Are turkey or air fryers better?
Fried foods taste good, but they’re not the healthiest way to cook. A healthier alternative is to use an air fryer, which works like a mini convection oven. There is another appliance you can use to cook fried foods, especially if you are cooking a turkey. You can use a turkey fryer, which offers oil-free models. Comparing these two appliances, the air fryer offers a more compact design and versatility as it can be used to cook various foods.
Turkey fryer
Turkey fryers are used to fry a turkey, a popular menu item for holiday dinners and summer barbecues. Available for indoor and outdoor use, the Turkey Fryer is specifically designed for cooking a turkey. However, you can use it for other applications such as cooking rib roasts or boiling maple syrup. Depending on the model, turkey fryers can be powered by electricity or propane. For indoor use, an electric turkey fryer is the safest option.
Advantages of the turkey fryer
- One of the main benefits of using a turkey fryer is that it cooks the turkey with a crispy exterior on all sides while keeping the meat juicy and tender.
- The turkey fryer will take much less time to cook a turkey than more conventional methods such as oven roast turkey.
Disadvantages of the turkey fryer
- Propane turkey fryers usually don’t come with temperature controls, so you’ll need to monitor the cooking temperature to make sure the turkey isn’t overheating or overcooking.
- The capacity of electric turkey fryers can be limited, not allowing you to cook a large turkey.
The best turkey fryers
Char-Broil Big Easy Turkey Fryer
This is an easy-to-use, oil-free outdoor turkey fryer. It uses infrared technology to cook, delivering healthier, evenly cooked food. This product can cook up to 16 pounds of turkey.
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Bayou Classic 4225 Turkey Fryer
For one of the best turkey fryers, consider getting the Bayou Classic 4225 Turkey Fryer. This large fryer has a 42-quart capacity, which can cook 25 pounds of meat. It is constructed from aluminum and offers a sturdy build quality.
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air fryer
Air fryers use fast air technology to cook food. This technology uses a heating element to radiate heat. The taste of “fried” food from an air fryer is similar to regular fried food, but with far fewer calories and unhealthy fats. There are different sizes and shapes available for air fryers. They also offer a variety of advanced features such as pre-programmed modes and settings, auto-off functions, alarms, heat indicators and additional accessories.
Advantages of the air fryer
- By using an air fryer, you can get the delicious taste of fried foods without the unhealthy fats and extra calories.
- Cleaning most types of air fryers is easy. This helps you to be able to safely use air fryer trays in a dishwasher. There’s also no oil to drain or clean.
- Most air fryers are energy efficient.
Disadvantages of the air fryer
- The air fryer’s high operating temperature means you have to be careful not to overcook food.
- The limited capacity of the air fryer can be a problem if you are cooking for a large group of people.
The best air fryers
Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer
Consider buying the Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer for a premium air fryer with fast performance and advanced features. It offers a turbo mode for lightning-fast cooking and features a unique fat removal technology that traps extra fat.
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Dash Tasti Crisp Air Fryer
The Dash Tasti Crisp Air Fryer offers a compact design, excellent cooking performance and useful features including a temperature indicator for its unbeatable price.
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Should you get a turkey fryer or an air fryer?
Unless you are cooking a turkey for a large group, the air fryer will be the best overall appliance for cooking food. Air fryers are great for everyday use because you can use them to cook a variety of foods. They also take up less space, are energy efficient and easy to use. You can easily replace the fryer in your kitchen with an air fryer. There will be a slight difference in taste when comparing food fried and cooked in an air fryer, but this slight difference is worth it because food cooked in the air fryer will be significantly healthier.
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Ali Azhar written for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their buying decisions, saving them time and money.
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