, burn peppers or eggplant for further processing, "seal" the meat before baking and perform many other culinary operations. In addition, by selecting this temperature mode, you can sterilize glass jars for canning.

Accordingly, an aerogrill heated to high temperatures can work as a deep fryer or a toaster. The air grill will really perform the functions of the latter without any problems, but the deep fryer will still yield. The fact is that the latter quickly heats up a large volume of oil to the required temperature and maintains it during cooking. The convection oven does not perform these functions, so you should not expect an equivalent replacement.

Is it possible to cook, steam, defrost and smoke in an air grill

So, we found out what kind of heat treatment of products can be carried out in an air grill. However, manufacturers offer us to take advantage of even greater opportunities.

So, in the air grill it is proposed to cook soups or cereals. Considering that the boiling point of water or milk is about 100 degrees Celsius, we can heat liquids to a temperature sufficient for boiling food, as well as making soups and broths.

However, it took about 40 minutes to boil 250 ml of water at room temperature, located on the lower grate of the air grill. By placing a bowl of water on the middle rack, it took half an hour to bring the water to a boil. Heating was carried out at a temperature of 260 degrees Celsius and a high blowing speed.

In the event that we nevertheless decide to boil the products in the air grill, we will need to be patient: after laying them, the temperature will drop again and we will have to wait for it to boil again, because some products (for example, spaghetti) require actively boiling water.

There is, in principle, a way out of this situation. If you have an electric kettle or other device that can heat liquids, you can boil water (broth, milk) in it and save yourself time. It will not be superfluous to also use closed dishes that hold heat well, after preheating its walls.

Also in the air grill it is proposed to cook for a couple. One of the steam cooking methods is carried out in a closed container with the active evaporation of the boiling liquid at the bottom.

We have a closed container, a liquid heated to the boiling point, too, but active evaporation does not occur even at maximum heating. Accordingly, steam cooking in an airfryer is not possible, since the products will be cooked by the above-mentioned hot air circulating in the flask.

Another function promised to owners of air grills is defrosting at a temperature of 65 or 90 degrees Celsius. Well, products at this temperature, of course, will defrost, but the proposed temperature regime is too high. “Defrosting” takes place much more carefully on the lower shelf of the refrigerator compartment. Of course, you will have to be patient (large meat cuts, for example, can be thawed for more than a day), but in this way it will be possible to preserve the structure and, accordingly, the taste of the products.

The last function worth mentioning when talking about aerogrills is smoking. Cold or hot smoking occurs in the process of processing products with smoke from smoldering sawdust. It will not be possible to organize such a method of cooking in an air grill: the device is simply not designed for this. Therefore, the owners of a convection oven are offered an unequal replacement for smoking: baking with a layer of fresh sawdust at the bottom of the flask. In order to still give the dish a "smoked" flavor, it is proposed to pre-treat the products with the so-called liquid smoke.

Do you need an air grill if you have an oven

Now we can answer the question we asked at the very beginning. An air grill cannot solve all culinary problems, but it does an excellent job with the heat treatment methods for which it is intended. Combining various temperature regimes and blowing power, we create conditions inside the aerogrill flask suitable for frying, simmering, baking, grilling, drying (withering) products, sterilizing jars, as well as cooking some types of pastries.

An air grill can be compared to a small oven operating in convection and grill mode. Accordingly, a convection oven is required if:

in your house (or in the country) there is no oven;
you have an oven, but it is not equipped with a fan and grill;
you have a multi-function oven, but you often cook in small portions and want to save energy.

Is it difficult to care for an air fryer?

Maintenance of a convection oven consists in removing dirt from the bottom and walls of the glass flask, as well as from the inner surface of the lid. The glass flask can be easily removed from the stand, after which it can be cleaned using ordinary dishwashing detergents. The flask can also be washed in the dishwasher if it fits in it. Care must be taken when cleaning the lid as the heating element and fan are attached to it.

What utensils do you need for an air grill

As a rule, several devices are already included in the kit: grates of various heights, a mesh baking sheet, as well as iron skewers. This is enough to cook a large number of dishes. However, if necessary, you can additionally use any heat-resistant dishes.

What to look for when choosing an air fryer

When thinking about purchasing an air grill, make sure in advance that there is a place for it in your kitchen. The problem is that these devices are quite large. So, some Hotter models on a bracket (the lid rises vertically, it is non-removable) are 45 cm wide, 33 cm deep and from 31 to 63 cm high (depending on whether the lid is closed or open).

In the event that the kitchen has low-lying hanging shelves, it is more advisable to purchase a model with a removable lid (you do not need a lot of free space above the appliance).

If there is very little space in the kitchen, you can choose a compact model with a smaller flask volume (from 6 liters). For example, there are compact ovens in the Erisson or VES range.

As mentioned at the beginning, convection ovens are equipped with two types of heating elements: an iron heating element or a halogen lamp. On the network you can find a lot of conflicting reviews about the quality of each of them. However, the difference is only in strength and durability. Glass halogen can break and has a shorter lifespan. Nevertheless, it can be replaced: the cost of a new lamp is low.

If you plan to cook at low temperature or dry food, get a model with a timer for several hours (many models are equipped with a timer for only one hour). This will allow you to program the appliance and "forget" about it while cooking.

If you are finally convinced that the convection oven is what you need and move on to choosing a model, you will find a large number of offers from AEG, Daewoo Electronics, Hotter, Maxwell, Mystery, Polaris, Rolsen Electronics, VES, etc.

It remains only to choose a device with the necessary parameters and enjoy the taste of dishes cooked in a simple and at the same time multifunctional device called Air Grill.

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